How To Not Be Annoying On LinkedIn

No matter what industry you’re in, networking is the supreme principle in advancing your career. In most cases, modern networking means a strong LinkedIn presence. LinkedIn has cornered the market as the prime social media option for the professional world, and proper LinkedIn etiquette is a skill every professional needs to learn.

Part of that etiquette is knowing what NOT to do on the platform. LinkedIn isn’t the same as other social media platforms, and if you annoy your network, you’ll find yourself alienating your potential allies.

Your personal brand is important, and you don’t want that brand to be “an annoyance.” Unless you’re looking to be a nuisance, avoid these annoying LinkedIn behaviors.

Don’t spam

LinkedIn is a fantastic tool for getting in touch with people you otherwise may never speak to. You can research prospective employers, find informational interviews, reach out to those in new industries, or look into those previously employed at companies you’re interested in.

But you can’t simply fire connection requests and cold messages to every person on the website. You should take time to carefully craft any requests and take time to explain who you are and why you’d like to connect. Quality leads are better than quantity.

Josh Steimle uses mass tagging connections in posts as another type of spam to avoid. If you’re constantly looking for attention by overly tagging people, you’ll soon find yourself blocked.

LinkedIn itself, a pretty credible source on this particular topic, says to avoid coming across as “salesy.”The platform may be designed for professional development, but no one wants your service shoved in their face immediately. Treat your potential connections as actual people rather than pure customers.

Don’t be generic

Hand-in-hand with the above point, the more generic you are in your efforts, the less interested people will be in interacting with you. As Forbes’ William Arruda reminds us, spammers and bots are a plague on LinkedIn, and it can be detrimental to your efforts if you sound like one.

On paper, a high volume of messages sounds like a good way to get at least some positive responses. But like with applying for jobs, spray-and-pray techniques rarely work. Any pitch you’re planning on sending should be carefully thought out and provide value to your target. Make an effort to reference something they’ve done or how their experience inspired you. A generic pitch is wasting their time and yours.

“For some reason, people think it is effective to cold pitch people without any preparation or research. The funniest is when someone sends me a message on LinkedIn offering their totally irrelevant service and says something along the lines of “We see that at your company you do XYZ and thought you could use my product.”” -Hillel Fuld

Be honest

It should go without saying, but don’t lie to your potential connections about what you can do for them. While your pitch should have value to the connection, it needs to actually be something you can deliver.

Trickery on LinkedIn isn’t just lying about your skills, experience, or connections. William Arruda uses the example of deceiving your new connection by asking for time to get to know them or claiming you’re doing research for a project when in actuality you’re trying to make a sale or ask for a job opportunity. Once it gets out that you’re taking advantage of the generosity of others, you’ll find it harder to make connections.

“If your true intention is to make a sale, don’t imply it’s about the joy of just getting to know and learn about people. This subterfuge is beyond annoying.” –William Arruda

Don’t overshare

“Weird Al” Yankovic once wrote a song called “Stop Forwarding That Crap To Me” regarding chain emails and overshared images that plagued the early internet days. Unfortunately, the song is relevant once again as LinkedIn spammers fill your feed with unwanted content.

Alexander Krastev notes useless polls, irrelevant tear-jerking or viral videos, cringey memes, and overly shared stories as the types of eye-rolling content plaguing the platform. While it can seem cruel to vilify this type of content, a good deal of it is fake and overshared simply to generate clicks and engagement.

LinkedIn is supposed to be a place for professionals to connect and share relevant content. While it doesn’t hurt to have some fun, save the off-topic content for Twitter and Instagram.

Don’t use it as a dating site

Speaking of keeping it professional, while LinkedIn is a social media platform, it isn’t meant to be a dating pool. Save the cracking on for Tinder or Bumble, and let LinkedIn remain a safe place to grow professionally.

Wrap up

Good LinkedIn etiquette shares much in common with good social media etiquette, or just good manners in general. Treating your future connections like actual human beings and not just avenues for gain goes a long way. Be authentic and offer value to others, don’t bombard the platform with irrelevant content to get attention, and keep things professional and you’ll be viewed as someone people wish to connect with. Happy connecting!

