With the increases in vaccine distribution, it seems like the usual ways of networking could be back soon enough. If you need a refresher on how to prepare, check out this list put together by Money Crashers. In the meantime, there are still plenty of ways to build your network and connections online.

Here are four tips to help you improve your virtual networking game—and some recommended tools for maximum success.

1. Find thought leaders and influencers
Let’s say you want to find a job as an interior designer. The first step is to follow thought leaders and influencers in the industry. You can find them by searching “interior design” on Twitter and Instagram. One way to make your search more strategic, however, is to use a tool like Followerwonk. Search “interior design” + “blogger” or “writer,” and you will get a list of people who write about interior design, ranked by their number of followers.

See who they follow to grow your network. Through the people you follow, you are likely to learn about important industry news, online events, webinars, and webcasts. Sign up and participate when interesting ones come along.

2. Start listening
Once you’ve found the right people to follow, start listening to what they have to say and gathering the latest and greatest news and insights in your industry. Follow them on Twitter, Instagram, Quora, Yelp, Meetup, and Listly. Download their podcasts. Put their names in Talkwalker and Newsle so you get emailed when they appear in the news. Subscribe to their newsletters and YouTube channels, and subscribe to their content on Patreon.

3. Build awareness
Now that you’re aware of them, you can start making them aware of you. The key to successful networking is not to go around begging people for favors and being a nuisance, but to create value for them, too. Retweet their content, +1 their posts, share their content on Facebook, comment (insightfully) on their publications and videos, and include their insights in your content (with appropriate attribution, tags, and hashtags).

4. Connect 
Only then—once you know a little bit about them and have a clue about what’s going on in the industry, and once you’ve created some value for them through retweets and shares and engagement—should you reach out. Friending them on Facebook will likely come across as creepy because it is more of a personal network. But reaching out on LinkedIn and other professional network platforms is totally appropriate.

Lead with a sentence that starts with something like “I loved your article last week about…” And then let them know what you want (e.g., “I’ve written this … and would appreciate your advice” or “I’d appreciate the chance to interview you about your career for my blog” or “I’m starting out in the industry and would appreciate your mentorship. Are you available for a quick virtual coffee meeting?”

If you don’t hear back, send a quick follow-up message about a week later. Chances are the person you’re contacting is busy and misses messages from time to time due to the high volume of incoming requests. Don’t harass the person, though. Stalker is not the impression you want to leave. After two or three follow-ups, it’s time to move on to the next person on your list. But keep the door open by continuing steps 1, 2, and 3. The first secret of success is showing up—even when the room is a Zoom room.

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Take these steps to grow your professional sphere from the ground up.

One word that makes professionals cringe is networking—especially now that we’re trying to network during a global pandemic. But a strong group of industry contacts is key to helping your professional development blossom. Granted, if you’re a newly minted college graduate hunting for a job, you have to build a network from scratch, which is no small feat. The bright spot: Learning how to network for a job is a science—if you combine the right ingredients, you’ll achieve a successful result.

Here are six steps to take to build your job search network.

Know how to make your pitch
A key part of effective networking is being clear about your job search goals and the value that you bring to an employer, which is where an elevator pitch comes in.
In a nutshell, an elevator pitch is a sound bite that explains to people who you are, what you do, and what kind of position you’re seeking. Why so short? “People are busy,” says Atlanta career coach Hallie Crawford. Recruiters don’t have time to hear your whole life’s story. So, keep your pitch to less than a minute.

Check out this well-crafted elevator speech from Monster Career Expert Vicki Salemi: “I’m Vicki Salemi, a career expert for Monster. Author, speaker, career coach, columnist, and former corporate recruiter, always interested in speaking with job seekers to help them find a better job—fast!”

Stay organized
As you build your sphere, make sure to keep detailed records of your networking activity: people’s names, where and when you met, and what topics you discussed. You’ll also need to develop a reliable follow-up system. “You need to stay in touch in order to stay on top of someone’s radar,” says Kelly Kennedy, director of career readiness at the University of Virginia Athletics. Keep those who are interested posted on the progress of your job search.

Leverage your alumni network
Your degree comes with a secret weapon: your college’s alumni network. In fact, many schools maintain a list of alumni who have expressed they want to help new grads with their job search. Still, you need to take a tactful approach when reaching out to alums, says Denise Rudolph, assistant director of employer relations and recruiting at James Madison University. “You can’t just send someone an email and expect the person to help you get a job,” she says.

Some guidelines: 1) introduce yourself and include your school year and major; 2) explain how you got the person’s contact information; 3) be specific with what you’re asking for from the person (e.g., “I’d love to hear more about what you do”); and 4) attach your resume.

