Stand Out Digitally With These LinkedIn Summary Tips

In any sort of persuasive speech, your attention-getter sets the tone of the entire performance. An engaging introduction reels your audience in, while a boring one sends them looking elsewhere. Imagine walking into a hotel lobby and finding it unpleasant. No matter how good your room may be, that initial entrance soured the experience.

Your LinkedIn profile is the same way. Using LinkedIn is vital for the modern job search, and your summary is your introduction to recruiters. The website itself declares the summary as one of the most important pieces of information you can describe.

“Your summary or About section is the one place you define yourself in your own words, free of start dates and titles. Whether you use it to put career choices in context, highlight your biggest achievements, or show off your personality, the summary is your chance to put your best self out there. It strengthens your first impression in a way no other Profile section can.” –LinkedIn

If you’re doing some spring cleaning with your profile, we’ll go teach you how to craft an exceptional summary that shows the real you.

Prioritize the first few sentences

If your summary is the introduction to your profile, the first few words are the introduction to your introduction. Laura Smith-Proulx reveals that your full summary isn’t immediately displayed until someone clicks on “see more” (on both mobile and desktop versions).

That means your summary needs to “pop” immediately to catch the eyes of the looker. You want to hook your audience immediately by getting directly into your brand and making your objective clear right away.

Use keywords

The modern job search is all about appeasing the search engine. Realizing this is the key to making sure you’ll show up in a recruiter’s search at all. To do that, LinkedIn experts recommend using keywords throughout your profile.

Executive resume writer Jessica Hernandez simply defines these keywords as “Keywords are a list of words and phrases that are related to your work—they are the words that a prospective employer would search for when trying to find someone like you.”

Find words relevant to your industry and use them often. This will make sure you show up in searches AND make it easier for a prospective employer to get an idea of what you’re all about. While you should use keywords, make sure to avoid making your profile a jumbled mess of jargon.

Showcase your personality

A recruiter isn’t just getting an automaton worker when they look at your profile; they are looking at a complex human being. At the end of the day, not only does a recruiter want a qualified worker, but they want someone that is a good cultural fit for the organization.

Because of the nature of LinkedIn, you still want to be professional, but don’t be afraid to let a little flair or humor out. If you followed the above advice, your audience will get a view of you as a worker and you as a person. Having this insight allows the reader to have a more detailed picture of how you will fit in with the company.

Find a format that works for you

In keeping with the above advice, you can craft the style of your summary in a manner that best describes you. There isn’t a single cookie-cutter approach to take. SocialTalent reminds us that the summary is your chance to tell your story as you see it. Just like in an elevator pitch, you’re using that short space to say who you are and what you bring to the table.

The Muse’s Aja Frost analyzes different strategies for telling that story, including the mission-based strategy, the personal strategy, the short-and-sweet summary, the blended summary, and the accomplishment summary. These five example methods allow you to decide what’s important for you and the best way to summarize yourself. All five are great starting points, and you can click the above link for more details.

Meanwhile, LinkedIn itself goes over 14 well-designed and radically different summary styles and provides reasons why they work. All 14 off an excellent place to start and can serve as a template for your own story. It’s all about finding the best way to represent you!

Avoid third-person

Your LinkedIn summary is a summary of you as a worker, told by you. This is a chance for you to be yourself, and ideally, you don’t talk in third person in real life. Avoid this common pitfall!

Example

Aja Frost provides us with a great example of a short, detailed summary that follows all of the above advice.

“I’m a sales rep dedicated to helping local Oklahoma City services businesses grow their customer base and decrease customer churn. I have 6 years of experience in local sales and I’ve consistently met and exceeded my quota throughout my career. Within the last year, I’ve topped our leaderboard six out of 10 months. On average, I close business 10% faster than my peers.”

Wrap up

If you aren’t using LinkedIn as part of your job search strategy, you need to do so immediately! And a successful LinkedIn summary is the welcome mat to the rest of your profile. Make sure it’s clear, direct, and a good summary of you, the writer. There isn’t one successful must-use template, so do some research and some tweaking and find what works for you!

