What is the Purpose of LinkedIn?

It depends on who is using the site and how.  If you are a job seeker, you are probably focusing your LinkedIn activity on job searching activities, such as contacting recruiters, both internally and externally, trying to add connections with a focus on companies who are hiring, and using the Job Search features that LinkedIn offers including the Job Search tab, Groups, and Company Pages.

If you are a recruiter, you are using LinkedIn to find new candidates and expand your overall network.  You are performing Advanced Searches for members who match specific criteria based on your clients’ job requirements, and your field of specialization.  You may also be using LinkedIn to seek and connect with hiring managers.

If you are focused on networking, you are using many of the same features and techniques to build your network with people you know, people they know, and people with whom you have an interest, but do not yet know.  Your focus is/should be on not only making the LinkedIn connection, but developing real relationships with others.

Networking = building relationships for the purpose of sharing information, guidance (advice) and connections.  Networking does support a job searching effort, but the focus is on the relationship and not only job search.  Once a job is mentioned and/or the resume is involved, networking switches to job search, and the relationship with the other person changes.

Does any of this matter to you?  Yes!  If you only perceive and use LinkedIn as a job search site/tool, then you will tend to be inactive with LinkedIn when you are not actively looking for a new job.  You will also limit how you use LinkedIn, and you will miss out on the opportunities to develop quality relationships with your existing connections and others.  Your network will go “cold” without making occasional contacts with others with whom you are connected.  Your network will grow only through the efforts of others who reach out to you.  Messages will sit unread in your Inbox, and you may miss out on new connections and new possibilities for relationship building.  You will ignore the Groups that you’ve joined.  Your profile may go untouched for months or longer.  Many profiles are incomplete, and do not get updated when one changes positions or companies.  The irony is that recruiters do look at your profile and notice your activity or inactivity.  They do notice if your profile is incomplete and out-of-date, and they are less likely to reach out to you.  Same goes for others who may want to connect with you, but see little value in doing so.  What impression do you want your LinkedIn profile to give to others when they find you?  You are well-connected, you are an active participant in your network and in your profession, or are you reactive, and only use LinkedIn to respond to an invitation to connect, or to seek out your connections when you need them for a job search?

It took me awhile before I realized the potential of LinkedIn, and I have developed many new relationships because of this great networking site.  I have also developed a growing business providing coaching and training to job seekers, networkers and business development professionals who have not yet realized their opportunities with LinkedIn.

I encourage you to explore LinkedIn, to complete your profile and keep it up-to-date, to continue to expand your network and keep in touch with your connections, and to take advantage of the still un-tapped benefits that using LinkedIn actively will bring you.  If you would like to learn more about how I can help you learn how to more fully utilize LinkedIn, please call me at (818) 577-1347 or email to: scfried@aol.com.

Note:  LinkedIn is also valuable for business development professionals, and the same search and networking features are used.  I write about LinkedIn as a business development tool in my Social Media 2 Connect blog.

Happy New Year!

It’s 2012 – a new year, a fresh start, resolutions to really work hard on getting a job.

By the end of 2011, you were probably feeling tired of being out of work, feeling bored without enough challenging and interesting things to do every day.  Missing a schedule.  Missing income!

What’s changed?  Hopefully you have changed.  I don’t think the job market has changed much or enough, at least not yet.  There are hopeful signs in the economy, but the official unemployment rate is still 8.6%, and “experts” agree that the real rate of unemployment and under-employment is much higher.

So, do you give up?  Do you just give in to another year of frustration and despair?  NO NO NO!

To start, I do not have a one-size fits all, magic plan.  Instead, I think that there are many things that you can do, and therefore, you increase your chances that something will work.  What’s the alternative?  To wait for luck to find you – that someone will knock on your door and offer you a good-paying job?  No.

Are you like many people I know who don’t believe they’ll find a new job, and yet continue to do the same one thing – that is, apply online, and wait and hope and wait and hope, and yet knowing it probably won’t work anytime soon?