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5 Principles For Saying “No” At Work

It’s always the best practice to be a team player at work. But sometimes you simply have too much on your plate, or other tasks are higher priority. Sometimes, you need to just say “no.”

But saying “no” isn’t always easy. You may be concerned about letting your team down or being viewed as uncooperative. You may simply be a people pleaser and struggle to let others down in any manner.

But there are a plethora of reasons why saying “no” is okay. Forbes Coaches Council mentions a task impeding your other work, having too many existing tasks on your plate, not wanting to do another worker’s work, and feeling threatened as just a few of the many reasons you may need to decline.

Accepting too much work can lead to burnout and negative mental health effects. It’s okay to say “no!” But if you struggle saying the word “no” and need a little extra guidance, follow these five principles to stay firm and guilt-free.

Communicate clearly

If you simply can’t handle a task, you need to communicate that as clearly and quickly as possible. Don’t let the fear of a backlash prevent you from expressing yourself as soon as possible. Waiting until the last minute is almost never the best interpersonal strategy.

Don’t be vague when you decline, otherwise, the person may not be sure you declined at all. Clearly state your “no,” and be direct and polite. Career coach Melody Wilding adds that apologizing and telling the truth will go a long way towards keeping things professional and your refusal being accepted.

Explain yourself

When you decline, don’t simply say “no” and leave it at that. It’s good manners to say why you aren’t able to help with this task. Explaining yourself softens the blow of the rejection and helps the person understand your motives, Indeed explains.

You don’t need to give a drawn-out explanation, but a few clarifying sentences can make all the difference. Remember, there are plenty of good reasons to decline to accept a new task, and they don’t need to be overly complicated.

“Saying something like, “I’m so sorry. I stretched myself too thin, and I won’t be able to make it,” is sufficient.” –Melody Wilding

Come up with an alternative

Even if you plan on saying “no” to a request, there are still ways you can be a team player and offer assistance in the matter. Flexibility is the key, says Ashira Prossack.

By explaining the reason you aren’t able to help right now, you may find ways to help when those reasons are no longer a factor. If you currently have too much on your plate at the moment, that may change by the end of the week, and you might be able to offer assistance then.

Alternatively, you might offer to help with a smaller part of the project that you can currently handle. Or you might know of someone better suited to the task or an available resource that can help. Flexibility and offering to help in some small ways show you aren’t being completely dismissive and want the project to succeed.

“If you can’t do something on a specific day or time, see if there’s another timeframe that works for both you and the other person.” –Ashira Prossack, communication trainer

Choose your battles

You can’t simply decline every task that comes your way. Work will involve tasks we don’t want to do, and you don’t want to be someone who declines everything. Being respectful and choosing the right moments to say “no” will lead to your dismissal being respected.

CNN Business found that viewing tasks as “promotable” or “non-promotable” can help you view which tasks are worth making the extra time for. If a task can lead to career advancement or increasing your skills, it might be worth making extra time and saying “yes”.

“Think more strategically on what is the non-promotable work that really makes sense for you to spend your time… find out where yours makes the most sense.” –CNN Business

Ultimately, you may have to compromise. It’s not always possible to completely say no, but if you’ve been direct and respectful, you may find a solution or timeframe that better meets your needs.

But don’t be a pushover

But a compromise isn’t a full “yes.” You might be flexible and offer help another time, but you’ve still said “no” to their current needs, and you can feel confident in that. Indeed says if you immediately cave and completely give in, your coworkers will know they can get you to reverse your stance in future conflicts.

Ask A Boss’ Alison Green reminds us that it’s important to know how to set boundaries. It’s good to be helpful and flexible, but if you feel your time is being taken advantage of, you need to stand your ground—especially in cases when it feels like you’re being asked to do someone else’s work. Accept this and recognize when to comprise and when to stay firm.

Wrap up

It isn’t always easy to say “no,” and none of us want to seem unhelpful. But there are plenty of good reasons to say “no” to accepting more work. Make sure that you respond clearly and explain yourself, and try to be flexible when you can. You won’t always be able to say “no,” but if you choose your battles carefully, no one will be able to blame you for being firm when it counts.

