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3 Ways To Age-Proof Your Resume & LinkedIn Profile



Are you concerned about age discrimination? While most job seekers fear discrimination by hiring managers, the truth is that you’re more likely to be discriminated against by a computer.

Most 50-something or older job seekers don’t realize that the technology they leverage to apply for jobs may be screening them out of consideration. Sadly, this is one of the most common reasons that job seekers don’t get the interviews they want and deserve.

Here’s the key thing you need to know. The databases, or applicant tracking systems (ATS), that employers, recruiters, and job boards use to parse, store, and analyze incoming resumes are capable of estimating how much experience you possess. When recruiters or hiring executives search these databases for candidates with a certain amount of experience—let’s say 12-15 years—the ATS will screen out candidates who possess anything other than 12, 13, 14, or 15 years. As a result, your resume or LinkedIn profile will not be listed in the resulting candidate search. This eliminates your candidacy before a human even sees your resume or LinkedIn profile.

Please note that while job boards, companies, and recruiters are not intending to discriminate, the technology they are using to organize the flood of resumes they receive is doing so inadvertently. This means that every time your resume is entered into a job board system, company website, or recruiter website, the experience filtering described above may occur. It also means that your LinkedIn profile could be subjected to this same filtering process any time a company or recruiter searches for candidates like you with a specific amount of experience in mind.

If you’re currently in or plan to launch a part-time or full-time search for a new role, take time to age-proof your resume and LinkedIn profile. Three simple changes will boost your candidacy, help you attract more opportunities, and win you more job interviews:

1. Revamp Your LinkedIn Profile Picture


While we strongly recommend a professional headshot for your LinkedIn profile picture (you can get one in most markets for $100-$200), an amateur photographer might work if you know one who takes good portrait shots. The key is an attractive pose that makes the most of your facial characteristics and personality while minimizing any age-related deficits.

If you have silver hair, for example, consider using a dark background or black & white photo to reduce the risk of a washed-out appearance. Select a pose that conveys energy and vitality and hints at the wisdom youth simply can’t replicate. Use a full-face smile to project energy with the photo and make sure you dress in interview-ready attire. You want to seem professional yet approachable.

2. Eliminate Dates From Your Education Listings On Your Resume And LinkedIn Profile


Woman logs in to LinkedIn

It’s standard these days for most folks over 30 to omit education dates from resumes and their LinkedIn profile. This is easy enough to do on your resume where you can also omit dates of training, certifications, licensure, or affiliations.

In short, omit any date prior to 2000, since most recruiters only want to see the last 10-15 years of your experience on your resume or LinkedIn profile. To achieve this on LinkedIn, go to your profile and then edit your "Education" section. Select the “—“option in the drop-down box for your start and finish dates. Eliminate dates from other sections as well.

3. Remove Pre-2000 Dates From Your Work History Sections On Your Resume And LinkedIn Profile


Man holds his resume while working on laptop

This is a little more complex but well worth doing. On your resume, list your post-2000 work experience in your "Work History" section and separate your pre-2000 experience into an "Additional Experience" section. For your pre-2000 jobs, omit your dates of employment and list the amounts instead. For example, if you worked at GE from 1992-2000, report that as “8 years.”

LinkedIn doesn’t allow members to omit dates from employment so your only choice is to eliminate pre-2000 jobs altogether. Try embedding a short version of older jobs in your first post-2000 listing or briefly noting relevant older roles in your LinkedIn summary. Either tactic will help you win more LinkedIn profile views.

While we don’t recommend using online job boards as a key component in an effective job search at almost any age (there are other more powerful and faster ways to create and pursue career opportunities for yourself), the truth is that these systems inadvertently “discriminate” against candidates with more than 15 years of work experience. Unfortunately, this same potential exists on LinkedIn and company/recruiter websites anytime a hiring manager or recruiter conducts a candidate search based on the amount of experience job seekers possess.

The good news is that a few simple tricks can protect your resume and LinkedIn profile from age discrimination and give you greater access to the career opportunities you want and deserve.

Need more help age-proofing your resume and LinkedIn profile?

We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades. More importantly, we have tons of resources inside our community that can help you update your resume and LinkedIn profile—the right way.

Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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3 Ways To Age-Proof Your Resume & …

10 Most Overused Words On LinkedIn Profiles



Recently, the top 10 most overused words on LinkedIn profiles were announced. And I'm not shocked to see that all 10 words break the basic rule of personal branding: stay objective.