Or are you ready to do whatever it takes?  I know that job searching sucks!  You start each day hoping that something will work, and not knowing what if anything will actually work.  Over time, you feel more rejected and more dejected.  So, you get more easily distracted – laundry, TV, coffee, the refrigerator, chores, errands, etc.  None of these things will help you find a job – you know it, but it sure beats looking for a job!  Doesn’t it?

So, the prospects don’t look so good.  Nothing’s been working, so what’s the point?  The point is that you want to get back to work – to put your experience and your skills to work, to exercise your brain every day, to earn a living, pay off your bills, have some fun again, and to re-discover your self-worth.

So, I ask again, ARE YOU READY TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES?  If so, I do have many suggestions – you probably have read or heard most or all of these before, but it’s time to review and to refresh:

• Do target your resume with the appropriate keywords and phrases to match the positions you’re interested in.  Recruiters search by keywords and phrases.  Same goes for your LinkedIn profile.
• Do post your resume online (Monster, CareerBuilder, Indeed, SimplyHired, Dice, etc.) – there is little likelihood that someone will find your resume, but I know people who have been found and hired this way.  Update your resume at least weekly so a new date stamp is applied keeping your resume “fresh”.
• Do search and apply online – use the major sites like Monster and CareerBuilder and use either Indeed or SimplyHired to search the aggregate of the other job sites and company websites.  Set up automated job searches and email alerts to cut down on your daily searches.  Try searching with different criteria, including different sets of key words and phrases.  DO NOT rely on this method to find a job – some people do, typically after hundreds or thousands of applications and many many months.
• Do use LinkedIn – complete your profile, build your network, join Groups, and search for more connections.  When you apply for a job online, search LinkedIn for direct and indirect connections to help you get your resume in front of someone at the company.  Think of how much more effective it is to have a hiring manager or even a recruiter look at your resume through a referral source vs. your resume sitting in their database un-detected and un-viewed.  Also, recruiters are searching on LinkedIn for candidates, so you have to be there, have a complete profile, have a network, and have recommendations.  You can also use LinkedIn to connect with people you don’t know and increase your visibility.  Networking does bring “hidden” jobs to you, but you do have to be savvy at it.  I can help you with LinkedIn and networking.
• Do keep in touch with your friends and former co-workers, clients and vendors in-person, by phone and online – email, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.  If they aren’t thinking of you, they’re not thinking of you when they hear of a job opening that fits you.   Don’t dwell on your job search and being out-of-work, but do maintain your relationships.
• Do consider and pursue temp/contract work – contact as many temp and contract agencies, and keep in touch with them on a regular (weekly) basis, even if they don’t call you back.  Be very flexible as to the work, the pay, hours, etc. to get started and on their “hot list”.  They have many more candidates than jobs, so you want to get on their radar screen.  When they contact you about a position, respond ASAP or the job may be gone.
• Do volunteer – volunteering gets you out of the home, connects you with people, gives you something to do, develops/enhances your experience and skills, and updates your resume and LinkedIn profile with current activity.  Also, when you’re giving to others, you realize you’re not empty and without value.
• Do go to job fairs – research and target companies and jobs of interest.  Bring resumes and business cards.  Dress professionally, speak with the recruiters, thank them for coming, ask them some questions, build a rapport, get their business card and follow-up.  Recruiters go to job fairs to meet candidates, and not to get resumes.  They can do that online.
• Attend a couple of job support groups – don’t expect to get a lot of job leads, but learn from one another, and make new friends.  It helps to know you’re not alone.  Bring your ideas and job leads to the group – look to give and to help others.
• Pair up with one or more job search buddies.  Meet once a week, set goals, hold one another accountable, and share ideas.  Give positive and helpful feedback.
• Be flexible for jobs that are not what you’re really looking for.  Take a shorter-term perspective if you’ve been looking for a long time.  In time, let’s hope the job market improves, and you can find something better. For now, it’s generally better to get back to work, and earning a living, than to stay unemployed.  Recruiters and hiring managers do discriminate against the unemployed, so it hurts your marketability and hire-ability the longer you’re not working.
• Be creative with job possibilities – consider your experience, skills and interests, and look for jobs that may be different than your previous position(s), but where you might be a match.  Utilize your network to find something different; don’t rely on your resume for these positions as recruiters look for the near-perfect match only.
• Be creative with job search methods – think outside of the box.  That sounds cliche, but it works.  Try different things.  Approach each challenge with the belief that you can and will find a way, if you just do it.  You face obstacles which become opportunities.  Each success builds on itself.  Instead of just doing the same thing and rejecting new options, open up your mind, ask for suggestions from others, and try them.  Don’t give up when they don’t work right away.  Applying online hasn’t worked well, but you keep doing it, so give new ideas and new options a good long try.
• Do exercise, eat well, and sleep enough – keep yourself mentally and physically healthy.  Keep a positive demeanor out in public, on the phone, via email, and online.  Do not post negative comments on Facebook, etc.  Be very discreet about with whom you share your frustrations.
• Play games and sports, hike, bike, have fun.  Create endorphins and have some fun.  Life is not over.
• Organize your day.  Make a to-do list for job search. Split up the time throughout the day.  Take breaks, but don’t spend a lot of time with non-job search activities.  Give yourself credit for what you do accomplish each day; don’t beat yourself up for what you don’t do.  Just do better the next day.  Praise yourself for each effort.
• Take it one day at a time.  Don’t try or expect to climb the mountain at once.  Take small steps with all of your job search efforts.  We’ve agreed that it is not fun, it is frustrating, and it often seems futile.  However, each small step moves you closer to your goal.  You only need one decent offer, and the nightmare will be over.