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Three Keys To A Rewarding Informational Interview

The key to a successful interview is preparation. Your skills and experience level don’t mean much if you go into an interview without doing your homework. Researching the company, the industry, and conducting a mock interview are all beneficial, but if you really want to do a deep dive, consider conducting an informational interview.

An informational interview isn’t the same as a job interview. Rather, it is an informal meeting or conversation with someone in your target industry/company to get a deep dive into that line of work. Indeed found a host of potential benefits of this type of interview, including:

  • Learning how to research or screen careers, positions or employers
  • Preparing for future job interviews
  • Learning how to ask direct and follow-up questions
  • Increasing network contacts
  • Learning steps to pursue a potential career
  • Recognizing your strengths and weaknesses for a potential role

An informational interview gets you something you can’t find from an online resource: a real person’s experiences and advice. If you think your job search could benefit from an informational interview or you’re looking to move into a new industry, we’ve done a little information gathering ourselves to help. Learn how to prepare for and conduct the most efficient fact-finding mission with these tenets.

Find the right contact

You’ve recognized that an informational interview will be advantageous, but where to start? Whether you’re a network novice or seasoned web-builder, chances are you can start with your own inner circle. If you already know someone in the industry or at your target company, excellent! Send them a message. If no one you know fits the bill, look to your friends, family, and professional contacts to see if they know a good fit. They may know the right person to assist and can introduce you.

If your network comes up empty, a good old-fashioned cold call (but actually email or direct message) can help! Look for someone in that company on LinkedIn or try searching in an alumni or professional group. LiveCarrer suggests being sincere and considerate when asking for a conversation. Remember, you’re asking this person for a favor. Be upfront and direct with your request. Make it clear you’re asking for help, but don’t ask for a job. You’re looking for information, and you’re hoping to learn from this person’s experience.

Pre-research research

While the purpose of your interview is to gain knowledge, you can’t go into an informational interview completely clueless. Compile enough background information to sound credible. You want this informational interview to support the information you’re able to find on your own, and merely asking someone the basics you could easily find online is a waste of both parties’ time. Mac Prichard suggests coming up with one clear objective you’d like to gain from the conversation and tailoring your preparation to it.

“What’s the #1 thing I can learn from this connection to help me on my career path?” -Mac Prichard

As Jennifer Winter of The Muse reminds, your contact is taking time out of their day to talk with you free of charge. Respect their time by doing your homework beforehand. Research their history and find common ground with them. Not only will you look prepared and professional, but they’ll feel honored you’re familiar with their work. A bit of flattery is always nice.

Ask useful questions

An informational interview shouldn’t be long—maybe about 15-30 minutes at most. You want to get as much useful info as possible, so it’s important to maximize your time by asking great questions. Have a specific list of questions prepared beforehand and keep them organized.

Harvard Business Review cited author Dorie Clark, who suggested approaching the interview like a journalist. “Gently probe through curiosity, then listen.” You don’t want to feel like a cross-examiner or be pushy. You’re asking the questions, but let your contact determine how they answer. You’re there for their expertise, so whatever they choose to answer with is probably what they view as important information.

The Balance Careers’ Alison Doyle has a magnificent list of questions you can ask your contact, divided into occupational and functional questions. A blend of both will give you a superb look at both the big picture aspects of the role and what the day-to-day looks like.

Wrap up

An informational interview can be an invaluable tool to assist in your job search, especially if you’re breaking into a new industry. These conversations are a great way to use the network you’ve created to get insider information you wouldn’t find in traditional research. Remember to find the right contact, do your homework beforehand, and make the most of your limited time by asking useful questions. There are so many resources out there for networking and learning about your chosen industry. Don’t be afraid to use them!

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Learn How To Hack Into The Hidden Job Market

Applying for jobs can often feel like screaming into a hurricane. You may be putting dozens of applications out a week with little success, especially if you’re looking for entry-level jobs. The volume method of sending dozens of applications on easy-apply job boards has a very low chance of success. At some point, you’ll need to change your strategy.

