Networking Archives - Keppie Careers

How to Position Yourself on LinkedIn During a Pandemic

Miriam Salpeter — Fri, 01 May 2020 18:20:26 +0000

In the midst of a pandemic, it is easy to be distracted and ignore your social media accounts. However, during a time when it is more challenging than ever to connect and impress people in person, even more people will turn to online tools to learn more about you. Will they learn what you want them to know?

In addition to being a place to share information you want people to know about you, social media is still a great place to learn about opportunities for new jobs. Jobvite’s 2019 Job Seeker Nation Survey indicates that 35 percent of respondents found job postings on social media, 50 percent heard about jobs from friends and 37 percent learned about opportunities from professional networks. The numbers show how important social networking tools are to your job search.

Assess: Review your social media goals

No matter how much (or little) time you spend using social media tools to enhance your online reputation, assess what you want people to know about you? What is the most important thing for them to learn? What feeling do you want them to have? Is there something you do NOT want them to know? What do you want them to DO when they land on your profile? Take the time to audit your profiles to ensure you’re putting out the right messages.

Ask a friend or a coach what they think when they visit your social media profiles and when they look at your streams of information. Make sure you aren’t missing the mark when it comes to shaping a reputation you want to own.

Google Yourself

At least a few times a year, you should Google your own name. You want to know what comes up when people search for you online. What pictures show up? Are they of you? Is there someone who has your name and comes up before you online, even in LinkedIn? Make a note of things that show up high in search, and make a point to spend extra time making those things the best they can be. For example, LinkedIn likely comes up high in search. Manage your profile there first, before you spend time anywhere else online.)

Update Your LinkedIn Headline

When is the last time you reviewed your LinkedIn profile? Make sure to include new accomplishments and look over your materials with fresh eyes. LinkedIn made changes that could impact your headline length — it can now be as long as 220 characters. Use the extra space to target your audience and incorporate keywords to attract people to your profile.

Be sure you keep everything consistently updated. If you update LinkedIn, be sure to also update your resume.

Audit Your LinkedIn Profile

Have you updated the image behind your LinkedIn photo? This banner makes an impression when someone lands on your profile. Make sure you customize this with something that makes sense for your expertise. You can create a visual easily by using Canva.com, a free design tool.

If you haven’t updated your LinkedIn profile in a while, you may not have set up the “Open to Work” section that asks about your business information. This is the “bat signal” to recruiters to let them know you are open to being contacted.

Edit this business information by selecting the prepopulated category that matches your expertise. Fill in business focus areas, and then select if you want that information to be public or not. If your profile is public, LinkedIn points out that anyone can see what you selected, which is the whole point of this exercise, after all!

If you choose to allow all LinkedIn members to see your choices, LinkedIn will add the open to work image to your profile picture.

LinkedIn’s “Brag Book”

LinkedIn gives you a brag book area! This “Featured” section is a place to include your best work samples, such as:

LinkedIn posts that you’ve created or re-shared.
Articles that you’ve authored and published on LinkedIn.
Links to external websites, for example, your personal blog or portfolio.
Media that you can upload, for example, your images, documents, presentations and videos.

Review Your Experience and Skills Sections

The Experience section is also critically important. This is where you list your various job titles and indicate what you have accomplished in each of your positions.

Make the most of the title sections. You have 100 characters to leverage in each job title spot!

Don’t forget to populate your skills section with 50 specially selected skills! You can also take skills tests and add them to your profile.

Audit Your Settings

No matter how much great work you do on your LinkedIn profile, if your backend settings aren’t properly set up, people will not be able to access what you have to offer and to learn about you! To review and update your backend updates, click on the dropdown right below your little photo of you on the right side of the screen on your desk or laptop.

Select Settings and privacy, and review every question! In most cases, the choice that is more “public” and less “hidden” is what you will want to select.

On the other hand, to discourage people from using your LinkedIn profile as a launching point to see other profiles, you may choose to select “NO” for “Viewers of this profile also viewed” – this is one way to help prevent people from getting distracted and jumping to other, likely similar, LinkedIn profiles once they find your profile.

One other thing to watch for under the Microsoft Word setting: you probably do NOT want to allow your job descriptions to auto-populate templates on Microsoft word resumes.