Don’t give up!  Don’t wait for luck alone to solve this.  You have to make the effort, each and every day, one foot in front of the other, and keep moving forward.  You took 9 – 15 months on average to learn how to walk.  You fell down often, even got hurt, tired and frustrated, but you kept trying and learning, and you learned how to walk.  It’s the same now.  I know you’re tired.  You’re disappointed.  You don’t understand how things got so bad.  They did, but you can do so much about it.  I know so many people who have found jobs through a variety of different approaches and efforts.  Sure – it takes much longer than what we’re used to.  The world has changed – things are not the same, so accept it, and do something about it.  You can’t change the macro environment, so don’t even try.  Change your world, your life.  You can do it – I know that you can!

I encourage you to read my other posts about resume preparation, networking, LinkedIn, etc.

If you need and want some help, let me know.  I want you to succeed, for you to get a new job, and for you to set off in a new and positive direction.  Happy 2012 – make it so!

I am a career coach, social media consultant and former executive search recruiter (headhunter).  I am passionate about networking as the most effective way to find a job, especially a “hidden job”.  And yet, I also see networking and job searching as two different, but related processes.

Networking is the process of building and maintaining relationships. To network successfully, you should be focused on how you can help others.  Networking is mutually beneficial – it is reciprocal.  Look to give, and you will receive, and give without the expectation of receiving.  When you do ask for help, ask for information, advice and referrals (connections to others).  Do so honestly, without a hidden agenda.  Ask your contacts to brainstorm with you, and to share their ideas and their expertise.  When you are networking, your contacts will keep you in mind, and refer opportunities to you when they hear of something.  It is counter-intuitive – when you don’t ask for a job, it is more likely a job will come to you.

Job searching is the explicit process of looking for an opportunity.  When you ask for a job or job lead, you get one of two responses – “Yes” or “No”.  In this difficult job market, it is most often, “No”, and the conversation ends.  When you ask for something that someone cannot offer, you may actually frustrate their willingness and efforts to help you!