Opinions Of Your Skills Don’t Belong On LinkedIn


The 10 most overused words on LinkedIn are subjective. Meaning that if you use them, you are stating an opinion of yourself. Take a look:

  1. Specialize
  2. Experienced
  3. Skilled
  4. Leadership
  5. Passionate
  6. Expert
  7. Motivated
  8. Creative
  9. Strategic
  10. Focused

The problem with using these words is that, while you think it’s okay to talk about yourself in this way, the reader of your profile (aka a recruiter or hiring manager) gets the mistaken impression that you think you are “all that and a bag of chips.”

Simple Test To Fix Your Profile


Man updates his LinkedIn profile

The solution is to test your profile and then take out any words that aren’t fact. Here’s how you test it: simply read each sentence on your profile and then ask yourself, “Says who?” If you can’t validate it within the sentence you are using it in, then it needs to go. I used all 10 of the words on LinkedIn’s list below to show you examples of how they get misused.

  • I am a strategic, motivated professional.
  • I am creative and experienced.
  • I have great leadership skills.
  • I am a skilled expert in my field.
  • I know how to specialize to meet the needs of my job.
  • I am a focused leader who's passionate about my industry.

For all of the above, you can’t help but think when you read them, “Geez. Don’t you think a lot of yourself!” Or, as I mentioned above, the immediate reaction becomes, “Really? Says who?”

Solution: List Accomplishments


Woman logs on to LinkedIn

Once you edit your profile, go back through and insert accomplishments that prove what you were trying to say about yourself. These would be examples of better fits:

  • I have a 10-year track record of exceeding my employer’s performance review standards.
  • I have created 20+ projects in X, resulting in $1M in new revenues.
  • I have completed more than 100 business analysis projects that have saved my employers $250K+ in the last 2 years.
  • I have managed teams of 2-50 through 15+ complete project lifecycles.
  • I have worked with over 400 customers to solve implementation issues that reduced client service calls by 50%.

Final Tip: Quantify To Qualify


Woman on laptop thinks about what she's going to write

Notice all of the above bullet points use numbers, percentages, and statistics to prove the skill. This is called quantifying your accomplishments, and it is the most compelling way to validate your experience. When it comes to LinkedIn, facts are always better than fiction!

We know how difficult it can be to optimize your LinkedIn profile so it effectively communicates your personal brand. If you're still struggling to update your LinkedIn profile, we can help.

We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades. More importantly, we have tons of resources inside our community that can help you update your LinkedIn profile—the right way.

It's time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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10 Most Overused Words On LinkedIn Profiles

How To Connect With Recruiters On LinkedIn



If you're looking for a way to simplify your job search and get noticed, social platforms like LinkedIn give you an opportunity to be proactive and get past the applicant tracking system (ATS). With LinkedIn, not only can you view job listings, but you can also easily find the recruiter who's leading the search for the right candidate.

Reaching out to the recruiter is certainly a solid job search strategy, but like anything in life there's a right and wrong way to do it.

Here are the best ways to connect with a recruiter on LinkedIn and potentially put yourself in a position to get hired for the job.

3 Steps For Connecting With A Recruiter On LinkedIn


1. Research the Recruiter's Profile - Details matter! You may learn from the recruiter's LinkedIn profile that you attended the same university or once worked at the same company during different time periods. Anything you have in common with the recruiter could be a good way to break the ice.

2. Make a Connection Request - Use the simple 300-word connection request to introduce yourself to the recruiter. Mention something that you have in common and that you're interested in learning more about their career field and would love the opportunity to connect. Keep it simple—you don't want to overwhelm the recruiter. Here are a few additional ideas.

3. Ask a Follow-Up Question - Once you're connected, send a follow-up note thanking them for the connection, mention that the job posting caught your attention, and ask them what's most important to them when considering a candidate for this position. This is a way to express your interest in the position while politely asking for their feedback. The key is not to be pushy and frame it in a way where you're trying to make their job easier.

What Do You Do If A Recruiter Doesn't Connect With You?


Man on laptop tries to connect with a recruiter on LinkedIn

If a recruiter doesn't respond to your connection request, it's best to just move on.

There could be many reasons why the recruiter doesn't respond, and some may have nothing to do with your request. Being too aggressive about the connection request could actually damage your chances of getting the job. Make one request and if the recruiter doesn't respond, let it go.