Don’t miss the “Mentions or tags by others” setting. Unless you are famous and might be inundated by tags, it is nice to allow people to mention you in a way that you are notified in their LinkedIn updates and comments.

Finally, as you scroll to the bottom of this section, you’ll see that you can block and hide. In particular, I suggest you allow EVERYONE to follow you on LinkedIn to help make your profile more visible.

When you allow people to follow you, it will make any effort you put forth to improve your profile more worthwhile, as it opens the opportunity for more people to access your content on LinkedIn and to see your updates.

Un-follow

Is your LinkedIn feed getting too spammy? Weed out people you don’t want to hear from. In LinkedIn, you can block people (which means you won’t see their updates, and they won’t see your content, either). LinkedIn won’t notify the blocked people! (Just click on the arrow next to the endorse button on their profile.)

Change Your Password

If you have trouble keeping track of passwords, you can use a password management program such as LastPass. Also, be sure you are using your personal email for LinkedIn; it’s not a good idea to use a work email or an email you never check!

Engage

How are you engaging on LinkedIn?

Post content! LinkedIn rewards people for creating content on the network. You will be more likely to be found in a search via LinkedIn if you are active on the platform. Don’t waste this opportunity to interact with your network. Share useful posts and comment on news and informational articles. Post blogs on LinkedIn if you have news to share or wish to comment on what is going on in your industry. Don’t forget to ‘Like’ and “Share’ updates that members of your network post. This helps get you on their radar screen and can also help introduce you to people who follow them and the comments on their posts.

LinkedIn still has groups, even if they are harder to find than they were in the past. Find groups by typing keywords into LinkedIn’s search bar and selecting “groups” as the search category.

If you could use some help updating your LinkedIn profile to ensure you are well-positioned to take advantage of opportunities and that you aren’t missing out on the chance for employers to find -and hire you – check out my special offer.

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How to get a job at the holidays

Miriam Salpeter — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 20:40:38 +0000

Are you excited about Thanksgiving this year, or dreading it? Maybe you’re between jobs and not really feeling the spirit? Don’t despair and let it ruin your Thanksgiving and holiday season. With a little preparation and the right attitude, you can turn festive occasions into opportunities for you to meet new allies for your job search. Follow these tips to turn your not-working into effective networking at any event.Â

You know you’re going to be seeing lots of new and old friends and family members this holiday season, so you may as well make the most of the season to improve your opportunities for jobs or gigs! Make this season your best ever; end this year with some strong holiday networking.Â Keep these Thanksgiving networking tips in mind.

Self-assess. Know what job you want; be specific and targeted. Identify companies where you’d like to work and be prepared to mention several organizations’ names. Do not plan to be the “I can do anything” job seeker. While you may think it’s a good idea to keep your options open, this approach usually backfires. No one wants to hire or refer someone who seems unfocused or confused about next steps.

Learn how to introduce yourself. We’ve all heard of the “two-minute elevator speech.” Forget everything you know about that and pare your talk down to 30 seconds or less. In less than 100 words (35-50 is better), practice saying what skills you have and mention a key accomplishment. While you won’t launch into this pitch the moment you meet someone, when you’re prepared to discuss your best professional qualities, you’ll be able to make the most of a good contact.

Research the guest list. It’s always best to be prepared, and when you do a little sleuthing, it’s not difficult to find out who plans to be at the event. Many invitations are electronic, and the social profiles of attendees may be prominently displayed on RSVPs. Look up the people who plan to attend. Find their LinkedIn profiles and read their Twitter streams. Identify several interesting contacts and make a point to speak to them.

Keep in mind: you want to identify people who could know someone working at your targeted list of companies. Be aware: these networking contacts may come in surprising packages. For example, the neighborhood busy-body probably has all kinds of great contacts. So does the bartender at your neighborhood pubâ€”or the person tending bar at the party you’re attending. Don’t cross anyone off your list of good people to meet.

Create snazzy business cards. Even if you’re not currently working, you should have professional looking business cards that give the recipient easy access to your social media profiles (for example, your LinkedIn URL). Include your pitch on the card. For example, for an accountant: “Save clients an average of 20% off their tax bill using time tested, effective accounting strategies.”