Expand your horizons
When it comes to how to network for a job, you need to cast a wide net. Wider than you may think. In addition to alumni, you’ll want to tap every networking resource that’s at your disposal. Here’s a list of other sources for finding networking contacts:

• Community job clubs
• Fraternity or sorority groups
• Friends: Local and out-of-town
• High school and college classmates
• Hobby groups: softball team, running club, yoga group
• Managers and peers from your past internships
• Members of your church, temple, synagogue or mosque (some religious organizations also sponsor job search groups)
• Neighbors: Past and present
• Political groups
• Relatives: Local and out-of-town
• Service groups: Rotary, Kiwanis, Elks
• Volunteer groups

Build your circle remotely
In the age of social distancing, you may find you have fewer opportunities to network with people in person. Fortunately, social media can enable you to build relationships with people that you haven’t met—including recruiters at your target employers. (According to a survey of HR professionals by the Society for Human Resource Management, 84% of employers use social media to recruit talent.)

Specifically, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook can be powerful networking tools. You’ll have the most impact if you’re using social media on a regular basis—meaning you should be reaching out to new contacts and interacting with people in your network daily, not occasionally.

Rock informational interviews
The informational interview is an often-overlooked—and often misconstrued—form of networking, but going on informational interviews can be a great way to build your network.

The most important thing is to ask meaningful questions when you meet someone for an informational interview, says Jeff Neil, a New York City career coach and author of Informational Interview Handbook: Essential Strategies to Find the Right Career and a Great New Job. “You’re not there to ask for a job,” Neil says. “You’re there to establish a relationship and build rapport.” A good icebreaker: “How did you get started in the field?” “People like to talk about themselves,” Neil says.

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More than ever before, many companies are asking their employees to work from home to remain safe and unaffected. As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to capture headlines in the news and spread rapidly, employees are struggling with finding a sense of calm and stability throughout the ever-changing updates and reality that this virus has become our new normal for the time being. So what does that mean for the employees who are fortunate enough to work remotely?

Although working from home has many benefits, some being flexibility, increased productivity, zero-commute, and more quality time with your loved ones, working remotely also could make it more difficult to power off and unplug from your workday, ultimately decreasing your work-life balance. Work-life balance, especially during uncertain times like COVID-19, is essential to employees’ growth and personal happiness and company retention. When employees are encouraged to find a positive work-life balance, they tend to be more motivated to produce great work.

Here are our 11 tips to achieve work-life balance when working remotely:

1. Set a structured work schedule.
To maximize your productivity and your workday while working remotely, it’s imperative to set a cohesive schedule for yourself to guide you through the day. Given that working from home can be more comfortable and a bit relaxing compared to being in the office, imposing a structure on your day will limit the distractions and keep you focused on the tasks at hand.

2. Make a to-do list to start your day productively.
In addition to crafting a specific structure for your day, curating to-do lists are helpful to ensure that you’re being productive and accomplishing what needs to be done in your role. Physically crossing tasks and projects off a to-do list can be gratifying – especially if you are questioning your productivity levels and progress.

3. Get grounded.
Try not to roll out of bed to start working right away. Instead, before firing up your laptop, attack your morning routine: shower, grab a bite too, meditate and yoga vinyasa flow (totally up to you!). Take the time you need before the workday starts to maximize success later in the day.

4. Set boundaries.
Living with roommates, a significant other, or children? Take your space when you can and communicate your needs, time restraints and work schedules clearly and ahead of time. Communication is key! Be mindful of proactively communicating your needs regarding your upcoming work schedule and commitments beforehand, so everyone is aware of various time restraints and your personal needs as you journey through your workday.

5. Hit your stride.
Develop a workspace cadence with your roommates to ensure that you’re all able to work from home comfortably and without any distractions. Although working from home tends to be more laid back than working from the office, it’s crucial to be professional at all times. Develop a workspace cadence with your roommates or significant other to limit potential issues, especially during video conference calls.

6. Designate a workspace.
Establish a dedicated workspace within your home to help you create a consistent routine for when it’s time to work. When it’s time to clock in, you’ll know to go to a specific area within your home, similar to being in the office.

7. Take breaks.
Stretch or take a walk to rest your eyes often from your computer screen in 10-15 minute intervals. To not get bogged down or overwhelmed with your workday, take some time to get up, stretch, and move around your home. Taking a break from staring at your computer screen will help you maintain productivity in the long run.

