December 14th – The #NumberOfTheDay is 21
LinkedIn profiles with photos generated 14 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.
December 15th – The #NumberOfTheDay is 748
With President-Elect Joe Biden being selected yesterday as the 46th President of the United States, I thought it was an excellent time to see how we got here.
At the end of June 2019, 748 candidates had filed to run for President of the United States, including 259 Democratic candidates and 97 Republican candidates. Regardless of which side of the political spectrum you are on, most people would agree that of the 748 candidates that filed, 99% of them had zero chance of being elected.
Why would someone invest the time, money, and effort into a campaign where they have zero chance of winning?
Ronald Reagan, who many would consider one of our greatest modern-day presidents, twice ran unsuccessful campaigns before finally being elected in 1980. People remember Reagan for his successes, not for his losing campaigns in 1968 and 1976.
In the job search, an interview that doesn’t produce a job offer shouldn’t be considered a failure; it is a learning experience. It helps you become more comfortable in an interview setting, learn what works and what doesn’t, and build connections along the way. Stay positive, and success will follow.
“Every Accomplishment Begins with the Decision to Start”
December 16th – The #NumberOfTheDay is 43.
Over 2 weeks, you submitted 8 résumés, had 2 phone interviews, and connected with 4 hiring managers on LinkedIn. You keep checking your inbox and waiting for the phone to ring. Silence. Now what?
The most successful job seekers take charge of their situation. Instead of sitting back and waiting for the hiring manager to reach out to you, follow up with them. There is no fixed rule when you should follow up after an application, but 43% of hiring managers suggest between 1-2 weeks, and 30% suggest between 2-3 weeks.
If you know who the hiring manager is, drop them a short note on LinkedIn by introducing yourself, expressing your interest in the position, highlighting one or two key points that will be the most impressive to them, and attaching a copy of your résumé. Remember to keep it succinct, as recruiters often skim through messages.
December 17th – The #NumberOfTheDay is 15.573
In the fiscal year 2019, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency that interprets and enforces employment discrimination laws, received 15,573 complaints about age discrimination
Unfortunately, ageism in the workplace exists and is rising; over 55% of all discrimination claims stem from age bias.
As a job seeker, there are a few simple things you can do to help prevent “dating yourself” on your résumé:
- Remove education dates
- Lose the outdated AOL e-mail address and set up a Gmail address instead
- Choose a modern format and font for your resume
- Develop an optimized LinkedIn profile and have a custom URL on your résumé
- Limit the experience on your resume to the last 10-15 years
December 18th – The #NumberOfTheDay is 18,000
I recently heard a colleague says she landed a new client with no success with his current résumé. He claimed to have submitted 18,000 applications over the last year and a half with only 2 interviews. 18,000 applications in 18 months that is an average of 31 applications each day, every day, for the last 18 months!
20 years ago, job seekers had to work to submit a résumé…snail mail, fax, or hand-delivering a résumé was commonplace. Technology has made submitting a résumé easier than ever; however, customization and networking are crucial to success.
Instead of sending out 31 résumés each day, focus on customizing your résumé towards each particular job application, building your network, and targeting specific companies and positions that align with your career goals. Throwing your résumé up against a wall to see what sticks is an easy way to get frustrated very quickly.