Dress the part. Even if it’s a casual party, make sure to choose something to wear that looks sharp and in style. If you haven’t bought clothing in years, it’s a good idea to shop the sales and pick out one or two items that really flatter and make you feel confident. Consider wearing a conversational piece to help make yourself memorable. A colorful, in-style scarf or tie can do the trick.

Be a listener. Make sure people don’t sense that you have an agenda when you meet them. Ask questions so you can learn something about the person’s hobbies and interests. Use your research to help you ask quality questions and be a good listener. Everyone likes to talk about themselves, so if you’re a good listener, people will remember you.

Ask for a follow-up meeting. Use your in-person networking time to request another meeting in a quieter location. For example, if you’ve had a great talk, and you think there is potential for you to be able to help each other, say, “I’d love to follow up with you and explore how we may be able to be good resources for each other. How about if I send an email tomorrow suggesting some dates to meet for coffee?” You may even want to ask the best way to get in touchâ€”email or phone.

Say thank youâ€”and good bye. Don’t forget your manners. Be sure to thank the party organizer, even if you have to stand around to have an audience. It’s extra nice to send a card or a note after the event. Remember, you want to make a positive impression. When you go the extra mile to say thank you, people will remember that.

Keep in touch. Depending on the nature of your interactions at the party, you have a lot of options for following up. For example, if you know a new contact’s daughter is moving to Chicago soon, you can send a nice note with an article about fun things for newcomers to do in the Chicago area. Always make a point to connect via social media channelsâ€”especially LinkedIn. Make sure you follow through with anything you said you’d do during your first conversation and don’t squander potential opportunities by failing to keep in touch. When you do, you’ll have a better chance of adding new allies to your job search efforts.

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Networking tip: where to find great information to share

Miriam Salpeter — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 14:15:39 +0000

If you want to impress your online audience with your expertise, you’ll need to share useful and interesting content via your social networks.Â It can be a challenge, because you don’t have a lot of extra time to peruse many online sources to tap into the best resources to post on your various social networks. Luckily, there are many sites that provide useful, easy-to find information. These are some of my favorites.

LinkedInâ€s Pulse

Find it under the â€œInterestsâ€ tab on your LinkedIn toolbar.Â You can choose to follow influencers, major media outlets and topical content areas. It’s extremely easy to share the content to LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter right from Pulse.

Alltop.com

This is an online, virtual â€œmagazine rackâ€ of blogs.Â Use the search bar to identify topics that interest you and follow the blogs that produce the content to interest your audience.

SmartBrief.com

Offering many free subscriptions to online newsletters, Smartbrief editors read and cultivates what is published about topics of interest and sends newsletters with links to articles and brief summaries. They have newsletters covering health care, marketing, education, business, finance and more.

These are just three places to find useful content to share. Feel free to post your favorites in the comments!

Get my free white paper:Â 5 Mistakes Preventing You From Landing a Job This WeekÂ

Read the whole post onÂ Vault.com.

Get my book:Â Vault Guide to Networking

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How to be a resource for people in your network

Miriam Salpeter — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 11:30:50 +0000

Are you a valuable networker? How can you tell? Are you willing to help people without the promise of anything in return? Do you help colleagues and new contactsÂ open doors? If so, you’re much more likely to succeed at networking than the person who spends all of his time hoping to get something in return for a favor. One of the unwritten “networking laws” is to give without expecting anything back. Don’t make it “all about you.”

Instead of trying to win something from the people you meet, think about how you can be a “connector,” someone who makes a habit of introducing other people to each other.

Get my free white paper:Â 5 Mistakes Preventing You From Landing a Job This WeekÂ

How can you become a connector?

Think about other people first.
Get out of your comfort zone. You can do this even if you are introverted or shy.
Meet more people! You can’t introduce people if you don’t know anyone!
Join organizations. Don’t join “in name only.” Get out and attend meetings.
Be curious and ask questions.
Improve your listening skills.
Think ahead and be strategic with your networking.
Be willing to reconnect with people you haven’t seen in a long time.
Be a resource. How can you be helpful to the people you meet?
Follow up, or you’ll miss a lot of opportunities.

Read all of the tips to help you network better on Vault.com.

