How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

December 17, 2018December 17, 2018vet2workcom Leave a comment

As all jobseekers now know, a well-written and complete LinkedIn profile is essential to maximizing LinkedIn’s application to your job search efforts. Below are some tips on fully optimizing your profile.

Profiles on LinkedIn are structured like a traditional résumé. LinkedIn uses the words you use to describe your work experience and education as keywords. So by applying the correct terms in your profile, you can increase your positioning in the search results.

Search results in LinkedIn are also based on your connections. So while it is important to make a lot of connections, you don’t want to spam people. (Don’t connect with people just for the sake of having a lot of connections. That’s like giving your business card to everyone at a party.) But to connect with people you know.

Now it’s time to start populating (filling in) your profile.

Look at other LinkedIn profiles for folks who have your same job title. See what they’re including in their profile that is getting them ranked highly using LinkedIn’s search algorithm.

How can you find the profiles of individuals on LinkedIn who do what you do? Use a Google search as a fast way to retrieve similar profiles.

1. Go to Google.com

2. Type in this search string: “Site: LinkedIn.com” “your job title.”

3. Replace the phrase “your job title” with your job title or keywords or terms related to your job or industry.

Initially you can focus on the top 10 search results (some of them will be job postings; some will be individual profiles; others will lead you to a category of professionals). Visit each of the top-listed profiles and take note of how they are representing themselves — in particular, the headline they use to describe themselves, the keywords they include, and their Featured Skills & Endorsements.

Like other social media sites, LinkedIn uses search to help connect you with people you know — or people you should know. For this reason, optimizing your profile (so it ranks well in search results) ensures that your profile will be found.

Finally, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel — a well-written professional résumé will give you most of the content you need to create a compelling LinkedIn profile.

Why You Need Both a LinkedIn Profile and A Résumé for Job Search Success

December 14, 2018December 17, 2018vet2workcom Leave a comment

Once upon a time, attending networking mixers, industry events, and Chamber of Commerce meetings was the best way to make new connections and build business relationships. Now, many of these activities have moved online within the LinkedIn community. Much like networking in person, professionals interact on LinkedIn with the explicit intention of making business connections.

With LinkedIn, you get all the benefits of networking in person, with less of the hassle. Instead of going from business lunch to business lunch hoping to meet people, LinkedIn provides a platform for you to specifically search for and research individuals who you know will directly add value to your job search.

Employers and recruiters use LinkedIn to locate both active job seekers and those who aren’t necessarily looking (passive candidates). They also use LinkedIn to vet job candidates before making an interview invitation or extending a job offer. LinkedIn also allows candidates to create an online portfolio of their accomplishments — by facilitating embedded video, links to content posted elsewhere on the Internet, and the ability to create highly shareable, long-form content in the form of LinkedIn’s “Publishing” feature.

LinkedIn allows you to identify, research, contact, follow-up, engage and maintain your contacts in one place. Its ability to facilitate business networking is unmatched by any other social network. Essentially, your LinkedIn profile is a résumé, business card, and elevator speech all rolled up into one.

However, your LinkedIn profile is not your résumé. LinkedIn is a personal branding page. You need both a résumé and a LinkedIn profile, and they should be in sync with one another, but not be exact copies. The information on your résumé should match your profile (in terms of positions you’ve held, your educational credentials, etc.), but the content you include on your LinkedIn profile will be different than what is included on your résumé.

Mastering the Lunch or Dinner Interview Etiquette

November 16, 2018November 16, 2018vet2workcom Leave a comment

There is nothing more daunting than sitting down at a restaurant table with a prospective employer and not knowing which fork, spoon, or glass to use. Additionally, how do you eat your food and still make a good first impression?

Lunch or dinner interviews are a routine part of the job or promotion opportunity process. Not knowing the basics of dining etiquette can often lead to disastrous results. Dining etiquette is one of the few things that never go out of style, and a potential employer often uses a dining interview as a prelude to a final job offer.

Below are a few tips to put you at ease and help you to create a positive impression when invited to dine for business.

Always wait until you have received a signal from the host or the staff to move to the table. (Be sure to turn off your phone before you move to the table).
Review the menu to find items that are easy to eat (cut 2-3 small pieces at a time). Easy to eat is always best when business dining because finger foods can be messy.
Do not order alcohol or smoke during a business lunch. Opt for tea or water if your host asks if you would like an alcoholic beverage.
Always wait for your host to begin eating before you start to eat. (If you are at a table of 3 to 10 served by waiters, do not eat until all at the table have received their meal).
When passing food and condiments always offer to the person on your left and then pass everything to the right. (Pass salt and pepper together, but do not season your food before you have tasted it). Say “no thank you” if you don’t like or want something.
Keep in mind that your priority is the business at hand and not the meal. Eat at a moderate speed but don’t leave others at the table waiting for you to finish.
Do not talk when you have food in your mouth and never chew with your mouth open or make loud noises when you eat. If eating soup, do not slurp from a spoon. Spoon the soup away from you when you take it out of the bowl and sip it from the side of the spoon. If your soup is too hot to eat, let it sit until it cools – don’t blow on it.
Don’t leave the table during the meal except in an emergency. If you must go to the bathroom or if you suddenly become sick, excuse yourself. Later you can apologize to your host by saying that you did not feel well.
If you must leave the table for any reason during the meal, place your napkin on your chair. Always rest used silverware on your plate (used tableware should never touch the table). Place your dirty napkin to the left of your plate when everyone has finished their meal, and you are ready to leave the table.
During the conversation (and when you are not eating) always keep your hands on your lap or resting on the table (with wrists on the edge of the table). If possible, have some general conversation topics ready to use during the conversation if necessary.
If a piece of your silverware falls onto the floor, tell the server and ask for a replacement.
Be sure to thank the host for the meal and provide a firm handshake before leaving.