Can you combine networking with job searching?  Yes.  When there is an opening at a company where you have a connection, or one of your contacts has a connection, you can ask for help in referring you or sending your resume.  You do increase the likelihood of getting more attention to your resume than just applying through the company website.

However, as I described above, you can do so much more with your networking process.  Make an effort to connect with and meet new people.  Keep in touch with the people you already know.  When is the last time you reached out to your former co-workers just to see how they’re doing?  Make your conversation two -way; start by asking others about themselves, and:

• Don’t jump into your job search misery and frustration.
• Allow people who know you to maintain a similar relationship with you that they had before you became unemployed.
• Keep it comfortable, and let them offer to help, instead of your asking.
• Don’t expect anyone to help you, and they more likely will.

Networking can be fun and pleasant.  You will maintain your friendships, and make new ones.  You will learn and share with others.  My favorite expression is:  “You never know”.  You never know when and where an opportunity will find you, but the more you network, the more people you meet and keep in touch with, the more likely a job will come.  And, it’s going to be much more rewarding than sitting at your computer and clicking and sending your resume day after day, with so little response.

So, are you really networking, or job searching in disguise?

First, we must recognize that social media sites and tools are not to be used “instead of” real relationships, but to “enhance” our relationship building and maintaining process.  LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc. provide us with the opportunity to “connect” with people we know, people we used to know, and people we don’t yet know.  However, to add connections and not ever follow-up with them is not building relationships – it is just collecting connections.

For example, I have more than 1500 direct connections in LinkedIn.  Many of my connections are people I have known throughout my life, and LinkedIn provides a place where I can keep track of and keep in touch with these people, whether they be clients, former clients, referral partners, former co-workers and college alums, attendees at my presentations/workshops, etc.  I check the activity of my connections from time to time, and then reach out to them.  At the same time, I have many connections who have invited me to connect, and then I never hear from them.

I use LinkedIn, especially, to keep in touch with my connections, and to seek out new individuals with whom I look to develop a business relationship.  I learned a long time ago, that “you never know” how and when a business relationship will develop and how and when you and they will benefit from the relationship.  When I started recruiting, I placed some new candidates immediately.  Many others, I didn’t place for  years – 5, 10 and even 20 years later!  And, many others, I never placed, but I stayed in touch with them throughout.  I shared information and advice with them, they hired candidates from me, and they referred their friends and colleagues.

So, how can we utilize these new social media tools to enhance and support our relationships?  These social media tools provide opportunities to find others with whom we share common backgrounds and interests, as well as common connections.  After connecting with them on the site, the process starts with reaching out to them.  It involves keeping in touch with them.  It means using the telephone and email.  It includes meeting for coffee or lunch.  It means looking at their profiles, and reaching out to say “hello”, touch base and ask them how they’re doing, or congratulate them on a new job, a new venture.  It means doing all the same things we used to do.

We want to be careful and not think that an occasional “Like” or “Comment” is relationship building if that is all we are doing.  Posting our blogs, promoting our wares, or just “connecting” is not relationship building either if that is all we are doing.

A couple of weeks ago, I connected with two new people in LinkedIn, followed up with an email and/or phone call, and then met for coffee with each of them.  What will become of these new relationships, I do not yet know.  However, I was using LinkedIn as the introductory tool, and not the entire relationship tool, and now we have become acquainted with one another, and we will look for opportunities to continue to build the relationship.

LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, blogging, etc., provide wonderful opportunities for us to make connections with people with whom we otherwise might never have run across.  So, take advantage of these social media tools and build quality relationships as “you never know” what might be…  Happy networking

You know that relying on online resume submissions is not working for most job seekers or it takes a very long time to find a job with just this approach.  Just in case you don’t already know why, here are the reasons:

• There are so many more candidates than open positions.
• Recruiters are over-whelmed with the volume of resumes.
• Recruiters do not view all submitted resumes.
• Recruiters and hiring managers prefer to hire someone they know or someone who is referred by employees or others they trust.
• If your resume does not match the position, including containing the keywords and phrases that the recruiter is using in a search, no matter how qualified you are, your resume will not be accessed and viewed.
• Recruiters are using LinkedIn and other social media more and more to find candidates!