8. Claim your lunch hour for self-care.
The beauty of working from home is it truly is what you make of it. Get creative during your lunch hour by dedicating yourself to practice acts of self-care. Some ideas: a light stretch, yoga exercise, eating something healthy, a call with your therapist or a close friend, or guided breathing.

9. Get organized.
Use organizational tools like Google calendar, Asana, etc. to block off specific periods of your workday to amplify workflow. When working from home, teams usually pile on the conference calls to ensure that deadlines are being met and communication doesn’t falter. However, you can still leverage time gaps on your calendar to make sure that you’re being productive and getting your work done.

10. Transition out gracefully.
Don’t rush or cram to accomplish tasks that can be easily finished tomorrow. Instead, gently bow out of your workday by wrapping up current projects and prepping your to-do list for the next day.

11. Mark the end of the day.
Schedule some time to celebrate the end of your workday with your loved ones and/or roommates with 1-2 fun activities. You made it! It’s now the end of your workday and you’re feeling accomplished and capable. What better way to celebrate with loved ones or your roommates? Think of a bonding activity that you could do together to close out the day.

The post How to Achieve Work-Life Balance When Working Remotely appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

The coronavirus pandemic has not only had a significant impact on the global economy but also your job search. It has caused stock market volatility and impacted various industries. If you have a current job, most likely you’re doing it from your home. Some small businesses have been forced to close temporarily, whereas large businesses have been affected by the strain of losing business and a disrupted supply chain. There are predictions that the unemployment rate in the U.S. could reach 20%, according to NBC News reporting.

Some companies have responded to the health crisis with layoffs, furloughs, cutting hours and overtime pay, and implementing hiring freezes. Other companies are actively hiring and posting new jobs daily. Right now, there’s a lot of uncertainty about what the national and global impact will be on hiring, but there are ways you can stay positive and proactive about job searching during this tumultuous time.

Engage your network

People understand that this is a difficult time and they want to help however they can. Let your friends and family know that you’re job searching and tell them about the types of jobs you’re looking for and your target companies so they’ll be on the lookout for openings. They’ll notify you if they hear of anything. Ask them if they would be willing to do an email intro to people who work at the company or, even better, the hiring manager. Those email intros, or having people in your network send your resume and cover letter on your behalf, can get your application to the top of the pile even if human resources isn’t done sorting through the applications that come in through the ATS.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to former colleagues and bosses if you see openings at their companies. They’re more likely to hire you than the competition because they know your skills and work ethic. Even if they aren’t hiring, they can be references for your other applications. Since they’re in the industry, they may hear of other jobs through their own network and they can recommend you.

Practice phone and video job interviews

Now that many people are working remotely, job interviews are being done by phone and video instead of IRL. It can be more challenging to have a phone interview because it is harder to interpret someone’s reaction and have a conversation that flows naturally. It can be trickier to have a video interview because it can feel awkward to be on camera. You’ll stand out if you learn the ins-and-outs of phone and video job interviews. And we’ve got the phone job interview and video job interview tips and tricks you need to know.

Take on a temp or freelance gig

If you don’t currently have a job, apply to temp and freelance work to pay the bills. It could lead to a full-time job when you impress your co-workers. It’s also a great opportunity to gain some in-demand skills. If you’re currently working from home, remember that employers are looking for people who are self-disciplined enough to work from home, have the excellent written and verbal communication skills necessary to communicate with colleagues and clients remotely, and are organized and efficient.

Show off your transferrable skills

There’s so much competition for jobs, so it’s important to up your game right now. First, prioritize jobs that have been posted most recently because that’s a sign that the company has a current role that needs to be filled. If a posting has been up for weeks, it may be less of a priority for the company right now. Be confident when you’re reading job postings and remember that you can still get the job even if you don’t meet all of the job qualifications. Use your resume and cover letter to show you have transferrable skills employers are seeking.

Customize your application for each job

Spend more time on each cover letter and resume so your job application gets seen. It takes more time to modify them for each job application but it’s necessary. When you apply to a job online, your application often goes into an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), software that reviews your resume to determine how well you’d fit the requirements of the job posting. The secret to getting past the ATS is written right in the job posting—keywords such as the job title, responsibilities, and skills. Don’t copy everything word for word, but make sure a majority of the most important aspects of the job are in your resume and cover letter. Nearly 75% of resumes that go through an ATS are eliminated because they don’t meet the requirements the hiring manager specified, such as the right skills, education level, or job titles, according to Monster research so it is key to getting your resume in the hands of a hiring manager.

Stay up to date

With so much uncertainty in the world right now, it can be overwhelming to try to conduct a job search. Don’t get discouraged. Need help staying focused? Join Monster today and start getting weekly email updates with the latest expert advice on how to find a job, write a resume, and prep for an interview. You can also upload your resume so recruiters and hiring managers can find you and get in touch as soon as a new position gets posted. Think of this as the first step in finding the right fit.