You can continue your job hunt by searching LinkedIn for other professionals who work at the company where you're pursuing employment. Use the above steps to try to connect with them and perhaps they can give you tips that may help you land a job interview. This is not only a good way to boost your job search but it will also help you build your professional network.

Keep A Strong LinkedIn Profile


Focused professional puts some time and effort into her LinkedIn profile.

It's important to remember that if you have a strong LinkedIn profile it's possible that recruiters will reach out to you. By optimizing your LinkedIn profile with keywords, you'll have a higher chance of showing up in recruiters' search results. They'll be able to find you and see that you have the skills and experience they need for the job opportunity. This is your ideal situation: instead of having to reach out to recruiters in your job search, they'll come to you!

Need help optimizing your LinkedIn profile?

We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades. More importantly, we have tons of resources inside our community that can help you optimize your LinkedIn profile—the right way.

Join our FREE community to start improving your LinkedIn profile today!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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How To Connect With Recruiters On LinkedIn

How To Start A Conversation With A New LinkedIn Connection



Someone accepted your request to connect on LinkedIn. Yay! Now what?

Now, you need to start a conversation.

Don't just let that new connection sit dead in the water. Here's how to start a conversation with a new LinkedIn connection:

Start With The Subject Line


Struggling to write your initial message? Here are a few subject ideas to get you started (you would elaborate within your message).

For a basic subject line, you could start with something like:

  • Thanks for connecting!
  • It's great to meet you!

If you enjoyed an article they wrote/shared, you could start with something like:

  • Loved your article!
  • Thanks for sharing your insight.

If you met your new LinkedIn connection in person, you could start with something like:

  • Great meeting you at yesterday's event!
  • Wanted to continue our conversation from yesterday.

Introduce Yourself


Woman on laptop and phone messages a new connection on LinkedIn

Shoot your new LinkedIn connection a brief message shortly after connecting. You can start by introducing yourself, then elaborate on why you wanted to connect in the first place.

Mention things you have in common. Feel free to ask them about their goals and interests. What do they want to accomplish? What do they love doing? Highlight commonalities. It will help build a stronger personal connection.

Offer Your Support


Man talking on phone starts a conversation with a new LinkedIn connection

We can't stress how important it is to offer value to your connections, especially in your first conversation. It shows that you're a valuable contact who's ready and willing to help your connections.

Offering your support can be as simple as saying something like, "If there's anything I can do to offer support or anyone in my network that I can introduce you to, please let me know. Happy to help." You don't have to go overboard with this in your first message. A brief sentence like the one above is great. Just let them know you're offering.

Don't Ask For Any Favors Just Yet


Woman on phone accepts a new connection request from someone on LinkedIn

Do not ask for anything from your new connection unless it benefits them in some way.

For example, if you need a quote from them for an upcoming blog post you're writing, highlight the fact that you'll be promoting the heck out of it and that it will give them some exposure. You can ask for a favor after you've built your professional relationship with this person and you have a history of offering value without asking for anything in return.

What To Do When Someone Connects With YOU...


Man on laptop accepts a new connection request from someone on LinkedIn

When someone reaches out to you and asks to connect, make sure you message them immediately after accepting their request with a message that says something like, "Thanks for connecting. It's great to meet you." That way, if they forget to message you, you'll be sitting in their inbox, happy and ready to chat.

Starting a conversation with a new LinkedIn connection is easy once you know how to do it properly. The next time you want to connect with someone new on LinkedIn, follow these four steps. You'll grow your professional network in no time!


Struggling to grow your professional network?

We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades. More importantly, it's a safe place for you to network with others and get the help and support you need.

Join our FREE community to start growing your professional network today!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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How To Start A Conversation With A …

LinkedIn Cheat Sheet: 5 Tips For A Professional Profile



Who has time to research LinkedIn? We know you have a busy life, and sometimes there's just not enough time in the day to scan through articles to get the information you need. That's why we created the LinkedIn Cheat Sheet! We pulled the best tips, tricks, and advice from our archives and put them all in one place just for you.

Here are five solid LinkedIn tips from our experts:

1. Change The Visibility Of Your LinkedIn Activity


Before you start “tinkering” with your LinkedIn profile (or hiring a professional to enhance your profile), please take a minute to do the following:

  • From the drop-down menu under your name on the right side of the Home page, choose Settings & Privacy.
  • On the left-hand side of the Settings & Privacy page is a column with a section titled "Visibility."
  • Click on this section and scroll down to "Visibility of your LinkedIn activity."
  • Turn off any visibility options for the activity you'd like to hide

When you are finished tinkering, go back and turn on the visibility of your activity, if you so choose. It’s that simple!