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How to grow your job search network

Miriam Salpeter — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 13:54:27 +0000

Don’t restÂ on your networking laurels if you’re in the market for a job — of if you are thinking of starting or growing a business. Once you identify your network, you’ll want to get to work expanding it. You never know who “knows someone who knows someone.” Everyone you meet and impress with your skills and savvy is a potential link to your next great opportunity.

Incorporate these plans into your networking:

Learn how to introduce yourself. This is more important than you may think, and you’ll want to spend time planning out your pitch so it will interest other people, not bore them to tears. (In other words, don’t plan out a two-minute elevator story. It is unlikely to amaze and impress your new contacts.)

Do not go around telling everyone you are looking for a job. No matter what your friends told you, if you focus on your status as a job seeker, people may lose interest in your story from the start.

Get my free white paper:Â 5 Mistakes Preventing You From Landing a Job This WeekÂ

Be generous with your expertise and identify ways to help your network. What problems do they have that you can help solve?

Listen carefully. Don’t talk so much when you network. People appreciate a good listener. Let that be you.

Find new places to network. You can meet a new contact while in line at the post office, but it may be worth your time to target professional groups where your target audience is likely to gather.

Track your contacts. Use all the tools at your disposal so you don’t waste any opportunities. If you meet someone and never follow up, that’s a lost opportunity.

Click through for details about these topics, including specifics about how to create a great pitch, how to keep the proverbial doors open when you’re networking, details about waysÂ to be helpful for your network, techniques to be a better listener and suggestions about how to track your contacts.

Read the entire article on Vault.com.

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How to identify your job search network

Miriam Salpeter — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 11:30:52 +0000

Have you ever told someone you can’t network successfully because you don’t have a network? While it may seem as if your network is small, especially if you don’t put a lot of effort into growing it, or you are a new professional, you probably have a much larger network than you realize.

Learn how to:

Identify your network by expanding your definition of professional networking (both in person and online).

Pinpoint your network’s strengths and broaden your ideas about where networking happens — including random meetings!

Focus on the different levels of networks you have — including people you know directly and more distant contacts in your extended networks.

Get my free white paper:Â 5 Mistakes Preventing You From Landing a Job This WeekÂ

Read more — including some inspiring networking stories — via my articleÂ published on Vault.com.

In addition, if you’d like a guide to help you through every step of your networking journey, I authored one for Vault.com, and it’s available now.Â Vault isÂ known for its influential rankings, ratings and reviews ofÂ thousands of employers and hundreds of internship programs. Vault.com also sharesÂ information about what itâ€s really like to work inÂ an industry, company or professionâ€”and how to position yourself to launch and build the career you want. You can find theÂ Vault Guide to NetworkingÂ available online.

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Networking tips you need to know

Miriam Salpeter — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 18:12:10 +0000

Do you think of networking as a dirty word? Is it something you want to avoid at all costs? You are not alone. However, if you’re a hesitant networker, there’s good news for you! With a little preparation, the right expectations and a strategic plan, networking is probably a lot easier than you think.

If you’d like a guide to help you through every step of your networking journey, I authored one for Vault.com, and it’s available now.Â Vault isÂ known for its influential rankings, ratings and reviews ofÂ thousands of employers and hundreds of internship programs. Vault.com also sharesÂ information about what itâ€s really like to work inÂ an industry, company or professionâ€”and how to position yourself to launch and build the career you want. You can find the Vault Guide to NetworkingÂ available online.

In the meantime, click through to learn:

Compelling statistics to proveÂ networking deserves your attention.
What is networking — and what it is not.
Networking myths.
How to network for success (including some tips to help you become a networking sleuth).
How to look beyond the obvious.
Understand what you offer.
Why networking isn’t about asking for a job.
How to time your networking to your best advantage.
Why it’s important to be a good listener.
Why it’s important to be persistent.

Get my free white paper:Â 5 Mistakes Preventing You From Landing a Job This WeekÂ

Read the entire article on Vault.com.

