Blog, Personal Development

How to Build Up Your LinkedIn Profile

December 22, 2021

No one said searching for a job was simple, but social networks like LinkedIn make it a lot easier. So, you set up your LinkedIn profile, but you’re not landing the interviews and opportunities you were hoping for — don’t worry, you are not alone.

Similar to a resume, your LinkedIn profile is an opportunity to showcase yourself and all of the incredible skills you have to offer. That being said, simply setting up a profile is not enough. Self-marketing can sometimes feel egotistical. However, by neglecting personal branding, you may be passing up opportunities to grow. Building a perfect LinkedIn profile is the first step to ensure no opportunity is missed.

To build up your LinkedIn profile, follow these simple steps:

Add Your Headshot

Choosing the right photo builds credibility. A high-quality headshot is recommended, with your face taking up about 60 per cent of the photo. Dress as if you were attending an interview, and, of course, be sure to smile! iPhones and Androids take high-resolution pictures, so no need to spend a small fortune on professional headshots.

The Headline

Following your photo, your headline is the first thing profile visitors will notice. The default settings will automatically fill this field with your current title, which is okay for newcomers, but with 120 characters available to you, why not use the space for advertising yourself? Consider mentioning your specialty to show how you can benefit a company or client.

Craft a Summary

Think of a summary as a longer version of your headline. Here you have 2,000 characters; however, attention spans are shorter these days, so try and keep it to around half that number. Focus less on past experiences and more on how you can benefit a prospective employer. Keywords are crucial here, so use words relevant to your field.

Highlight Your Experience

Unlike a resume, your experience displayed on LinkedIn is not confined to the one-page rule. However, keeping in mind those short attention spans, determine which jobs and experiences are most relevant to your targeted field. Use two to four interesting bullet points to outline what you accomplished in each position — don’t be afraid to brag a little!

Start Making Connections

This one may seem obvious, but it is easy to forget. LinkedIn is meant to help you continually grow your network through its system of first-, second-, and third-degree connections. Try and keep it to people you know. However, if you want to connect with someone you have never met personally, send a note along with the request stating why you’d like to connect.

Be Active

LinkedIn is the number one online social networking platform — take advantage of it! Check out what others in your field post and engage their interest with reflective comments to show your interest. When it is time to share your work, engaging with others will increase the likelihood for reciprocation from your connections.

Check Your LinkedIn Profile Strength

If you feel as though you missed a step, look at your current profile. You will see a gauge on the right-hand side titled “Profile Strength.” This tool will show how much progress you have made and what else you must complete in order to boost your profile.

Brooke Parker | Contributing Writer

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Blog

Job Rejection: Causes and Prevention

By assistantdesigner@theedgeleaders.com on

July 14, 2020

- Blog

Have you experienced job rejection at some point in your life? If so, don’t be discouraged. You’re not alone. Almost all of us have gone through the process. It is commonly encountered, yet it can be avoided. Though causing much disappointment, the reasons behind job rejection are oftentimes beyond your control. Among these could be: the cancellation of the advertised position due to recession or cost-cutting; the hiring of a more qualified person; or, the hiring of somebody based on “who-he-knows” contrary to the “what-he-knows” process.

On the flip-side, there are also many factors that are within your control. Below are common ones to take note of, with corresponding tips on how to prevent rejection:

Resumes and Cover Letters

Lengthy, irrelevant resumes – Limit your resume to 2 pages as recruiters only spend 6 seconds when screening. Ensure that it contains all the essential elements like the keywords indicated in the job posting plus any of your specific achievements that relate to the position being applied for. It should be error-free, no discrepancies like employment gaps, and with simple but effective format.

Irrelevant cover letters – Customize the cover letter for every job position that you apply for. Ensure to attach your resume when you send it via email.

Incomplete applications – Read the job ad properly and make sure that you comply with what the employer requires, i.e., video resumes, work samples.

Interviews

Being late – Always come early for an interview. Arriving late will give the employer an impression of your carelessness and unreliability. Inform the employer ahead if you cannot be punctual on the day of the interview.