(Original article: "Pay Attention To Your LinkedIn Settings")

2. Endorse Your Connections


Man updates his LinkedIn profile

Every Monday, take 10 minutes out of your morning to pay it forward by endorsing 10 people in your LinkedIn network. Imagine how you would feel if in your inbox on a Monday (aka the day of the week when even the most cheerful people struggle to get going), you found endorsements of your skill sets from your peers.

(Original article: "Quick Tip: Monday Is The Day For LinkedIn Endorsements")

3. Get Recommendations... Lots Of 'Em


Woman on laptop updating her LinkedIn profile

Recommendations are essential to you. Seek them proactively and seek them passively. Proactive recommendation seeking involves reaching out and asking someone to recommend you. Passive recommendation seeking involves recommending someone, at which point LinkedIn asks them to recommend you back. The latter is actually a bit more effective.

(Original article: "10 Things To Immediately Do On LinkedIn")

4. Choose An Appropriate Photo


Professional logs in to LinkedIn

The following 11 tips will help you pick the right photo for your LinkedIn, Gmail, and other online accounts:

  • Don’t use an old photo. There are few things worse than meeting someone for the first time and not recognizing them because the profile photo is from 10 years ago (or longer)!
  • Use a photo of YOU in your profile—not an object.
  • Smile! Your face should radiate warmth and approachability.
  • Photos should be professionally done, if possible (but no glamour shots).
  • Wear your most complementary color. Bright colors can attract attention, but avoid patterns.
  • Don’t have other people in your photos (and don’t crop other people out of your shot—there should not be any errant body parts in your online photo!).
  • Make sure the background in the photo isn’t distracting.
  • Relax. Look directly at the camera.
  • Take multiple shots and ask people for their opinion on which one makes you seem most “approachable.”

Tips for men: Wear a dark blue or black dress shirt. No t-shirts, Hawaiian shirts, or busy/crazy patterns.

Tips for women: Wear something you feel comfortable in. No t-shirts or big/busy patterns. Soft, dark v-necks look great. Black always works; avoid white.

(Original article: "11 Tips For Choosing Your LinkedIn Photo")

5. Give Your Professional Headline A Boost


Man optimizes his LinkedIn profile

Use the “|” (vertical bar) to divide your text and create visual breaks.

Example: Which of the following is easier to read?

Project Manager Specializing in Business Research and Analysis for Major Corporations

OR

Project Manager | Research & Analysis Specialist | Fortune 1000 Business Experience

Obviously, the second one is easier to read and comprehend because of the formatting. The vertical lines separate the data and enable the reader to comprehend what you do better (bonus points if you list hard skills in your headline, separated by the vertical bar, to better optimize your profile so it gets found by recruiters).

(Original article: "LinkedIn Quick Tip: Tweaking Your Professional Headline")


We know how difficult it can be to optimize your LinkedIn profile the right way. We hope our LinkedIn Cheat Sheet helps you create a professional and well-optimized LinkedIn profile that stands out to recruiters and hiring managers. If you're still struggling to update your LinkedIn profile, we can help.

We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades. More importantly, we have tons of resources inside our community that can help you update your LinkedIn profile—the right way.

It's time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.


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LinkedIn Cheat Sheet: 5 Tips For A …

Want To *Finally* Learn How To Navigate LinkedIn? Attend Work It Daily’s NEW Live Event!



Let's be honest! LinkedIn is not the simplest interpersonal media platform to understand. If you wish a person could make better utilization of this essential career device, we've got just the particular event for you personally...

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Want To *Finally* Learn How To Navigate …

4 Ways To Balance Your Job Search



It's not uncommon for job seekers to spend almost all of their time sitting behind a computer searching through online job postings. If your job search has been unsuccessful up to this point, your time behind the computer could be a major factor in your lack of success.

Sitting behind a computer screen, endlessly scrolling and applying to open positions, is simply not the most effective use of your time out of the workforce. Here are some tips for balancing your activity during your job search:

Make It A Point To Network Every Single Week


Woman networks virtually

The old adage, "It's not what you know, it's who you know," really is true. In most cases, a friend or colleague won't be able to get you a job for which you're not qualified, but they may be able to get you an interview when your resume would have otherwise been overlooked.

