LinkedIn is a growing social network for professionals. Hiring managers and recruiters even use it as a resource for finding candidates to fill open positions and reach out to people who look like they may be qualified for a job, whether they are looking for a new opportunity or not. What most people don’t know is that their LinkedIn profile can have a big impact on their chances of being contacted, and sometimes even landing the job.

Forbes has written many articles about the most common mistakes being made on LinkedIn profiles that people are completely unaware could be hindering their appeal to companies. I have summarized a few of the major faux pas below.

You don’t post a picture. It’s nice to see that someone is a real person that exists. The majority of people are not hired off of a phone interview, so it could be less likely you will be contacted by a recruiter or hiring manager if you choose not to post a photo. Visuals are important in the business world, and it can make you more appealing as a potential candidate if you have a polished, RECENT picture. That being said, choosing an appropriate photo is just as important. Keep it professional: leave your cats and kids out of it. Avoid glamour shots. And make sure you currently look like the person in the picture you’re posting. If a recruiter wants to meet you for coffee, they will expect the person in the picture to show up.

You don’t describe your job. Stating your title as “programmer” or “developer” doesn’t give people any real insight as to what you do from 9-5pm every day. A blank piece of paper with job titles will most likely not entice people to reach out to you. Three or four bullet points should be enough to give a quick summary of your day-to-day responsibilities for each job description. Another reason to add some detail is that buzz words can be searched for on LinkedIn. If you have one on your page, you are more likely to be contacted about the right opportunities that won’t waste your time.

You lie. Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson has proven that posting false information on your resume, or on any profile that potential employers have access to, is a big mistake. Whether it be your education or skill set, eventually the truth will come out. Sure, you may be hired up front, but over time someone will uncover the truth about your background and what it is that you are capable of contributing to the company.. and what you’re not. It is always better to be upfront about your skills, your job history and what degree you hold, rather than have it come out down the line and tarnish your reputation.

You have too many recommendations or none at all. Having no recommendations might convey that no one likes your work, you haven’t left that much of an impression on anyone, you haven’t formed any worthwhile relationships at your position, or you’re simply just not a good networker. On the other hand, it looks sketchy if you all of a sudden have ten recommendations in the same week. To make things easy on yourself, be continuously searching for recommendations, even when you’re satisfied with your job, rather than asking for dozens of recommendations only when you’re out of work.

Your page has no personality. Showing people that you have likes, interests, and hobbies makes you more approachable and helps recruiters remember that you are an actual human being, not just another cold call over the course of the day. It can make conversations more enjoyable if someone realizes they have something in common with you and can provide a bit of a personal connection. Believe it or not, some companies choose to hire you or pass on you based on whether your personality meshes with the rest of the organization or team. Bottom line: having a life outside of work makes you more interesting, as well as more marketable.

Making some of these simple changes to your LinkedIn profile could help you stand out as recruiters and hiring managers go through hundreds of candidates per day. So, click on your LinkedIn tab, and start making some improvements to your profile. It might even get you the job of your dreams!


 

From conversations that I have had as of late, I have noticed that a vast majority of the workforce is still too timid to make a career change. It’s true that the layoffs are still happening and the US Department of Labor continues to publish stats that say unemployment is sky-rocketing. These figures are probably true, when the market is looked at as a whole, i.e. across all industries and regions, but when the market is segmented into locations and industries; it is certainly not the case. I can tell you first-hand that the IT Job Market in Indy is booming!

It is a time of rebuilding, and businesses all around town are starting this process with IT. People are starting to re-think the way in which they do business, which calls for new pieces of software or hardware to support it. If you are reading between the lines, this means that they will need people to customize/test these products, implement the solutions, and then train the whole organization on the new tools.

So now is the time to make that switch to a new organization, get in on the ground-floor and become an invaluable resource.

Whether you are looking to try your hand at consulting or just looking to switch careers, don’t wait!

Just give it some thought, and then give us a ring to discuss your options!

I get an opportunity to work with many different people in many different situations. I recently had a chance to work with an individual that was recently laid off after 12 years of employment with 1 employer. Entering the job market after a 12 year hiatus can be a shocking experience, if you are not prepared. I wanted to explore a couple of things that have changed in the last 12 years and things you should consider if you are entering the market under a similar circumstance.