So, do you agree that you need to be doing more than relying on your resume and internet job search?  Do you agree that networking should be an important part of your job search efforts?  The answer, of course, is “Yes” and “Yes”!

If you agree that you should be networking, please read on…

LinkedIn is the premier business networking site, now with more than 150 million members and growing.  By having a complete and professional profile on LinkedIn, you will be more visible and accessible to recruiters who are looking for someone with your background.  More than just having a profile, you should build a quality network of LinkedIn members who can connect you with decision makers and well-connected people in your industry as well as people who are working at the companies that are of interest to you (and are hiring).

Just imagine the benefit of having a contact inside a company that is hiring – that person can greatly increase the likelihood of your resume getting attention by a recruiter and a hiring manager.  How does that compare to your resume sitting in the company’s database viewed by no one?

Just imagine that you connect with people who think of you and contact you when they hear of opportunities, especially before they are even open and publicized!  How do those odds compare to competing with the countless number of resumes in the database?

The larger and the higher quality your LinkedIn network, the more opportunities you have of connecting with the right people who can and will open doors for you.

If you are not yet using LinkedIn to actively network, then you are missing out on the best game in town.  The outplacement firms always say, “If you’re not networking, you’re not working.”  Add to that, “LinkedIn is the best tool available for your professional networking.”

I have been an active member of LinkedIn for 5 years, having developed a network of more than 1500 direct connections, and more than 10.5 million total network connections!  I coach and train individuals and groups how to use LinkedIn to its fullest.  If you would like to learn more about how to harness the power of LinkedIn for networking, please get in touch, and we’ll get you networking with LinkedIn in a way you didn’t know was available to you!

Phone: (818) 577-1347

Email: scfried@aol.com

• Do focus your resume and tailor it for each position, matching the key words and phrases.  Your resume needs to tell the reader how you can meet/exceed their needs and expectations.
• Do NOT rely on your resume to get a job! There are millions of people applying online, and often hundreds or thousands for each opening.  Even with a well-written and targeted resume, it is very possible, and often probable, that your resume is not even seen by human eyes.
• Do prepare for each and every interview.  Research the company, the department, the hiring manager and the position.  Know as much about the responsibilities and requirements of the position as well as the culture of the organization.
• Do NOT leave anything to chance.  Interviews are so much more difficult to come by, so don’t just wing it.  Even if you think you’re not going to be interested, treat it with equal attention and care.  You never know what other opportunities may arise if you make a good impression, or if the hiring manager might want to change the position to fit with you.
• Do use all available job search methods – internet job sites, social media, recruiters and temp agencies, job fairs, friends/family/co-workers and of course, networking beyond your close circles.
• Do NOT sit in front of the computer all day, every day, and only apply for online jobs.  Many jobs are “hidden” (sometimes more than 50%), so if you’re not networking, you’re missing out.  Also, as stated above, for online jobs, you’re competing with hundreds and thousands of other candidates.
• Do get out and do something!  Volunteer – you’ll get up, dressed, and out, have something to do, acquire new skills, meet new people, and maybe land a “hidden” job.  Take part-time and temp/contract jobs – same reasons as volunteering, plus you get paid, and many companies hire temp-to-perm.  You can also have some current experience on your resume and LinkedIn profile.  Be social – getting together with others is good for your mental health, and you’re be visible and more on the minds of others.
• Do NOT isolate yourself from your family, friends, others.  Job search is lonely, frustrating and rejecting.  Don’t think that others don’t care – they do, but you need to keep your side of the relationships going.  Also, your family, friends, others may feel uncomfortable and afraid to talk about your job search, especially if you’ve been out of work for a long time.  Don’t forget that work is only one part (an important part) of who you are, so don’t lose the rest of your personality and person.
• Do attend job support group meetings and activities.  You will meet new people, be able to share and learn from one another, have a support system of others who understand what you’re going through, and sometimes, a job lead will come from these groups.
• Do NOT take without giving to the job support groups.  Volunteer your time, bring leads, share articles, offer to help others with their job search.  The more members contribute, the more sustaining and helpful are the groups.
• Do use social media.  LinkedIn, especially, is a great tool for networking as well as job search.  Be careful what you post on LinkedIn, as well as Facebook, Twitter, etc.  Companies are doing background searches on the internet to learn more about you.  You are what you post!
• Do NOT set up a LinkedIn profile, add a few connections, and not use it actively.  Recruiters and hiring managers will look at your LinkedIn profile to see your background (so, make it complete and professional), and to see how well you are connected.  What does your LinkedIn profile say about you?  Also, if you’re not using it, you’re losing it!  LinkedIn offers great tools to find people with whom you can connect and build relationships.  If you don’t know how to get the most out of LinkedIn, contact me – I have 5 years of expertise with LinkedIn and more than 25 years of networking expertise.
• Do whatever you can to maintain a positive attitude.  I know how difficult it is today, and how challenging it is to stay focused and positive.  Do whatever you can to help yourself – exercise, walk/bike/hike, play sports, play games, get together with friends, meditate, relax, eat well, and get good sleep.
• Do NOT give up and do NOT let the hiring world see your frustration or other feelings.  Do whatever you can to put on a smile, put friendliness in your voice, keep working at your job search, seek support, help and advice from others, and take it one day at a time.  What’s in the past is passed. You only have today.  You only need one job offer.  Keep going forward, and I wish you success!