If you’ve hit a lull in your search, it’s time to learn about the hidden job market. You may be unfamiliar with this term, or you may have heard it without context. This isn’t a black market-type version of Indeed but rather a networking strategy. At its core, the hidden job market refers to jobs that aren’t publicly posted on job boards or a company’s website.

Through some sleuthing, we’ve exposed the mysteries of the hidden job market and how to access it yourself.

What is the hidden job market?

The idea at the center of the hidden job market may seem odd. Why wouldn’t a company openly advertise a job to get the best candidate pool possible?

There are actually lots of good reasons to keep a job opening quiet, as revealed by The Balance Career’s Alison Doyle. Current employees have a good understanding of what it takes to succeed in certain roles, and their referrals can carry greater weight. This leads to a company only looking for referrals. Or maybe the employer has a reason for keeping the position a secret, such as a new branch opening that isn’t yet public.

“Historically, the hidden job market was about unadvertised jobs. Fast forward to 2020, and you’ll find that the process is still about getting to hiring managers and recruiters early in the process, ideally, before the job is posted or engaging with that employer as soon as a listing goes up.” -Hannah Morgan

LinkedIn’s Andrew Seaman says there isn’t a lot of hard data on the size of the hidden market. Polled recruiters were split on the percentage of jobs that never made it to the open market. Some openings never made public include some of the highest-ranking spots in an organization, as those coveted jobs often have a shortlist of candidates. Another reason to keep the opening hidden is if it’s to fill an internal replacement.

Many of these jobs may become public after some time, but tapping into the hidden market early can get you a leg up on the competition.

How to access the hidden market

Getting a head start on your rival applicants is crucial, but how can access this hidden market? Ultimately, it’s a matter of networking.

Forbes cited Job Search Strategist Hannah Morgan, who said, “People typically are good at looking for jobs on the search boards but not through relationships. When you are actively networking and being strategic, you will be more successful.”

Using social media is key, as LinkedIn and Twitter are great places to connect with people, but Morgan says not to sleep on Facebook, as people still spend a lot of time on it. Having a well-rounded and consistently updated social media portfolio is the best start.

Building your LinkedIn network is one of the best ways to tap into the market, thanks to the ease of access in growing your network and keeping in touch with your contacts. Your contacts may look to you before a job is public without you even looking, or they might pass your name off to a recruiter in the know.

Networking can be intimidating, but social media makes it much more accessible. FlexJobs contributor Jessica Howington recommends taking the leap and sending “cold messages” to employees at companies you’re interested in. You certainly don’t want to open by asking for a job, but these connections can be great for informational interviews and learning more about the company, industry, or job title. And when a job opens up, you may be one of the first to find out.

If you don’t have a specific company in mind, Indeed recommends joining networking groups, professional organizations, alumni associations, and signing up for job alerts. And there’s always volunteering, an underrated resume builder and networking tool.

“Companies in the industry may reach out to associations before posting openings publicly. These professional organizations also offer events to build your network with industry peers or alumni who work for your desired companies. These relationships can provide advice for your search and potentially connect you to hidden opportunities.” – Indeed

Wrap up

Many job seekers get locked into one way of applying for jobs, and being aware that there’s an entire hidden world of jobs out there for the taking is a major eye-opener. Being one of the first to apply for a new job is a way to separate yourself from your peers, and by building a strong network you may get that chance. Keep building your network and learning more about your chosen industry, and the hidden market will be wide open!

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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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Making The Most Of Your Holiday Job Search

With Thanksgiving and various winter holidays approaching, it may seem that the professional world is entering hibernation mode. It is a common belief that as the calendar year ends, hiring slows to an icy crawl as well. But just because the weather is getting cold, does that mean there is a hiring freeze as well?