Anything you do that involves talking to other people about your job search counts as networking, whether it's lunch with a former co-worker, coffee with a recruiter, or a formal networking event in your area. Some people are apprehensive about networking, but like anything in life, the more you do it, the easier it becomes.

Schedule Time For Follow-Ups


Two former co-workers meet up for coffee.

Whether you're inquiring about a submitted job application or following up with a colleague you met while networking, these intimidating tasks often get pushed to the back burner as you prioritize your time. Scheduling them into your weekly agenda ensures that you will set aside adequate time to close the circle with various activities that you've started.

Update Your LinkedIn Profile


Man updates his LinkedIn profile

If you've taken the time to build your LinkedIn profile, you should be logging in at least once a week, and preferably more often.

The various groups on LinkedIn offer a never-ending conversation on topics from looking for a job to news relevant to your industry/field. Following and connecting with people who work at your bucket list companies gives you the opportunity to build your professional network and get referrals. A fully optimized profile also allows recruiters and hiring managers to find you when they search for job candidates with specific skill sets.

Build Your Personal Brand


The candidate who walks into a job fair or interview knowing who they are and what they can provide has a remarkable edge over a candidate who's still figuring these things out. Spend some time developing a personal branding statement, printing business cards for yourself, and engaging in activities that support your personal brand—whether that means volunteering, blogging, consulting, or tweeting about your field.

When you walk into a room and say, "Hi, this is who I am and this is what I do," it makes a powerful statement.

Having a polished resume is critical to your job search. However, sending that resume off to online job postings is not how you should spend 100% of your time looking for a job. Make sure you're interacting with other people both in-person and online to maximize your chances of standing out from the crowd.

Remember to stay positive during your job search and know that there are resources available to help you through this challenging process, including the resources at Work It Daily. Join our FREE community today and learn how to become empowered in your career so you can finally find job search success and career satisfaction!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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4 Ways To Balance Your Job Search

Hate Your Resume? Do This!



So, you hate writing resumes. I get it. It's so difficult. You don't know what to put on it. It feels weird writing about yourself. You don't know if you're doing it correctly. You're changing it all the time. And when you finally send it out to employers, you're not getting any responses.

I understand the struggle. We were never taught how to write an effective resume. We were never taught how to optimize a resume so it gets past the ATS and into the hands of the hiring manager.

All the stress, frustration, and confusion that comes with resume writing might make you think that you should invest in a resume writer. Here's my expert opinion...

Avoid Resume Writers


@j.t.odonnell If you hate your resume, do this... #resume #resumetips #learnontiktok #edutok #jobsearch #careertiktok #careertips #linkedin #careeradvice #resumen ♬ original sound - J.T. O'Donnell

Let me be very clear about this: resume writers do not write resumes for the right people. They're supposed to write them for the recruiters. Recruiters want simple, clean, easy to understand, easy to read in 6-13 seconds. Resume writers write for you. They want to give you an ego boost. So, you spend $300, which is the average cost of hiring a resume writer, and they write up this fancy resume with fancy fonts and tables and make you look so important and so unbelievable—and you still don't get any calls.

Do you know why?

Because a lot of these templates they're using are bogus. They don't work. The tables alone get tossed out of applicant tracking systems (ATS). They're designing your resume to make you feel good, not get you the attention that you want and need from employers.

Check Out My Resume & LinkedIn Bootcamp Instead!


Woman takes a resume writing course from Work It Daily

More importantly, everyone should know how to design their own resume. It's not that difficult. It's not rocket science. It's not brain surgery. And if you are taught correctly, it takes about 45 minutes. That's it. And then you have a resume that's optimized and effective.

How do I know this? Well, because I teach this for free.

I don't want you wasting money on a resume writer. I have a FREE, 45-minute training where I give you the template to write an effective resume. I've worked with recruiters for 20 years. Seventy-three percent of them told me they prefer this template. You follow my training, you fill out the template, you optimize your resume. And then, as a bonus, we teach you how to take what you learned and apply it to your LinkedIn profile.

So, if you're frustrated in your job search, if you need help writing your resume or LinkedIn profile, sign up for my FREE Resume & LinkedIn Bootcamp.

Why would you spend $300 on a resume writer when you could do this for free? Know how to do it and have a resume that actually works? I've been helping thousands of people with this free tool, saving them hundreds of dollars in the process, and getting them results.

Stop outsourcing your resume. Learn how to write one that's simple and effective. You will be so glad you did. You'll feel so empowered—and that's the point. That's why I'm trying to help you. That's why I'm here.