According to the story, to start with, older workers take twice as long to find a job than younger workers, and then they are often laid off again.  For David Reed, it’s happened 3 times.  His wife has returned to work at a $30,000 job, and he is doing anything and everything he can to find work including applying for an Assistant Manager position at a fast food restaurant, for which he was declined.

I have read countless articles about the plight of the older workers – how difficult it is to find a job given the dual discrimination of being older, and being unemployed.

What does this say about our country and our culture?  It seems that American corporations have lost an appreciation for the experience, knowledge, maturity and reliability of our older workers, and as we know, their compassion as well.

I have presented and worked with numerous local job support groups, and the vast majority of the participants are older workers – in their 50s and 60s.  I see the growing discouragement and despair.  I see and hear the loss of hope.  They grew up during a time when jobs were plentiful, people felt comfortable and confident in their jobs, and people looked forward to retirement.  Now, they scramble trying to find something to keep their financial heads above water, and to keep some dignity.  I think corporate America will someday regret that they have thrown away so many qualified and dedicated workers, and our country will regret losing this generation of workers.  It affects our morale.  It affects our economy, our real estate market, and more.  It is perhaps changing our view of work, loyalty, stability, the American dream and much more…

Please share your experiences and feelings.

To be or not to be … a Facebook user???

600 million and growing members of Facebook.  Companies are using Facebook pages and targeted ads for marketing.  Facebook is surpassing Google for page views and growing in search.

Many of you are on Facebook.  Some of you use it often, some rarely, and others not at all.

I understand the excitement around Facebook, and I equally understand the concerns around security and privacy.  My belief is that when you post anything, Facebook saves it in a large database.  More and more Facebook users are victimized by spammers and hackers.  Children (and adults) are posting pictures and comments that can haunt them later when they look for a new job (or even in their existing job).

Some people use Facebook to broadcast their complaints or tell you where they are and what they are doing throughout the day, every day.  At the same time, many are sharing interesting and helpful information, and you can pick and choose what you read and what interests you.

So, should one be on Facebook?