Being unprepared – Conduct a research about the company and the position being applied for before the interview. Nonetheless, do not forget to mention what you can bring to the table as the company wants to know how they will benefit from you.

Lack of technical knowledge or giving short and non-substantive answers – Respond in more detail to technical questions. Showcase your core competencies by elaborating your answers. Do it in a clear, concise, and engaging manner and give specific examples of competencies by using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) technique.

Inability to relate – You should relate your skills to the position being interviewed for or in addressing the company needs.

Lack of enthusiasm – Be energetic; show your interest and excitement about the job and the company.

Asking the wrong questions – Never ask about vacation and other related questions as this will reflect what’s on your mind.

Dressing improperly – Dress professionally and neatly as this reflects the type of personality that you have. Cover body prints or remove piercings, if any.

If you are not successful in securing a position, don’t despair. Never make the mistake of perceiving rejection as a sign of failure; rather, view it as a test to your patience and resilience. Rationalize it by thinking that the firm which rejected you is the wrong company and that you deserve a better one; yet, be cognizant of the stiff competition given the large population of job searchers composed of the unemployed like you, the yearly addition of fresh graduates, and those from recent company layoffs.

Make it a habit to analyze your job application process, what worked and what did not. Learn from each experience. Identify your mistakes, make improvements, and move on. There are plenty of opportunities out there. Widen your network. Connect and make yourself visible. Build your core strengths, be more competitive, focus on other opportunities, and continue to present yourself to the best you can. Don’t give up! Sooner than you expect, a better opportunity will come along.

M. L. Galvez-Ver | Contributing Writer

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Blog

How to Overcome the Glass Ceiling

By assistantdesigner@theedgeleaders.com on

May 12, 2020

- Blog

If you ask someone in the workforce what job satisfaction means to them, you’ll often hear it defined by a variety of factors, including culture, pay, vacation time, and room for growth; in this instance, we will be focusing on the latter. Nobody wants to feel like they aren’t able to move up in an organization. It makes you feel unappreciated and can quickly result in you becoming disgruntled and disengaged. What many don’t understand is that advancement has to do with a lot more than just being good at your job and that opportunities often exist but you have to proactively seek them out. Today, we outline some of the best ways for you to seize the opportunities available in your company.

Define your own expertise

The type of work you take on, and the way in which you present yourself, will decide how others see you and your role. Take some time to reflect on areas where you have the most passion/knowledge for and learn to see yourself as a professional with respect to that particular expertise. If you grow to see yourself as a marketing expert, for example, and constantly describe yourself and take on work in that capacity, then others will grow to view you in that light as well.

Don’t allow yourself to flounder in a role where you are merely performing up to standard. Find ways to acquire work or assignments that allow you to take full advantage of your greatest strengths and really allow you to showcase your unique value as an employee.

Seek high profile projects that allow management to notice your strengths

A good work ethic is a useful characteristic to have, but it won’t do much for your career if it isn’t directed towards something that the company is paying attention to. Talk to management and co-workers about important projects coming up, and express your interest in contributing; however, to build the necessary trust between you and the company, you will first need to…

Study your workplace culture

Not all success can be attributed to the quality of your work or the depth of your expertise. Sometimes, it’s simply a matter of whether people like working with you or not. Keep an eye on common informal practices and expectations outside of your regular duties.

Network within the company

Very rarely do we accomplish anything completely on our own. At some point, we all need someone to help open a door for us to walk through, and with that in mind, it is important to cultivate a list of allies at your workplace. These are individuals who will go to bat for you when it counts and who will vouch for your ability to perform and support your desire to be given more important tasks. They can also be people to whom you can express a desire to take on new roles. Your allies will inevitably be a diverse set, running the gamut from co-workers to superiors.

Acquire additional training

Working on more important assignments may require you to learn new skills or expand your current knowledge set. Take time to acquire new certifications that are relevant to your desired role and inquire about training programs offered by the company.

Landing your dream role or moving into a desirable management/executive position is all about being active. Promotion tends not to happen if you wait around passively for someone to recognize your hard work. By actively seeking out ways to make yourself visible to the higher-ups, you create opportunities for your career to keep growing and evolving.

Lance | Contributing Writer

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