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Hate Your Resume? Do This!

5 Mistakes That Are Killing Your LinkedIn Profile



If you've been satisfied with a “placeholder" LinkedIn profile up to this point, or feel like landing a job through the site isn't a viable option, we've got some news for you. The hiring landscape has changed, permanently, and those who adapt will secure the best opportunities.

Here are five of the biggest mistakes people make on their LinkedIn profiles:

1. Not Using The Headline To Its Fullest Potential


Pull up your profile and take a look at the “headline" that's immediately underneath your name. If all it does is list your current job title and the company you're working at, change it! LinkedIn headlines accept a maximum of 120 characters. Use this space to directly address your audience, whether it's recruiters, fellow professionals, or potential clients.

In your LinkedIn headline, list your skills after your current job title and company. These skills are keywords that will help you show up in search results on LinkedIn. This will allow recruiters and hiring managers to find you, and they'll be more likely to click on your profile if your LinkedIn headline is optimized with relevant skills, the skills they're looking for in a job candidate, and potential employee.

​2. Rehashing Your Resume In The "About" Section


Man edits his LinkedIn profile

While lifting content from your resume to fill out the "About" section of your LinkedIn profile is easy, it's also ineffective. Your "Experience" section should look identical to your resume. Your summary, located in the "About" section, should not.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make on your LinkedIn profile is not including your personal branding statement in the "About" section. You need to communicate how you create value, how you save or make companies money as a business-of-one. What is your specialty? Then, after your personal branding statement, list your core skills and accomplishments, which will further increase your chances of being found by recruiters and hiring managers.

3. Not Having Recommendations


Two professionals working together in the office

Recommendations are crucial to establishing credibility on LinkedIn. A few sentences singing your praises by a former boss or colleague can do more for you than paragraphs of self-congratulatory prose.

Here's a message template you can use when reaching out to someone through LinkedIn for a recommendation:

Hi [Name]

Hope all is well! I really enjoyed working with you on/at [project/company] and would be very grateful for a brief LinkedIn recommendation. If you could touch on my capabilities in [quality #1] and [quality #2] that would be a huge help. Just a few sentences is all I'm after. It was a real privilege working with you, and I know that a recommendation would significantly boost my profile. Thanks in advance for your time, and hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks, [Your Name]

Remember to return the favor, too!

4. Adding Non-Relevant Skills And Endorsements


Man thinks about changing his LinkedIn profile

If you're currently seeking an HR director role but the bulk of the skills and endorsements on your profile relate to your days as an administrative assistant, that mismatch is going to affect how frequently your profile turns up in searches recruiters and employers run for HR director candidates. Align the skills in your profile with current (not past) aspirations.

On LinkedIn, search for people who have the job you want. Bring up the first few profiles that come up (these are usually the most visible professionals on the site) and review their "Skills and Endorsements" section. Make a note of skills they're frequently endorsed for which you possess. Then, add these skills to your profile.

Expert tip: endorsing the skills of other people in your network is the fastest way to have your skills endorsed as well. Visit the profile page of anyone in your network and you'll be greeted with opportunities to start endorsing them (and others).

5. Not Including Personal “Hooks"


Woman edits her LinkedIn profile

It's amazing how often a seemingly insignificant detail about a person's non-work life will result in an interview. Familiarity is a powerful motivator. If someone feels like they know you, or that you share a major interest, they're much more likely to pursue a connection. Here are some sections you can fill out on LinkedIn to provide those personal "hooks":

  • Volunteer Experience (avoid inserting anything polarizing here, such as religious or political activities)
  • Causes you're interested in
  • Joining non-professional LinkedIn Groups (ex. Awesome Mountain Biking, Women in Photography)
  • Personal Interests
Connection happens through storytelling! Does your LinkedIn profile tell your story?

If you've made some of these mistakes on your LinkedIn profile, that's okay! It's not the end of the world. Now you can take the steps to fix them so you're left with a well-optimized, complete LinkedIn profile that will get you in front of the right recruiters and hiring managers!


Need more help optimizing your LinkedIn profile? Sign up for our FREE Resume & LinkedIn Bootcamp!

During this bootcamp, you will learn:

  • How to properly format and optimize your resume
  • How to optimize your LinkedIn profile
  • How both of these tools can help you stand out

Interested? Sign up today!


This article was originally published at an earlier date.




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