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Watch Out For These Red Flags On Your Next Job Search

In wake of the Great Resignation, many organizations are rapidly trying to attract talent. It’s a good time to be a job seeker, as experts believe 2022 is a year favoring employees. But while many companies are hiring and job seekers have a plethora of options, not all of those options are good. Navigating the job market can be like walking through a minefield as you try to avoid questionable organizations.

Thankfully, a well-prepared job seeker can avoid these “mines” by recognizing the red flags these organizations put out. Whether in the job description itself or based on statements you hear in an interview, there are telltale signs you’re heading for an unpleasant role. We’ll cover six of these major red flags to avoid during your next job search.

Vague or problematic language

Before you even interact with someone from the company, the job post alone can tell you a lot about the company’s culture. Just as in dating, there are plenty of words and phrases that should immediately set off warning lights.

Being described as a wizard, ninja, or rockstar might be cool in a video game, but avoid companies seeking these fantastical titles. Dice writes that many tech companies used these titles to jazz up descriptions, but now they are commonly used as a vague, catch-all term to describe someone that checks every single box they want. These terms are also often gendered and can indicate a workplace lacking diversity.

Meanwhile, avoid companies that claim to be “like a family”. Families can often be dysfunctional, and while that may be okay for you and your loved ones, it isn’t how you want a company to run.

“Workplaces that claim to be a family can come with the downsides of family—poor boundaries and guilt trips. No thanks.” –Hcareers

Vague descriptions, or conversely overly long descriptions, can be a bad sign, too. The company may not know exactly what they’re looking for, or they may have unrealistic expectations for the position.

Finally, pay attention to words that imply the position will come with lots of extra work or lead to burnout. If the job description mentions “work hard, play hard”, “fast-paced”, “must be a self-starter”, or “unlimited earning potential”, you could be heading for a bad time, writes Forbes. While these terms don’t need to be immediate deal-breakers, feel free to ask the recruiter what exactly they mean when they use these terms.

Avoiding discussing pay

Even if you’re passionate about your career, you’re still getting paid for your work. Ideally, you’ll make a comfortable living. If a job is vague or dances around the subject of salary, it can be a bad sign.

Some companies may use vague language like “based on experience” or “competitive salary”, but when asked, they should be able to provide a range.

“It’s just basic human choice. We would never accept a job without knowing how much money we’d get in it. We cannot make a decision without that core information.” –Katrina Kibben

Lots of turnover

You may need to do extra research on this tip, but if you see the same position in your search multiple times, it may mean the organization has a high turnover rate. Jennifer Parris suggests you may need to dig deeper to find out why this position is constantly open.

It can be worth asking the hiring manager but don’t be afraid to look outside the current organization. Look at reviews on Glassdoor, check LinkedIn to see how long people remain with the company, and if you know anyone that worked there, get the inside scoop.

Lack of communication

If you’ve started the process of applying and the communication between you and the hiring manager is sporadic, this may be a sign of a dysfunctional organization. While both job seekers and hiring managers can be guilty of ghosting, if you’re having communication issues this early in the process it’s a bad look. We all have bad days, but if you’re consistently being ghosted or the manager feels unprepared, you may wish to look elsewhere.

Long hiring process

Glassdoor’s research team found the average hiring process is 23.8 days, though obviously, this is industry and position-dependent. But the longer the process takes, the more skeptical you should be.

Some organizations may ghost you completely after your interview, but if it takes weeks to hear back even when you’ve got the job, it can be another sign of disfunction, writes Jennifer Parris. The position may not be a priority, meaning you won’t get the support you need once you start the job. Or there could be communication breakdowns between different departments.

Expecting unpaid work

For some positions, you may need to provide some extra examples of your work. If you’re a content creator, for example, a company may want to see writing samples. And while skills assessments are frustrating, they do have value. But if it feels like a prospective employer is asking for too much, it’s a bad sign. This can also apply to the phrase “mandatory overtime”.

If it feels like you’re doing free labor, approach the interviewer. Their response can be telling, believes Fairygodboss. Your time is valuable.