The post How to find a job during the Coronavirus Pandemic appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

8 CAREER RESOLUTIONS TO PUT ON YOUR CALENDAR

Everybody starts the year off with a list of New Year’s resolutions — which are nearly all abandoned or forgotten by February. This year, keep that January motivation fresh in your mind by adding your resolutions to your work calendar now. Here are some suggestions from career experts about what goals to set for this year.

Make a “greatest hits” list.
“Everyone should take time at the beginning of every year to take stock of what they accomplished the prior year… and put those into writing in a resume-like fashion,” says Monique A. Honaman, CEO and partner at ISHR Group. “It’s much easier to have all of this information ready to go when you need it as opposed to having to create a resume from scratch and remember what you have accomplished for the past 10 years.”

Establish one big goal.
“We frequently spend more time hammering out the daily demands of life such that we forget to focus on the big picture,” Honaman says.  “Everyone should set at least one goal of something major that they want to accomplish for their career each year.” Carve out time for yourself, just as you would for any other appointment, to work on your big-picture goal each week, she advises.

Seek out advice.
“Find a trusted mentor who can help guide you towards your goals with a dash of realism about how to navigate the waters ahead,” says Joseph Weintraub, a professor of management and director of the Babson Coaching for Leadership and Teamwork Program at Babson College. Even if you think you know the ropes, somebody more seasoned could give you advice about navigating your company’s higher-up office politics. Weintraub says this person can be someone at your company or someone highly-regarded in your industry who knows the unwritten as well as the written rules.

Set progress benchmarks.
“Set stretch goals but don’t bite off more than you can chew,” says Roy Cohen, career counselor, and executive coach. To keep your big idea manageable, come up with a few smaller goals that will help you accomplish your big achievement. Taking a class, earning a certification or writing an article for an industry publication could all be stops on the way to your final destination that will help build momentum towards it, Cohen says.

Do a quarterly check-up.
“As is the case with quarterly performance reviews in organizations, take the time to do the reflection of where you are in accomplishing your resolutions by doing your own internal audit in your scheduling calendar by setting up a look at your resolutions every three months,” Weintraub says.

Do a mid-year network check.
“Ask yourself at the mid-year point, who have I connected with this year?” Honaman says. You don’t want to be that guy or gal who gets a reputation for only getting in touch if you need a favor, she says. “Make the investment, and sustain your investment, by building a valuable network.  If and when you do need to reach out, the connection is not cold.”

Acquire new tech skills.
“Learn how to better use technology to support all aspects of your job search,” Cohen says. “The downtime around the holidays is great for coming up to speed on new technology applications or skills that need to be strengthened.” Figure out your weak spots, then find classes, books or tutorials where you can learn or brush up on the skills you need to move forward.

Take stock of your accomplishments.
At the end of the year, give yourself a personal performance review — and since you’re not sharing it with anyone, don’t dodge the mistakes and missteps you made during the year. “Be realistic in what you have done and not done towards moving towards your resolutions. Often failure along the way brings the biggest learning,” says Weintraub. “The key is to learn from past mistakes,” he says, by figuring out what you need to do differently the next time around.

The post 8 Career Solutions to Put On Your Calendar appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

It will be Christmas before too long and the kick-off of holiday networking. If you’re planning on using this time to maintain and grow your professional network (and you should), make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date. Here are 10 areas to check on your LinkedIn profile:

Photo: You don’t need a professional headshot, but you do want to look professional. Choose a close-up of your face. Don’t include pets, children, or busy backgrounds. People who you network with and then want to connect with on LinkedIn will better remember you when they see both your profile and your picture. You want your photo to look like you.

Headline: These are the words that appear under your name. When you create your profile, LinkedIn includes a default – typically your current title and company. But you can change that. If your title is generic and your company isn’t a household name, it might not be clear what you do and what your industry expertise is. You may want to instead choose a more descriptive headline (e.g., marketing professional, finance manager).

Summary: Directly below your photo and brief outline of your experience is space for a Summary. This is searchable, so be sure to include the keywords that you want to be found for – brand name companies, technical skills, functional and industry expertise. Look at other profiles for summaries that you like, and model yours after that.

Experience: If it’s been a while since you have updated your profile, your experience section might not reflect what you’re currently doing. Make sure your title and description of your role is current.

