June 17th – The #NumberOfTheDay is 21
LinkedIn profiles with photos generated 21 times more views and 36 times more messages than profiles without photos.
Here are a few tips on selecting a LinkedIn photo that is right for you:
- Choose a photo that looks like you
- Make sure your face takes up at least 60% of the frame
- No selfies! Professionalism is key
- Smile and looking friendly
- Choose a background that isn’t distracting
If you want to receive feedback from others on your photo before posting it, consider a site like photofeeler.com.
June 18th – The #NumberOfTheDay is 1
Four years ago, today, June 18, 2015, an NBC/WSJ poll found that new presidential candidate, Donald Trump, attracted support from just 1% of Republican primary voters. Less than 17 months later, Mr. Trump would go on the become the 45thPresident of the United States.
Like him or not, he is a great example of perseverance and defying the odds. What would have happened if he saw the early poll numbers, decided to pack his bags, and go in a different direction?
The same can be said for the job search – rarely is it a clear path to victory, you will be kicked when you are down, and probably question if it is all worth it. Set your goals, stay focused, and work your plan. Perseverance does pay off.
June 19th – The #NumberOfTheDay is 59
According to a recent study by Monster.com, 59% of new college graduates anticipate finding a new job within 2 months after completing their degree.
With a 49-year record low unemployment in the U.S., the prospect of finding a job is greater than ever. However, a strong job market doesn’t always correlate into finding immediate work.
Here are a few tips for new grads to find their first position out of school:
- Start early. Don’t wait until after graduation to begin looking for employment
- Network, network, network. 75% of all jobs are filled through who you know, it is no different for new grads
- Invest in professional written career marketing documents. Often people will have no problem spending $100,000 on a degree but then balk at paying a fraction of the cost for arguably the second most important piece of paper in your job search
- Be open-minded. Your dream job may not be waiting for you right after graduation and you may need to find a position to use as a stepping stone to gain the experience needed to advance your career
June 20th – The #NumberOfTheDay is 96
According to TalentWorks, if you submit a job application in the first 96 hours, you’re up to 8 times more likely to get an interview. After that, every day you wait reduces your chances by 28%.
Why? If an employer is posting a job, they probably need someone for that job ASAP. When hiring, employers usually check for internal candidates first, followed by referral candidates, and only then if they don’t find someone will they post an open position online.
Pro tip: Set up daily job search alerts to be delivered directly to your email so when new jobs are posted, you can get to them early to give yourself the best chance of landing an interview.
June 21st – The #NumberOfTheDay is 51
The Bond Internet Trends reports that 51% of all advertising dollars all spent on digital platforms. In 2010, only 20% of advertising dollars were spent on digital platforms.
Being seen online is more important than ever for corporations and the same is true for job seekers. In today’s digital age, you need more than just a résumé, a fully optimized LinkedIn profile can significantly help your chances in landing a position.
LinkedIn has over 630 million users with over 300 million active monthly users. The only people that might see your résumé are those that you send it to whereas having a digital presence on LinkedIn provides you with the opportunity to have your profile viewed by over 600 million people.
Where do you think you’ll get more bang for your buck?