Wrap up

Armed with this knowledge, it should be easier to spot job openings that might not be for you. While you should watch out for these potential red flags, it’s always worth asking the hiring manager about them. Extenuating circumstances happen, and some managers may not know why certain phrases can be problematic. Do your research, ask necessary questions, and ultimately, trust your gut.

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Getting Maximum Value From Your Professional References

When you’re searching for a new career, it’s imperative to have the right people in your corner. Networking is one of the most vital tenets in career advancement, and one of the most obvious places to see the benefits is when your professional references are contacted. When utilized properly, your references can give you the edge over similarly qualified candidates.

But the inverse is also true, and choosing the wrong references can have a dire effect on your chances of getting the job. If you get to the point a potential employer asks for your references, you’re very close to getting the job. Finish strong by choosing the right references and prepare them accordingly by implementing these pieces of advice.

“The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity.” — Keith Ferrazzi

Choosing the right references

You want your references to be people in your corner that will give you glowing recommendations, but not everyone you know is a great option. You want professional references that understand who you are in a working environment, not your neighbors, friends, family members, or drinking buddies.

The Muse’s Jenny Foss lists, in this order, the types of individuals employers want to talk to:

  1. Your current manager or supervisor
  2. Your prior managers or supervisors
  3. Your current peers or clients
  4. Your prior peers or clients
  5. Your personal references or friends who will vouch for you (a very remote fifth)

The opinion of supervisors is key because these people directly monitor your performance, and the more recent their experience with you the better. Peers and clients are helpful depending on the role. In a customer service role, a former client’s opinion will carry much more weight.

If you’re just entering the workforce or have limited experience, you still have options. A professor you’ve worked closely with, especially in a course related to your work, can vouch for your skills and work ethic, as can academic advisors you’ve worked with, says Heather Huhman of Glassdoor.

Linkedin is a great way to keep in touch with your potential references, especially if you haven’t talked to the person in a while.

How to ask for a reference

Choosing your references is just the first step. Even if these individuals know you well, don’t just assume they’ll speak on your behalf. It’s important to actually ask them to be a reference, and do it early enough in your job search that they won’t feel put on the spot. Their availability is an essential factor to consider.

Make sure your message asking for permission feels authentic. This is a person you’re asking for a favor, and you want them to speak highly of you. Be willing to take no for an answer, and keep other options in mind. And remember that just because you’ve asked once doesn’t give you permission to use them for every job.

“You do need to ask them every time.” –Kathy Robinson, founder of TurningPoint

Provide necessary information

Even if the person has nothing but good things to say about your performance, it may sound insincere or meandering without a little focus. At the very least, provide your reference with the job you’re applying for and a copy of your resume, writes Forbes’ Cathy Lanzalaco. This gives them an idea of what aspects of your work history to focus on and what they are most qualified to speak on. It also helps to provide your references with a copy of the job description. This may give them ideas on what to discuss that you may not have considered.

Job-Hunt’s Jeff Lipschultz suggests providing your reference with questions you’d expect the interview to ask, including specific projects, skills, or attributes you think are particularly crucial. And don’t forget to give your references the name of the interviewer and company!

“Not everyone answers the phone these days when a strange name/number shows up on caller ID.  So being able to share this information makes it more likely that the call will be answered and the response provided quickly.” – Jeff Lipschultz

Don’t forget to say thank you

You may not always be informed a reference has been talked to, but the reference might reach out to you and let you know. Make sure to send your reference a personalized thank you message. Be willing to return the favor or help them out in another manner if possible, and if you get the job, be sure to let them know and thank them again. Be willing to be a reference in turn to those in your own network.

Don’t mention references on your resume

The phrase “references available upon request” is completely outdated, and it’s assumed you’ll have references when you apply. Save that valuable resume space for your information. The perk of only giving references when asked is that you’ll be able to go through these steps and prepare beforehand.

Wrap up

Companies usually ask for references towards the end of the hiring process because they are interested in you and want to verify what they’ve found. Your references can give you that final push to get the job, but you’ll want to make sure you’ve chosen the correct people and that they are fully prepared to give the most persuasive testimony possible. You’ve networked for a reason, and be sure to return the favor when you can.

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Perfecting Your Elevator Pitch

You know the thing about the elevator business? It has its ups and downs!