Extras: Don’t stop editing at just the main sections, like Education and Experience. There is a Publications section where you can mention if you have written something – a report for a trade newsletter, a guest blog. You can also add videos or PowerPoint to your Summary or Experience sections to showcase examples of your work. The Volunteer and Interests sections reflect another aspect of your background.

References: You can ask people to write a Testimonial about your work. As a former recruiter, I can confirm that this won’t at all replace actual reference checks, but it’s another way of showcasing your background. It’s also a great way to reconnect with the people from whom you request references. Endorsements are another way to show peer support of your skills (while Testimonials are written references, Endorsements are just checkmarks against specific skills that show someone in your network confirms you have that skill). Be sure to list the skills you want to receive endorsements for so these keywords accumulate on your profile.

Settings: If you haven’t checked your privacy settings in a while, do that while you’re updating everything else. When you make a lot of updates, you want to turn off the notification to your network of changes you make – you don’t want your connections to be bothered every time you make an edit. Then, be sure to turn the notification back on because for less frequent updates – when you post a status update, when you change your title – you do want your network to be made aware. Another setting to look at is regarding your browsing activity — “Select what others see when you’ve viewed their profile.” When you look at someone else’s profile, you can reveal who you are, stay semi-anonymous (LinkedIn shows no picture and just a generic industry or title) or anonymous. If you don’t want others to know you’re looking at their profiles, make this setting anonymous.

Connections: The connections that you have determine what kind of new connections you can see (because you are seeing their networks and their networks’ network). So as you update your own profile, think about what connections you’d like to make, and which connections you’ll accept going forward.

Groups: Groups are like-minded members drawn together by industry, role, shared background (e.g., company, alma mater) or shared interest. Groups are a great way of meeting people and staying current. The groups you are in also reflect your own experience and interest. So groups are another area to proactively update.

Contact info: Your email might have changed since you first set up your profile. If you want to know when people reach out to you on LinkedIn or get activity feeds or notices from your Groups, you need to make sure the email connected to your profile is something you check regularly. When I was recruiting, I regularly received very tardy responses from candidates I reached out to on LinkedIn with the sheepish excuse that they don’t check that platform so often. Have the notifications forward to an email that you do check often! Why be present on a platform known for its recruiting advantages if you’re not going to respond!

Don’t just network during the holidays. Plan to follow up and stay in touch. LinkedIn is an ideal platform to do this, so make sure your profile is ready now.

The post Refresh Your LinkedIn for Holiday Networking: a 10-Point Checklist appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

Social media can be dangerous to your career if not used wisely. We know it, employers know it – hell, even Mark Zuckerberg acknowledges it. Every day, we hear stories of people fired, people hired and people’s lives ruined because of a stupid tweet or thoughtless comment.

The problem is, the things a person shares online quickly become their personal brand – and this includes the bad as well as the good.

It’s a widely cited fact that most prospective employers Google candidates before taking their job applications to interview. But what are the red flags that scupper a hire? What are the cardinal sins of online etiquette? In short, what status updates will get you fired before you’re even hired?

A bad reference

On the web, everyone can hear you scream. In fact they can hear you scream forever and ever, down the digital ages. With tools like the Way-Back Machine allowing you to look at previous iterations of any internet site, plus the ubiquity of the phone screenshot function, literally everything online is recorded for posterity somewhere.

Thus, while Facebook might be a good way to keep all your drunken photos in one place, it also acts as a fantastic referencing system. According to Career Builder, the top no-nos online are inappropriate photos, drug references and discriminatory language. And you will be judged on your past online activity – because why should a recruiter go the trouble of contacting previous employers when they can just Google a candidate’s name?

Tempted to sign off for good? Unfortunately, the reference analogy goes further: if employers Google a candidate and find nothing – no Facebook, no Twitter, no LinkedIn – they are given just as much cause for doubt as otherwise. These days, it looks more suspicious not to be on social media than to misuse it.

TMI

Are you an over-sharer? ‘TMI’ – or ‘too much information’ – isn’t just a concern for teenage girls. Businesses are looking for employees who can separate the personal from the professional, both in the workplace and online. If your Twitter feed catalogues the entire daily grind of your previous role – or, worse, shares information that should be limited to a professional context – then you could be in hot water where both prospective and current employers are concerned.

Another issue to watch out for is volume of online interactions. If someone posts three, four, five updates a day, it’s easy for a hiring manager to question whether they should be working instead. To ensure you turn off no future employers, keep your social media to a maximum of a couple of posts a day and confine yourself to personal topics only.

Not sure what we mean? Read these horrendous, fireable updates and weep.

Defamatory remarks

Critical remarks or personal attacks are par for the course on social media platforms. But did you know that such insults can count as defamation? Whether a post is public or confined to a small group, a Facebook or Twitter update is deemed ‘published’ by a court of law. And published slander is defamatory; you could easily be sued.