That is a personal decision.  Consider the reason(s) why you would join and use Facebook:

• Connect / re-connect with family and friends, including schoolmates from high school and college, friends from camp, etc.
• Connect with acquaintances, business associates, parents from your child’s school, members of the church/synagogue/mosque, members of a sports team or social club, etc.
• Connect with clients to keep in touch and build more personal relationships
• Meet new people
• Promote your business, products and services
• Share your knowledge and opinions, and learn from others who share common or different interests and beliefs

Next, address your security and privacy concerns.  Balance your reason(s) for using Facebook with your good judgment.  Don’t post anything that will potentially damage your and anyone else’s reputation.  Good rule of thumb: if you’re not sure, best not to post and share it.  Know that you are what you post.

Go through the Account and Privacy settings one by one.  Be conservative, and protect your privacy.  Balance between the desire to be visible with the risk of being too visible to strangers.

There is much to gain – staying in touch with your friends, acquaintances and business connections, learning from others (news, your community, interests, activities and events, new businesses, products and services and much more), promoting your business if you have one, having fun (playing games, sharing jokes and photos), arranging get-togethers and reunions, and more…

What to do?

If you have fears and concerns, spend some time and learn about your options, and then you can make a more informed decision.

If you are not technology savvy, seek help from others who are familiar with the features and functionality.  With practice, you will learn your way around.

Your hesitation is valid, and it can keep you safe.  Facebook does require good judgment and attention as to how and with whom your information is visible and potentially shared.

If you are already using Facebook, be careful and prudent, check your settings (often!) and enjoy.  If you are not yet using Facebook, don’t throw out the baby with the bath water.  Do some research, speak with knowledgeable users, and see if you can make it work for you.  If not, you can always come back to it later as I think Facebook will be there for years to come…

For more Facebook tips, including privacy and security, please find more posts at:  http://careerspecialist1.wordpress.com/category/facebook-tips/

You need to be on LinkedIn, but not only have a profile, but be actively using the site.  Why?

1. Does Job Security really exist?

If you’ve been paying attention during the past 4 years, then you know that millions and millions of American workers, many of whom thought it would never happen to them, were laid off as corporate America went through the largest down-sizing in recent history.  So, even if you love your job, have no interest in ever leaving your job, and are not interested in a better opportunity, it is advisable to invest in your network, just in case…  My clients can tell you that it is much harder to network when you are looking for a job!

2.  Networking is about learning and sharing with others

LinkedIn is a networking site – yes, there are job search features and job postings, but primarily, LinkedIn provides a platform for people to meet in a business and professional arena, and share their ideas, knowledge, expertise, and products/services with one another.  I constantly share with my LinkedIn network, and they share with me – it is an integral part of our learning and growing process.

3.  Are you participating in the social media revolution?

Or are you ignoring, avoiding, or denying that social media and social networking are now embedded in the fabric of our society, culture, politics, and business processes.  If you are on the younger side, then chances are you are technology savvy, or at least, aware.  If you are on the older (more mature) side, and you want to be able to compete with your younger colleagues, then you need to embrace social media.  Your participation or lack thereof, with LinkedIn, especially, says a lot about your view, knowledge, and experience with social media.  Emerson said “Ignorance is bliss”, but not if you are out of work and lacking the know how to effectively utilize the new social media and networking tools.

4. If you are job searching…

then, you need to be visible and attractive to recruiters and potential hiring managers.  More and more recruiters and hiring managers are searching LinkedIn for potential candidates – for both advertised and hidden jobs.  They are also using LinkedIn as part of their screening process once they’ve received and reviewed resumes.  An incomplete and inactive profile will most likely be passed over in lieu of a potential candidate whose profile is complete, professional, well-connected, and active.  Plus, they need to be able to reach you!

5.  Maintain your network! (within your company, too!)

Build your network, engage in group discussions, stay current on what’s happening with your connections, make comments, send messages, and keep in touch.  Just like your muscles, your network will atrophy if not used regularly and often.  Be proactive, and keep in touch with people you know, and make connections with people you don’t know, yet.  An active and vibrant network can bring opportunities, not only for new jobs outside of your company, but within your existing organization. You can share ideas and learn from others.  You can and will get noticed by others within your company.  LinkedIn is not just about networking outside your company, but within.  LinkedIn provides you the unique opportunity to interact with key people within your company in a way that would otherwise be unavailable to you.

