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.

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

Source & Thank You: Bridget Brooks Weide

Picture Source: IStock

Ten Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make on LinkedIn

October 17, 2018October 23, 2018vet2workcom Leave a comment

Don’t Dismiss LinkedIn as Something Only for People Who Are Looking for a New Job. The best time to build your LinkedIn profile, connect with people, and participate on LinkedIn is now — before you need it. If you find yourself suddenly unemployed and decide that now is the time to start using LinkedIn, you’re going to be playing catch up. Instead, take time to “dig your well before you’re thirsty,” as author Harvey Mackay says.
Don’t “Set it and Forget It.” Your LinkedIn profile is a forever evolving snapshot of you. Update it regularly with new connections, status, and activity (especially within LinkedIn Groups).
Don’t Ignore It. Check in on LinkedIn regularly (at least every other day if you are in active job search mode or once a week for a passive job search). It would help if you planned on adding a new status update each time you log in.
Don’t Be A Wallflower. LinkedIn is most effective when you actively engage with it. Seek out opportunities to connect with known thought leaders within your industry and join 3-5 related groups and then review and participate in conversations.
Don’t Be Selfish. You will get more out of LinkedIn if you focus on how you can help others, not how they can help you. The phrase “give to get” is very powerful on LinkedIn. You can earn the respect of your peers and people of influence if you “help enough other people get what they want,” in the words of Zig Ziglar.
Don’t Wait For Others To Find You. Use the LinkedIn search function to look for people you know and invite them to connect with you. You should aim to add 2-5 new connections each week if you are a passive job seeker, and 6-10 connections a week if you are actively searching for a new job.
Don’t Forget to Explore the People Your Connections Know. One of the most powerful functions of LinkedIn is the ability to connect you with people who are connections of the people you know. Follow LinkedIn’s guidelines on connecting with these folks (using InMail or requesting connections through your mutual friend), so that your account doesn’t get flagged as spam.
Don’t Indiscriminately Try to Connect With People. One of the strengths of LinkedIn is the connections you make, but it’s not a race to get to 500 connections. Have a reason for each of the people you connect with — either it’s someone you already know or a relative, or someone it would be a beneficial connection. If you don’t know someone, get to know them a bit before sending a personalized connection request. (You can do so by seeing who you have in common — or who they are connected to, checking out their LinkedIn Summary and work history, visiting their website or blog, and seeing what Groups they belong to).
Don’t Forget to Give Recommendations. Acknowledge and recognize the contributions of people you know by providing unsolicited, genuine Recommendations for them.
Don’t Restrict Your LinkedIn Networking to Online Only. Use LinkedIn to connect with people — but then request in-person get-togethers, when possible. Meet for coffee, or lunch, to catch up.

Revised on 10/15/18 by Claudia Stapleton

Original Author: Bridget Weide Brooks

Photo Source: Adobe Stock

Fifteen of HR’s Favorite Words To Include in Your Résumé or LinkedIn Profile

October 17, 2018October 28, 2018vet2workcom Leave a comment

Your résumé’s carefully placed keywords have successfully navigated it through the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) screening. Now, it has found its way into the hands of a Human Resources Professional.

What happens next?

As you would expect, the human perspective and review of your résumé are entirely different from the mechanical sorting. An HR Professional is looking at your résumé and LinkedIn profile to not only objectively match you with the open position but also to see if you will be a good fit within the company’s current team.

That is where additional wording that will invite the HR Professional to positively match you to the company’s culture and current/anticipated performance comes into play. A 2014 survey of Human Resources Professionals conducted by Career Builder found the following fifteen words to be HR Professionals’ favorites for inclusion in a résumé or LinkedIn profile:

Achieved: 52%

Improved: 48%

Trained/Mentored: 47%

Managed: 44%

Created: 43%

Resolved: 40%

Volunteered: 35%

Influenced: 29%

Increased/Decreased: 28%

Ideas: 27%

Negotiated: 25%

Launched: 24%

Revenue/Profits: 23%

Under budget: 16%

Won: 13%

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Source & Thank You: Bridget Brooks Weide

Picture Source: IStock

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