Although it’s unlikely that anyone you provoke online will initiate genuine legal action against you, it’s not a good idea to taunt the beast. And do we really need to go through the reasons why patent racism, sexism or otherwise discriminatory remarks won’t boost your job prospects?

Companies that see you bandying insults online will be all too wary of turning that ire against themselves. Don’t give them a reason to fear you. Keep things clean.

Bad spelling

“U beta wotch ur speling,” said nobody ever. But spelling is a big deal, and not just on your resume. A recent YouGov survey of business decision makers revealed that a whopping 56% would reconsider a hire who employed bad grammar and/or spelling on social media.

The simple truth is that bad spelling makes you look at best lazy, at worst stupid. If you can’t be bothered to spell check your tweets, don’t put them out there. And that’s the harsh truth: on the web, you’re judged solely by what you choose to put out there. If that output is lacking, then no number of firm handshakes can help you.

The post Could These Social Media Gaffes Cost You Your Job Hunt? appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

LinkedIn has evolved to become one the most important and most prevalent resources for professional networking available. Used by more than 313 million people on an international scale, it’s no wonder why the social network has, for many professional networkers, replaced traditional forms of meeting and socializing.

Whether you network for job opportunities, sales prospects, or just overall experience, it’s true that LinkedIn can enhance your efforts — but it’s important to acknowledge a few considerations about the platform before you get too deep in your strategy.

1. Not Everyone on LinkedIn Wants to Network

This is a basic rule you’ll need to follow if you want to stay in the good graces of your current and potential connections. New LinkedIn users sometimes get excited about the notion of making new connections and start reaching out to people they haven’t met before. While some users also love the idea of meeting new people and connecting with strangers, others are offended by it and may feel as if their privacy has been disrespected if they receive such a request.

Obviously, you want to avoid such a scenario, as it could irritate a potential connection. Instead, focus on connecting with people you’ve already met or connections of people you’ve already met. Make sure to let each potential connection know how you found them and why you want to connect with them.

2. People Will Judge You Based on Your Profile

Your profile is the first thing your new connection will look at, and if you haven’t met in person before, it’s going to form their first impression of you. I don’t need to tell you how important first impressions are. Building out your profile is the best way to leave your new (and potential) connections with positive thoughts of you.

What exactly makes a good profile? There are dozens of rules and hundreds of nitpicky options you can look at, but the fundamentals are mostly intuitive:

• Customize your profile URL so it’s not just a series of random letters and numbers.
• Make sure your profile photo is a professional-looking headshot where you look your best.
• Fill out your profile with as much detailed information as you can without becoming long-winded and boastful.
• Include personal recommendations from others, if possible.

3. Your Personal Brand Should Be Treated Like a Brand

A brand is a created identity, and while yours should be based on your real personality, it should also be refined and treated like a professional company brand. As you network more on LinkedIn and engage in different discussions with different people, your audience and your network should all receive a consistent experience. That means your image, your personality, and even your language need to be in sync with each other.

Developing your personal brand will give people the consistent, desirable experience they want, and eventually, they’ll want to come back to you to repeat that experience. Connect your LinkedIn profile with your other social media profiles, and widen your audience while keeping your personal brand uniform. It’s good to show some of your unique personality, but do remember that LinkedIn isn’t a place to make emotional or personal updates — it’s a professional network, first and foremost. For more information on building a personal brand, see my article, “5 Steps to Building a Personal Brand (and Why You Need One).”

4. People Will Notice Spam and Advertising

Most connections, and most people in general, hate the idea of being advertised to. The second they understand that a message was specifically constructed to sell them on something, the authority and credibility of the message are immediately destroyed. If any of your messages or connection attempts are seen as spammy or as attempts to advertise your company or personal brand, your audience will immediately turn away from you.

Write specialized messages for your audience — in your profile, in your connection attempts, and in your discussion comments. Make sure people know that you aren’t just trying to reach out to them for artificial connection building or a blind attempt to get more business. Be yourself, and write unique messages with unique content to avoid seeming robotic or impersonal. No matter how good you think you are at subtly advertising, people will be able to detect it, and you’ll lose credibility when they do.

5. A Personal Touch Goes a Long Way

Just like in real life, people on LinkedIn crave personal acknowledgement, and if you give it to them, you’ll wind up in their good graces. You’ll want to start each possible connection on a note of personal interaction; when you request to connect with a new person, write them a message about why that connection is important to you, and include personal details so the other person knows you’re being sincere. Sending the default “Hi, I’d like to connect” message will make you seem distant and unapproachable.