Speaking of elevators and business, whether you’re a job seeker, a salesperson, an entrepreneur with a great idea, or simply trying to get a leg up on your career, it pays to perfect your elevator pitch.

What’s an elevator pitch? Thryv’s Derkia Thomas perfectly summarizes the concept as “a 30-second succinct, compelling summary of your business or product. It should include your successes, unique qualities and your target market.” The term comes from a hypothetical situation where you’re sharing an elevator ride with a CEO or someone equally important and you only have the short elevator ride to introduce yourself and what you can offer.

In a world of 280-character messages, having a clear, concise summary of what you can offer is crucial to garner interest and sell yourself, regardless of what you’re seeking from your audience. The exact time and content of your elevator pitch may vary, but all successful pitches feature the following elements.

Previous research

Before your step foot in the metaphorical elevator, you’ll want to carefully craft your pitch based on relevant research. Understand your industry and your audience. At its core, your pitch should look to examine what your audience needs and how you can uniquely address that need. Business News Daily’s Marisa Sanfilippo uses the example of a gardening company.

“”We’re a gardening company, and we sell pots and plants,” but so do all the other gardening companies. Before crafting your elevator pitch, dig into the details of your products and services. Consider what is unique about your product and what sets your business apart from the competition. Perhaps, for instance, you sell rare heirloom plants and handmade pots from local artists. It is these details that will make your prospects want to know more about your business.” -Marisa Sanfilippo

Being able to find the right niche is the core tenet of how to sell yourself as the answer.

A good introduction

You know what would be devastating? Delivering a successful elevator pitch that garners attention only to be forgotten because the listener didn’t know who you are or how to reach you! Your first impression is the key to starting strong, so open with a polite greeting, your full name, and a summary of what you do.

Nexxt’s Madison Green recommends giving the listener a business card if possible (for an in-person conversation). Not only does this contain all of your relevant information, but a business card can be passed along. Even if the listener doesn’t currently need your services, someone else might, and they can pass the card along.

A clear objective

The timing of your elevator pitch will be concise, roughly 30-60 seconds. In that short amount of time, it would help if your listener knew your objective. MasterClass describes the importance of choosing one goal thusly:

“If you’re trying to sell a product and explain your new small business venture and include your own biography, chances are you’ll end up with a muddled and ineffective pitch. The perfect elevator pitch has a limited scope and is crafted around a single venture or business.”

Whether a quick introduction, one small aspect of your idea you’d like to express, or a quick summary of what you can offer, base your pitch around one idea.

Conciseness

Remember where the term “elevator pitch” derives from. Unless the elevator breaks down, in which case your problems are much bigger than your pitch, you’ll have a short amount of time to deliver your pitch. Thirty seconds is a good base time, but up to a minute isn’t unrealistic. If your pitch is written, it should be a few sentences at most.

A call to action

Any persuasive speech should end with a call to action, and an elevator pitch is no exception. There’s a reason you chose to deliver this pitch instead of talking about the weather or the latest blockbuster sports news. This is the reason we created a clear objective for our pitch—now we can work that into our call to action.

For a short conversation like an elevator pitch, the action may be as simple as setting up a longer follow-up conversation. You’ve said who you are, what you can do, and how you can help their needs. Now it’s time to put the ball in their court.

Lots of practice

Not everyone is comfortable with public speaking or networking, but practice and patience are the keys. The more your practice your pitch, the more natural and comfortable you’ll be, and you’ll get a good sense of timing.

Derkia Thomas points out three elevator pitch delivery “killers”, including speaking too quickly, rambling on, and appearing disinterested. Practice is the key to working these kinks out of your pitch. With a limited time to deliver your pitch, you may speak too quickly to try to overcompensate, but if you focus on the important factors, you’ll set yourself up for success. And don’t be afraid to try timing yourself!

Wrap up

Elevator pitches are versatile and can serve you in many circumstances, and you can have multiple pitches for multiple scenarios. It always pays to be able to provide a clear, concise summary of who you are and what you can do. Being able to describe yourself in this way can build confidence over time, as well. If you follow these tenets, your elevator pitch experience should be filled with far more ups than downs!

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