A Jobseeker’s Tips for A Productive Job Search

October 21, 2018November 16, 2018vet2workcom Leave a comment

Most people have never been taught the “how to” in finding a job, although research shows that the average worker only spends four years in a job (even less for newly transitioning military-to-civilian workers) — and will have as many as twelve to fifteen jobs over the course of their career.

Because you only need one company to hire you, don’t focus your efforts on making dozens or hundreds of contacts with prospective employers, be selective!

Here are ten suggested tips to help you find your new job faster.

Set aside a distraction-free workspace for conducting your job search.
Start with the end in mind. Take the time to think about what kind of job you’re targeting. What job title, functional roles, company or industry are you interested in?
Once you have decided on your job target, take time to organize and outline a search strategy and then use your plan to create a weekly list of activities.
Stick to your search plan, but if an interview or networking opportunity comes up, rearrange your schedule to fit it in!
Devote sufficient time to your job search. If you are not currently working, commit yourself to a minimum of 40 hours per week devoted to your search campaign. If you are currently working, devote 15-20 hours per week at a minimum.
Recognize that your motivation is going to increase and decrease, depending on the success (or lack of success) you are having in reaching your job search goal. Reward yourself for effort, not for results.
Join a job club or check out services offered by your city, county, or state employment office. Contact your university alumni association.
Recruit one person to support, encourage, and motivate you in your job search. This can be a friend, another job seeker, or a career coach/counselor. (Choose someone who can be objective with you — and critical of your efforts — when they need to be.)
It is often easier to get a job if you have a job (even if the job isn’t related to the job you want). Consider taking a part-time job or class can help you fill in unemployment gaps.
If you are having difficulty finding a job in your area, consider relocation. If you live in an area with high unemployment — especially in your industry — consider whether moving to another city, state, or region would improve your chances of getting hired.

Photo Source: IStock

How to Write an Impressive Job Offer Acceptance Letter

October 21, 2018November 12, 2018vet2workcom Leave a comment

“Put it in writing, or it didn’t happen.” This advice from lawyers is relevant for job seekers — especially when accepting a new job. But, exactly what should you say in a letter of acceptance?

Letter of Acceptance

Writing a letter of acceptance is especially important if your job offer was made orally but you have not — or did not — receive confirmation of the offer in writing. An effective letter of acceptance should demonstrate your enthusiasm for the position and include clarification of four key pieces of information: job title, salary information, details of benefits being offered (if any), and start date.

You can also clarify the date that the employer extended the job offer, as well as any additional information the company needs from you — or that you need from the company — before starting the new job. Address the letter to the person who offered you the position.

Here are a couple of templates (and samples) you can use to formulate job acceptance letter.

Acceptance Letter Template #1:

(Date)

(Contact Name)
(Title)
(Company Name)
(Address)
(City, State Zip)

Dear [Contact Name]:

Thank you for the opportunity to accept a position as [Job Title] with [Company Name]. I am happy to accept your offer, with an anticipated starting date of [date].

I am pleased to accept the starting salary of [$$], and the additional benefits of [list them specifically].

Please let me know if you need anything from me in the meantime. You can reach me at [000] 000-0000 or via email at [email address].

Thank you again.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Sample Acceptance Letter #1

June 1, 2019

Anthony Hays
Operations Manager
Merit Corporation
20 Windham Way
Spencer, IA 51500

Dear Mr. Hays:

Thank you for the opportunity to accept a position as Team Lead 1 with Merit. I am happy to accept your offer, with an anticipated starting date of June 15, 2019.

I am pleased to accept the starting salary of $34,400, and the additional benefits of health and dental insurance (after 90 days of employment), $1000 tuition reimbursement, life insurance (one-time annual salary), and seven days of paid vacation.

Please let me know if you need anything from me in the meantime. You can reach me at [515] 555-1226 or via email at janejobseeker@gmail.com.

Thank you again.

Sincerely,

Jane Jobseeker

Acceptance Letter Template #2:

(Date)

(Contact Name)
(Title)
(Company Name)
(Address)
(City, State Zip)

Dear [Contact Name]:

I am writing to confirm my acceptance of your offer of employment. I am thrilled to be joining [Company Name] as a [Job Title], effective [start date], with a starting salary of [$$$].

As we discussed, I will provide you with [documentation or other information] by [date you will provide the information]. I will look forward to receiving [information provided by the company] so that I can complete it before my start date.

I am looking forward to working with your team. I’m confident I can make a significant contribution to the company in this role.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Sample Acceptance Letter #2:

June 1, 2019

Beverly Matricia
Agency Manager
Angel Ministries
4220 Boardwalk Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10301

Dear Ms. Matrica:

I am writing to confirm my acceptance of your offer of employment. I am thrilled to be joining Angel Ministries as a Director of Development, effective July 2, with a starting salary of $44,000.

As we discussed, I will provide you with my hiring paperwork by June 11. I will look forward to receiving the paperwork for the life insurance policy so that I can complete it before my start date.

I am looking forward to working with your team. I’m confident I can make a significant contribution to the organization in this role.

Sincerely,

Jane Jobseeker

Vet2Work Blog

Civilian & Transitioning Military Career Specialists

Category Career Help

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Source & Thank You: Bridget Brooks Weide

Picture Source: IStock

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