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Thanksgiving Networking Tips

Miriam Salpeter — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 16:43:34 +0000

Do holiday parties leave you hapless and hopeless? Maybe you’re between jobs and not really feeling the spirit? Don’t despair and let it ruin your Thanksgiving and holiday season. With a little preparation and the right attitude, you can turn festive occasions into opportunities for you to meet new allies for your job search. Follow these tips to turn your not-working into effective networking at any event.Â

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How to cold call

Miriam Salpeter — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 10:30:00 +0000

Cold calling can strike fear in any job seeker’s mind. How can you successfully cold call? Ideally, you’d always have an introduction to someone you want to speak to on the phone, but realistically, it isn’t always possible to warm up your leads. Do you have aÂ resolutionÂ to get in touch with some new contacts? How can you successfully get through to people who have the power to positively influence your job hunt?

The key is to plan ahead and prepare for all options.

1.Â ResearchÂ the organization so you can sound intelligent.Â

Never try to cold call anyone before you have a well thought out plan and a reason to reach your contact. Create a script so you can practice what to say in advance. If you cannot articulate to yourself exactly what you hope to accomplish from the call, stop now and figure it out first. Potential outcomes you may expect: an in-person meeting, a referral to another contact or some immediate advice or information that may help you with yourÂ job searchÂ goals.

2. Never cold call without a name in mind.Â

This should go without saying, but you are unlikely to be connected if you ask for “the head of marketing.” No matter what you say, the person answering the phone knows you are not a trusted colleague and is not going to put you through.

3. Plan for potential outcomes.

What if your contact actually answers the phone, and you were expecting a receptionist? Are you prepared to launch directly into your quick pitch? On the other hand, what if it’s your fifth time calling, and you get the answering machine? You don’t want to leave a rambling message; plan ahead so you’ll know what to say.

If a gatekeeper answers the phone, be prepared to give a good reason to pass along a message: “I met Ms. XYZ at the ABC event last night, and she suggested I get in touch to arrange a meeting.” (This is a great opening line only if it is true!) Alternatively, you may say you are working on a project and wish to include her insights. If you don’t think you’re getting what you need, you can always request to be transferred to voice mail.

4. Convince gatekeepers to become your ally.

If, every time you call for your target contact, the same receptionist picks up the phone, you can sometimes win favor by being attentive to his or her needs and being very polite and accommodating. Never sound annoyed or disappointed or take out your frustration on the gatekeeper who is just doing his or her job.

A simple inquiry, for example, “I wonder if you’d be willing to help me?” can go a long way. In our book,Â 100 Conversations for Career Success,Â Laura Labovich and I also suggest you get the gatekeeper’s name and make a point to convince that person to provide useful information for you. You may say, “I hate to keep bothering you … Can you tell me a good time to reach Mr. XYZ?”

5. Timing is everything.

Consider the scenario: it’s the end of a busy day, and your contact is anxiously finishing things before leaving for the evening. You call. What are the chances of getting through to someone not expecting to hear from you? Morning is usually a better time than evening, but if you can learn something about the person’s schedule, you’ll be more likely to reach him or her. If your target contact uses social media, you can try to see if anything posted there may help you. For example, if he’s traveling or at an event, you’ll want to time your call for another day.

6. Don’t spend too much time on small talk; get to the point.Â

No one really cares about the weather; you probably have two or three sentences worth of talking before the person decides if you are worth more time or not. This is yourÂ pitch: Use those words well. What can you say? Focus on what you can do for the person, not what you want him or her to do for you.

7. Leave a compelling voice mail message.

Sometimes, you need to leave a message. Say something compelling to pique the person’s interest. For example, you may indicate you have information you’d like to share about a particular issue you know the individual is facing, or you can say you’re seeking the contact’s expertise for a project.

8. Be polite, but persistent.

Follow up. If you say you’re going to be in touch, and you are not, that isn’t very persuasive, and it’s unlikely you’ll ever beÂ hiredÂ by that company.

Originally published on AOLJobs.com.

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11 places you haven’t been networking

Miriam Salpeter — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 10:30:23 +0000

Everyone knows thatÂ referralsÂ are the best way to land interviews, but are you taking advantage of the plethora of networking opportunities you likely encounter every day? Anywhere you can meet someone you don’t know or might like to know better is a chance to network; the more people you meet and convince to invest a little time and energy getting to know you, the more chances you will have to push the door open to a job opportunity.

When you network, keep one thing in mind: always talk to people youÂ don’tÂ think can help you. You read that right: you cannot judge a book by its cover, and you never know if the barista at your local coffee shop or bartender at the local watering hole may be able to hook you up with someone who works at your target company. Be open to the possibility that everyone you encounter is a potential link to your next opportunity and networking will be a lot more palatable.

