April 15th– The #LetteroftheDay is “V” as in Value
One mistake job seekers often make is copying and pasting content from their résumé into their LinkedIn profile. An effective LinkedIn profile is designed to add value and enhance your résumé, not duplicate it.
When developing your LinkedIn profile, provide the reader with some information about you. Why did you choose your line of work? What motivates you? How do others see you? What soft skills do you possess?
LinkedIn also provides you with an opportunity to discuss projects more in-depth or showcase accomplishments that may not be on your résumé.
LinkedIn has over 200 million active users every month, so make sure you capitalize on the power of your network and create an optimized LinkedIn profile.
April 16th– The #LetteroftheDay is “W” as in Working ConditionsYou’ve worked for the last six months trying to find a new position. You’ve been through the ups and downs and have finally landed a new job. You can’t wait to let your friends, family, and LinkedIn network know where you will be moving forward.
STOP!
Wait at least 90 days before posting your new job on LinkedIn.
When you post your new job on LinkedIn, you are letting recruiters know you have found a new position and interview requests will stop. What happens though if the job isn’t what you thought it was going to? Poor working conditions, discrepancies with compensation, a toxic supervisor, or a poor fit in general may lead to drastic changes in your plans.
Bottomline – make sure you plan on sticking with your new job before announcing it on LinkedIn.
April 17th– The #LetteroftheDay is “X” as is Excel
When someone is actively searching for a new job, the entire process can become overwhelming very quickly. One key to success is organization. Attached is a spreadsheet you can use to track each job during your search – When did you apply? What method did you use to apply? Who is the contact person? What was the résumé file name you used if you sent a customized résumé?
Furthermore, I encourage my clients to copy and paste the job description or screen capture it to save with this file. It may be 2 months after you apply before you hear back; you find the job description has expired and the details are no longer visible…now what? If you save the information from the beginning, you won’t have to worry about it come interview time.
If you would like this file as an Excel spreadsheet, please feel free to reach out to me and I’ll be more than glad to send it to you.
April 18th – The #LetteroftheDay is “Y” as in Year-Over-Year
When creating content for your résumé, there are several different ways you can quantify accomplishments. Tell the story that presents you in the best possible light.
The first thing that most people think of is year-over-year growth. There is nothing wrong with showcasing your sales growth 5% YOY, but what if your sales declined 6%? Probably not a story to tell. Here are a few ideas for ways you to highlight your achievements:
How does your performance compare to your peers? Your sales targets? To the company’s performance? To the industry average?
How are you ranked amongst your peers?
What is your growth over a 5-year period?
April 19th– The #LetteroftheDay is “Z” as in Zebra
Although most people tend to think of the zebra as a white animal with black stripes, scientists have discovered that the zebra is actually a black animal with white stripes. Much like a fingerprint, the stripes on a zebra are unique. No two animals have the same pattern.
The same is true for jobseekers. While there may be some similarities, no two jobseekers are alike. I have seen jobseekers try to use their friend’s or coworker’s résumé and simply change the contact information and basics. This is a bad idea right from the beginning. If the verbiage in a résumé is generic enough to be used on someone else’s résumé and still have it make sense, how far do you think that will go toward showcasing your unique brand and value?