Then, follow up with your connections on a regular basis. If you see it’s someone’s birthday, someone’s work anniversary, or someone’s new job or promotion, send them a congratulatory letter. Take every opportunity you can to build your relationship with tiny personal touches. Over time, your connection will grow much stronger.

6. There Is Real Power in Groups

Don’t just stick to personal profile updates and private messages with your connections. Use the power of groups to boost your potential network and reach people you’ve never met in a familiar setting. Sign up to be a part of as many groups as you deem appropriate. Learn the intentions and etiquette of each group, and get involved by starting discussions and responding to comment threads that are already in progress.

The real opportunity in groups is getting the chance to introduce yourself to new people without the breach of etiquette that comes in blindly reaching out to new connections. In a group setting, people will become familiar with your personality and authority, and it’s highly likely that you’ll attract new connections without any outbound effort. For more on using LinkedIn groups for marketing, see my article, “The Definitive Guide to LinkedIn Groups for Marketing.”

7. Face-to-Face Meetings Are Still Important

Interpersonal connections can’t thrive exclusively on social media. While the digital environment gives us a great platform to start new connections, and easily follow up with ones we’ve already made, face-to-face meetings are still important to build camaraderie and deepen those relationships. It’s not always possible due to geographical limitations and schedule restrictions, but whenever you can, try to schedule a lunch meeting or a cup of coffee with your most important — or your newest — connections.

You’d be surprised how much a face-to-face meeting can mean to a person, even in the digital age. It’s not a mandatory requirement for LinkedIn participation, of course, but LinkedIn members who do connect outside the platform tend to be more successful than members who operate exclusively in the online world.

Don’t let these truths scare you away from LinkedIn; when used correctly, it’s a great tool with few, if any, major drawbacks.

But the availability of such a powerful social network also warrants a new set of rules of etiquette. Once you become more familiar with the way LinkedIn works and the best ways to reach out to more connections, you’ll be able to build your network of professional relationships and take advantage of everything the platform has to offer.

The post 7 LinkedIn Rules That Will Make You an Online Networking Master appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

Seconds after I added a well-known writer to my “Journalists I Admire” Twitter list, a little blue notification popped up.

[Well-known writer] followed you.

Soon after, I direct-messaged him to ask for writing advice. Our conversation moved from Twitter to email, and now he’s agreed to meet me for an informational interview when I arrive in NYC this summer.

Score.

My five-minute Twitter technique for getting people to notice me via quotes is super effective — but it’s not the only one I have in my arsenal. I also love using what I call “the list trick.”

First, What’s a List?

As Muse writer Lily Herman explains, “Twitter lists are really underutilized by a lot of tweeters, despite how totally awesome they can be.”

A list is a curated selection of Twitter users. Each list is like its own mini-feed. For example, if I added 10 writers to a list called “Lifestyle Writers,” when I clicked on it I’d only see tweets from those 10 users.

(Check out Twitter’s guide to creating lists for more details.)

The List Trick

Lists are great if you follow a bunch of different types of people and want to quickly and easily sort all their content — but that’s not how I’ve been using them.

Instead, I’ve been using them as an indirect compliment, a way to pique a user’s interest.

Because — and this is key — when you add users to a list, Twitter notifies them.

So when I added that well-known writer, he got a message saying, “@ajavuu added you to list Journalists I Admire.”

I’m not surprised he clicked over to my profile. Who doesn’t love being admired?

Why This Works

Important people are used to being told they’re awesome. They’re also used to getting lots of requests: for their time, for their money, and for their energy. But when you add them to a list with a flattering title, you’re not requesting anything or even fan-girling out — you’re sending a subtle compliment that requires zero action on their end. Not even a polite “thank you.” Plus, it feels more genuine, because lists were designed to exist for your benefit, not theirs.

So rather than sending tweets like:
@joelgascoigne I think @buffer sounds like an amazing place to work!

You can add people to lists.

One caveat: I never add people to lists on which they don’t belong. Let’s say I saw a job listing for a business I’d never heard of before — I wouldn’t just find a random employee on Twitter and add him to an “Inspiring Executives” list. That would be manipulative and disingenuous. And, if the list isn’t well-curated (i.e., it’s just a hodge-podge of people), the chosen person’s much more likely to be confused, rather than complimented.

The Details

So, who should you target? I’d go with people who have fewer than 5,000 followers.

As with any Twitter strategy to get attention, it’s not as though this doesn’t have any chance of working with people who have, say, 10K+ followers — however, the chances of them seeing your notification among the thousand or so they get each day are slim.