Here are some places you may not have thought of as networking opportunities:

1. The unemployment office
Just because someone doesn’t have a job doesn’t mean he doesn’t know people who do! Just as you have many skills, suggestions and areas of expertise, so do people you may meet while waiting to file for your unemployment benefits or at a workshop about how to write a better resume. Be generous with your expertise, ideas and resources and other people are likely to return the favor.

2. Recreational events or classes
Whether or not you are employed, it’s always a good idea to attend events where you’ll have a chance to meet new people. If you join a pick-up basketball or bowling league, you may have a chance to get to know new networking contacts who could help you land anÂ interview.

If you think your networking needs a jump start, take a class. It doesn’t need to be something related to work, and you may meet someone new while you learn something new.

3. Volunteering
In addition to being a nice thing to do, all types of volunteering can help you network. You never know when the person next to you serving up the main course at a soup kitchen may be a great contact. While volunteering for a charitable cause is terrific, also consider serving as a volunteer for your professional organization or association. These groups often need people to help out at conferences, and if you introduce a speaker at a national conference, it gives you a chance to meet him or her! Even working the registration table can be a great way to meet people.

4. Places with children and pets
Parents of children and “fur kids” have many opportunities to network. The dog park is a great place to meet people who share at least one of your interests, and if your children are involved in sports, ballet, art class or just enjoy playing outside, you have many chances to meet new people if you take your eyes off your phone long enough to make eye contact with someone. Keep in mind, if you’re the parent who does nothing but complain or starts arguments at little league events, you aren’t likely to win many friends.

5. At the gym
Typically, most of us don’t welcome the opportunity to seek professional contacts while red-faced and sweaty, but the gym can be a great place to network. If you’re really smart, tuck a few business cards in a pocket or in your gym bag and have them at the ready when you work out.

6. Online
You know you can meet new people on all of the social networks, and thatÂ LinkedInÂ is the go-to professional network, but you may be missing some big networking opportunities online. Have you thought about howÂ Twitter can help you land a job?Â It’s become en vogue to tweet using a hashtag during televised sporting events and other high-interest programs. You can make a new networking contact tweeting praise for your favorite college team or during a televised red-carpet event. Don’t ignore the non-traditional networking opportunities and you could meet a new fan.

7. At the coffee shop
Don’t be one of those annoying people who won’t stop talking to someone while he or she is working, but if you frequent a coffee shop, you may be able to meet some new people, both staff and other customers. Be polite and recognize when someone doesn’t seem to want to talk to you (maybe he or she doesn’t realize the value of networking). Don’t forget to chat up the barista if you go in when it’s not busy.

8. Shopping
If you go to the mall or your favorite boutique, you may be able to strike up a conversation with someone â€“ even in the dressing room. Most people love to be told that they look great in the outfit they are considering, so you have an easy opening.

9. At the hairdresser
Your hairdresser has the opportunity for extended conversations with all his or her clients who likely come from a variety of backgrounds. Don’t miss the opportunity to tap into this potential network.

10. Anywhere there is a line or a wait
As long as you’re not sick, any waiting room can be a great place to network. The post office or grocery store line may also provide good opportunities to have a brief conversation with someone new. If you’re strategic about what you say, it’s possible to begin a networking relationship with a stranger.

11. Wherever people gather
Yes, it’s true: some people have successfully networked at funerals and wakes. You don’t want to be disrespectful or attend such an event with the sole purpose of meeting a particular person, but if you happen to strike up a conversation while fondly remembering a mutual friend or acquaintance, there is nothing wrong with following up later.

When you keep in mind that your potential network is all around you, you’ll be able to break out of yourÂ job search rutÂ and be open and available to new opportunities to meet people. Keep in mind: it’s easier to network when you’re dressed for success, so put on something halfway decent, even when you go to the grocery store. And, even with Smart phone technology, it’s always a great idea to have traditional business cards to hand out, even if you aren’t currently working for an organization. Be sure to carry networking cards that make it easy for someone to know how to contact and stay in touch with you.

More advice:

Originally posted on AOLJobs.com

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