Why you wouldn’t use LinkedIn actively – if …

• you know for sure that you will never change or lose your job
• you have no interest in sharing with or learning from others
• you have no interest in growing in your current job or company
• you have no interest in maintaining connections with your colleagues, former colleagues, and other professionals in your industry and field
• you believe that social media/social networking is just a fad and will fade away
• you are going to retire and do not want or need connections with anyone from your professional past

… then LinkedIn is not a necessary investment for you.  But, make sure you fit with one or more of the above exceptions.  If you don’t, then you do need LinkedIn, and you need to be an active participant with LinkedIn.  Join the parade, or it will pass you by …

What does your LinkedIn profile say about you?

I’ve blogged numerous times about why and how you should be networking (Networking posts); I’ve also spoken to numerous job support groups, professional associations and student groups about the value and necessity of networking.  Many other career coaches and small business consultants harp on the same subject.  Yet, we know that the vast of majority of us only network when we seemingly have to.

I have had many many clients vocally agree that they should be networking, and then they go back to job searching on the internet job sites.  I have had many others say that they don’t have time or need to network as they’re working and not looking for a new job.  I wrote specifically about why you should be networking while you are working (“Why Network When You’re Already Working?“).

So, let’s all agree that networking is important, and we should be doing it all the time.  We also know that it is difficult for many, even when they have the time and motivation.

I want to help you make it a “Habit” and one that is easily obtained and retained.

When I first joined a gym, I committed to going 3-4 times a week, and you all know how that turned out. As soon as something got in the way, I couldn’t stick to my schedule.  The next time I joined a gym, I committed to going only 2 times a week, and it worked!  Why?  It was realistic, doable, and even enjoyable.  Instead of beating myself up for when I didn’t go, I was able to keep to the commitment because it was less demanding, and there was more flexibility to fit it in with my weekly schedule.  Over time, I developed the habit of going to the gym twice a week, I built up my muscles and cardio, and I felt better physically and mentally.

Networking can be and should be the same.  Start small and slowly.  Here are some steps that you can realistically do to make networking a habit:

• Commit to doing it.  Just make the commitment that you will do this, and you’re on your way.
• Make a list of people with whom you would like to get in touch – maybe some former co-workers or friends with whom you have been out of touch for a long time.  Maybe some people who have been key contacts throughout your career.
• Set a goal of reaching out to only 2-3 people per week.  You can call, email, send a Facebook message, etc.  Ask them how they’re doing, let them know you’ve been thinking of them, and see if you can set up a time to speak or meet for coffee, whatever.
• Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t reach out to 2-3 people in the first few weeks.  You haven’t developed the habit yet.  Give yourself credit for the effort you do make – that is critical to building upon your success (and not what you think is your failure).
• Stick to your weekly goal, and don’t make excuses why you can’t.  If you think you can, you are right; if you think you can’t, you are also right. So, be right about what you can and what you will do!
• At the end of the first month, see how many people you reached out to, and how many you reached.  Whatever the number, it will be greater than zero.
• Keep doing it for a second month.
• Keep doing it for a third month.
• After several months (or sooner), you will realize that you have the time to network with a few each week, and you will have developed the habit of networking!

You will connect and re-connect with a lot of people over time, and you will have fun doing it!  And, your network will stay active, it will grow, and you will reap benefits that you didn’t even realize come from networking, especially when you are not job searching.

So, remember, set a realistic and attainable weekly goal, stick with it, give yourself time to gain momentum, pat yourself on the back for what you do accomplish, and in a few months, you will have developed and retained the habit of networking!  And, keep doing it – your network is only as good as your efforts in staying in touch with the people with whom you are connected.