There doesn’t seem to be a clear consensus on this myth, at least, according to the experts. CareerSideKick believes November and December are the two worst months to apply for jobs (though you should keep trying anyway!) as new hiring budgets come into play into the new year and fewer employees are on vacation in January.

TheBalanceCareers believes the opposite to be true. With less competition (often due to job seekers assuming companies aren’t hiring) and more holiday networking opportunities abound, the holidays are a superb time to find a new position. There may be hidden benefits as well, like potential holiday time off and extra money for the holidays themselves.

TopResume found many of the holiday hiring myths factual, but just as many to be fictional. Companies may be too busy to hire due to end-of-the-year commitments and deadlines and a lack of applicants. However, philosophically there is no reason to wait until spring to make a new hire, and there aren’t too many temporary hires that a permanent worker won’t be hired.

“After looking at all of the evidence, the jury cannot decide. On one hand, temporary hiring speeds up tremendously during the holidays — upwards of 100,000 temporary jobs are available at major corporations. On the other hand, there are fewer qualified candidates and less incentive for hiring managers to fill their open positions, so some may wait until the new year to resume their search for candidates.” -TopResume

Nevertheless, all the experts agree on one aspect: keep applying! There are still jobs out there, and as previously mentioned, fewer individuals apply at this time of year. If you’re determined to use the holiday season to your advantage, here are some of the most valuable tips:

Networking

It seems obvious, but networking is a year-round job in and of itself. But the holiday season actually offers plenty of seasonal options to make the process easier.

Have holiday parties coming up? Use those to your advantage! The holidays are one of the busiest seasons for social gatherings, and even just mentioning to your peers you’re looking for a job can start the process. Accept any invites you may get to maximize the number of contacts you can get in touch with. No matter what holidays you celebrate, generosity is a common theme.

This is also the perfect time of year to send holiday cards. Firsthand’s Jane Hurst had this to say:

“Everyone loves to receive handwritten notes—and they make strong and lasting impressions—so take the extra time to write notes to old friends you haven’t spoken with in a while, ex-colleagues, even relatives. You never know who might lead you to your next job interview.” -Hurst

Clean up your documents

Even if you believe your job search will slow down, there are ways to keep busy. The end of the year is the perfect time to tweak your important documents—no need to wait for spring cleaning.

Go over your resume and cover letters to make sure everything is up to date. Have you acquired any new skills or certifications but forgotten to add them thanks to the daily grind? This is the ideal time to add them to your resume. Make sure to tidy up any errors or misspellings as well, and do your best to keep the language action-oriented and show tangible results.

This is also a great time to reconnect with your references and make sure you have their information up to date (as well as their permission!).

“It’s both considerate and professional to ask to use someone as a reference—and important to let him or her know what you’ve been up to.” -The Muse’s Stacey Lastoe

Will you use the holidays to volunteer or find temporary work? Now is the time to add those experiences to your documents. Even if you aren’t actively looking and applying in November and December, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running in January and February.

Research and prepare contacts

The coming new year is always a time for introspection, and this applies to your career search as well. Take time to think about what experiences you’ve liked in your career journey and what you want in your next adventure. Take the time to brainstorm and come up with a plan.

The truth is many hiring managers will either be on vacation or busy with end-of-the-year tasks during the holiday season. That may make it hard to get in touch with the right people if you’re looking for your dream job. But there is plenty of work to be done that can get you in touch with the right people.

The Muse’s Stacey Lastoe believes this is a great time to get the ball rolling. Take the time to research the organizations you’d like to apply for and find the best people to get in touch with. Spend some time on LinkedIn and company websites to find the right people to connect with and start preparing your emails or direct messages.

Wrap up

The holidays are a great time to take some time to yourself and enjoy the company of friends and family while resetting your mental health, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be proactive in your job search. Many companies are still hiring, and with less competition around, you may get more opportunities thanks to your diligence. The holidays provide an ideal chance to prepare yourself for the next stage of your career, whether that’s an active search, finding a temporary opportunity, or simply setting yourself up for success in the spring.

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