It is very important to realize that the possibility of being in your next job for 12 years is not impossible, but unlikely. Things change faster in today’s job market than they ever have, for large reason being that businesses provide services faster than they ever have. You need to be willing to look at all the options that are available for you. In addition, you need to be willing to explore avenues that you may have never considered such as consulting or contracting. Let me be clear, wanting a permanent position where you feel comfortable and want to provide your expertise for the next 12 years is not a bad thing! In fact, that is the type of mentality that I would want my employees to have. Recent statistics have show that the average term of employment in the U.S. over the last 10 years, is less than 3 years. This takes into account all forms of employment in the U.S. from high level executives to local gas station clerks. You may say well that makes more sense, does it?

With the economical ups and downs seen over the last several years, you most likely are related to or know someone who has been laid off from their position. With that being said, there are many reasons that folks can be relieved from their positions. Companies that are even performing at a high level always want to perform better. It is important to realize that companies sometimes first look to cut costs from within. There is no secret here, internal/permanent employees cost companies a lot of money. This number doesn’t just revolve around salary but also the benefits and additional perks that companies tend to offer to capture talent. This is where contracting comes into play and can provide companies the flexibility needed following tough internal decisions. Anchor Point works at several levels of employment from contracting, contract to hire and permanent. I don’t want to scare anyone from exploring permanent employment as Anchor Point provides that type of employment as well. However, don’t be too quick to turn down something that may be unfamiliar because with no risk there is no reward. We are happy to educate interested folks in the possibilities; you just have to be willing to listen.

LinkedIn has become a massive tool in the staffing and recruiting industry.  Known to most as a “professional networking tool,” LinkedIn is known to people in my profession a great tool to find a passive candidate.  Set up through personal networks, networking groups, and “people you may know,” this professional networking tool is now attracting a multitude of people from every professional arena.  If used properly, LinkedIn has incredible amounts of potential to find better jobs, connect with hiring managers, and connect with people who know the industry better than anyone…… RECRUITERS. 

When sourcing for qualified candidates, I utilize LinkedIn 100% of the time.  This tool has become a recruiter’s best friend and what seems as a nightmare for professionals who are happy in their current jobs and not interested in making a move.    This is very obvious by the conversations that many professionals have within the networking groups.  “Is there any professionals in this group or is it just recruiters?” or “This group was started for professional networking, NOT FOR RECRUITERS!”  

I understand that there have been some recruiters that give people in my profession a bad name.  Is it different in any other profession? I have received some pretty nasty responses to invitations to connect and emails inquiring information about candidate’s current situation.  Maybe it is just me, but why not connect? Why not be polite to someone who has such an incredible understanding of the market for your skill set?  Before completely rejecting an invitation to connect, think about the following questions first!

1. What if my work situation changes unexpectedly?

In most cases, you are in an Employment at Will agreement.  Which means, at any point the employer or employee can break the employment relationship for any reason.  Obviously not in a case where it could be classified as discriminatory or illegal, but you never know in today’s market.  My point being, recruiters know the market.  We have an upper hand on a lot of open opportunities that could be very useful for you if your current work situation changes unexpectedly!

2. Do I know of anyone who is looking for work? (Especially people with the same skill set)

Staffing and recruiting companies thrive off of referrals.  In some cases, they value referrals so much that they have instated a referral bonus program.  I have heard of some companies who pay out as much as $500 to someone whom simply leads them to an individual who turns out to be a great resource and gets placed into one their open positions.  Everyone knows someone who is unhappy in their current job or looking for new opportunities!

3. Is the grass really greener on the other side?

It very well could be!  You wouldn’t believe how many times I speak to people who are INCREDIBLY UNDERPAID for their skill set.  Some people have been locked into positions for 10+ years and have received small pay increases ever 1-2 years.  Yeah that looks great to you, but in some cases, companies tend to not  pay tenured employees what they are worth, based off market value.  Recruiters know what skill sets are hot!  They know what type of massive projects are going to happen over the next year and they know what skill sets are needed.  If they are contacting you, it is likely that you have  “HOT” skill set.

It starts at accepting an invite to connect and ends in a new opportunity in which you got a 25% pay increase.  Next time you receive an invite to connect via LinkedIn, give it a little more thought, instead of just declining. That recruiter could possibly have the next best thing for you and your family, especially if they are from Anchor Point Technology Resources!