This method is great for everyone from bloggers to PR reps to potential employers to industry trendsetters. Once you have a few list themes in mind, it’s time to come up with the name.

One option is to incorporate a job title. Maybe you start a list for “Marketing Experts,” or “Successful Communications Specialists.”

Another option is to play on your lists’ unique skills or abilities. For this method, I look to Twitter and LinkedIn bios. For example, if someone calls himself a “seasoned brand storyteller,” I might make and add him to a list of “Fantastic Storytellers.” Or, if a CEO prides herself on her ability to “get things done,” I’d put her on a “Powerful Women” list.

The last option (for now) is to use more of a catch-all title, like “Inspiring Professionals,” “People I Admire,” or “Thought Leaders.”

The most important thing to keep in mind is that this has the biggest chance of working if your title is complimentary. In other words, a user will be more intrigued by being added to a “Career Experts” list than a “Career Writers” list.

Also, make sure you’re not creating too many lists! Your lists are public, so if you make 20 lists, all with just one user each, it’ll look a little strange. I’m limiting myself to 10 lists, none of which have more than 15 people.

The post Here’s How to Get an Influencer to Notice You in the Next 5 Minutes appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” (Andrew Grant)

When we start the job-hunting process the very first step we take is crafting a resume for that dream position. There’s nothing wrong with that. Well, almost nothing. From an employer’s point of view, it’s a good idea to start building a relationship with the company before sending your resume to them.

The question is: How can you make a first impression on your potential employer before sending your resume? There are at least 5 ways you can do it.

1. Send a note by post.

All the essentials for taking this step are available online. They are the company’s address and the name of a person you’d like to send a note to. Then, decide what type of note it should be. A handwritten letter that explains who you are and why you think you’d be perfect for the company, for example. In the note, also write a solution to a problem the company’s facing. You can find an inspiration from Nina who wanted to work for airbnb and created something truly special.

Another option is to do a deeper research and find what the person from a department you’d like to work in likes. Check their social media accounts (Facebook/Instagram) and try to think what would make them smile? On one of the recruitment meetings I attended, one of the employers mentioned a girl who sent her favorite chocolate bar together with a resume. You guess right, she got hired! Even though the whole situation might seem a bit creepy to you.

Sending a little something or a handwritten note is just more creative. At the end of the day, who sends anything by post anymore? If you do it, you’ll surely make an impression. It’s up to your message whether it will be a positive one.

2. Build a virtual relationship on Twitter.

No, a simple “Follow” or a single tweet will not do the trick. What you need to do is interact with the company. Get organized and create your action plan.

First, do the research. What kind of information do they share? Are these the topics you’re interested in too? If the answer’s no, read about those topics and get familiar with them. Secondly, dedicate time to be active on Twitter. Like their tweets, re-tweet them and comment on them. You can also tweet directly to them, ask questions or recommend an article they would be interested in. Finally, remember that persistency is a key. Wait until some interaction between you and the company forms. Keep in mind that it could take more than a week for that to happen.

Once the relationship exists, you’re ready to send them an inmail explaining who you are and why you’d like to work for them.

3. Give them a call.

I know. Calling to your dream employer directly can be a little scary. Especially if it is one of your very first positions. Don’t worry, tough. All you need is a good preparation. Write everything you’d like to tell them down on a piece of paper. The message, once again, should be you “selling” yourself and explaining why you are the right person for the company. What problem can you solve for them?

After you’ve written down your key messages, practice. Ask your friend to pretend to be the employer and have a virtual call with them. Trust me, this way you’ll boost your confidence.

Many employers out there prefer receiving a call, rather than having to read through your email. It’s more efficient and less time-consuming.

4. Comment on their blog.

Another thing you could try is finding out whether the person from a department you’d like to work in has a blog. You can usually find a link to their blog on their Linkedin or Twitter profile. You could even try to Google their name and see what type of information pops up. If they have an active blog, it will appear for sure.

Then read their articles and comment on them. Share your point of view or ask them an additional question. It should be more than just “Great article!”

If you like writing and have your own blog, you could even write an article sharing your opinion or a point of view on the same topic. Than send it to them explaining that you got inspired by their work. It’s very flattering to writers.

5. Meet them in person.

Have you heard the story about a guy who pretended to be a postman delivering doughnuts to his potential employers? In the box there weren’t just doughnuts, but also his resume! Now that is one creative way to make a good first impression!

While you could try the same, another good idea would be crafting an amazing resume specific to the company, filled with your top skills, experience and a good evidence for each point. Show up with a smile on your face and a good explanation why you’d like to work for them up your sleeve.

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