Online job search

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Those interested in career trends probably already know about the importance of making new connections on LinkedIn and optimizing their profiles. However, one thing that many professionals still struggle with is offering value to their professional network.

Offer value to your network? What does that even mean?

This means communicating with your network consistently, not just when you're looking for a job and need something from one of your connections.

So, how do you offer value to your professional network?

Sometimes opportunities will present themselves where you'll come across connections that are in need of knowledge or skills that you possess. Make a note of what they are looking to do and ask yourself, âHow can I help this person with their business initiatives? What support, resources, or connections can I offer them?" Once you figure all of that out, you'll be serving your network in no time.

Here are three SUPER easy ways to offer value to your LinkedIn connections:

Share An Article

Businesswoman reads an interesting article that she found on her LinkedIn feed.

This is the easiest way to start a conversation and/or keep in touch with a contact by offering value. Consider this person's industry, interests, and special projects. What can you find on their LinkedIn profile? What have you learned about them in your conversations?

If you come across an article or video that you think they would find interesting or helpful, don't be afraid to share it with them. You could say something like, "Saw this article and thought of you! Wanted to share. Enjoy!" That's itâeasy. They will appreciate the gesture and keep you in mind!

You can also share articles on your feed for your entire network to see, with a message like, "I thought this article made some good points. What do you think?" This could potentially lead to some good exchanges and meaningful conversations with connections that you haven't spoken to in a while.

Posting content is also a good way to make use of your own profile and stay relevant.

Share Their Content With Your Network

Young professional on laptop shares content with his network on LinkedIn

Sharing content works both ways, and another easy way to offer value to your LinkedIn connections is to share their articles and posts with your network.

If you found a blog post from one of your connections really interesting, share it with your network by posting it on LinkedIn with a brief blurb explaining why you're sharing it. (Don't forget to tag the author with the @ feature!) They'll appreciate the gesture, and will likely remember that the next time you share something.

Sharing or commenting on a connection's article is also a great way to reconnect. It sure beats sending a message that says "just checking in."

Another important thing to remember is it doesn't matter if you're sharing your own content or someone else's. You're still being active on LinkedIn and staying in front of people. This is a great way to build your personal brand.

Introduce A Connection

If you think someone in your network could benefit from connecting with one of your connections, you could shoot them a quick message saying something like:

"I noticed you're looking to break into the entertainment industry. I'd love to introduce you to Jody Smith. She works as a talent agent out in L.A. and I'm sure she'd be a valuable addition to your network. Would you be interested in getting an introduction?"

Just make sure you ask your other connection if the introduction is appropriate before offering him/her up! This is known as super connecting.

Once again, this is something that could come back to benefit you if you find yourself in a position to make a career change and are hunting for a job.

Always be willing to offer value to your network when you don't need it so that when you actually do your professional connections will be more than willing to help!

Also, the more you network, the better networking habits you develop.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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3 Easy Ways To Offer Value To …

A key component of a successful job search means getting the word out that you're looking for new opportunities. But when you're still employed, it's wise to take a more discreet approach.

This is particularly true for LinkedIn, where there are many contacts and connections happening on a daily basis and any small peep out of your account about a job search will likely get spread to your co-workers and your boss.

That is something to avoid if you don't want to compromise your current job. You can be discreet and take precautions with the activities you conduct on LinkedIn by doing the following:

Change Your Privacy Settings

You don't need to broadcast to your network of contacts the new connections you make with recruiters and the job search groups you've joined. Place your mouse on your picture in the top right and choose Settings & Privacy. Under the Visibility section, go to Visibility of your LinkedIn activity and turn off the features that might notify the wrong people about your job search. Also, go to Visibility of your profile & network to turn off any additional features that could inform others that you're looking for a job.

There are a lot of subtle ways to signal to your network that you're looking for work without advertising it on your LinkedIn profile.

Be Aware Of The Message Your Profile Is Sending

Social media allows us to openly speak what we're thinking and feeling, but that doesn't mean you should advertise to everyone that you're looking for a new job or suddenly make an update that you're willing to relocate in your status or summary. Even if you think it's only going to your inner circle of friends, the word can easily spread on social networking sites. Things like "willing to relocate" are a dead giveaway.

These are details that should be left off your LinkedIn profile and saved for more personal conversations and job interviews.

Don't Show The Job Search Groups You've Joined

When you start joining different job search groups, it is heavily hinting at your job search activity. You can continue to take advantage of using such groups, but change the settings so that the group's logo does not get displayed on your profile.

Go to the group and click the More tab followed by Your Settings in the dropdown menu. From there you can click the Visibility Settings to uncheck "Display the group logo on your profile."

How To Utilize LinkedIn During The Job Search

Now that you know what NOT to do, here's what you can do to utilize LinkedIn for your job hunt...

1. Make your profile visible to employers and recruiters. Your profile needs to be made public in order for employers and recruiters to see your information. Under Visibility of your profile & network, you can check which content on your profile is made public.

2. Don't be anonymous. When you begin to view recruiter profiles and employer contact profiles, adjust your settings so that you don't come off as "Anonymous viewed your profile." By offering your full information, it prompts the other end to take a look at your profile.

3. Accept messages. While setting up your account, indicate that you're interested in career opportunities and that you will accept messages from other members. Disabling these features means employers and recruiters will have a harder time finding and contacting you.

4. Write a profile to appeal to your current and potential employers. Your LinkedIn profile doesn't have to say, "I'm looking for a job," in order for employers to take notice of you. By simply stating your key skill sets, the value you bring, and what you have to offer, employers will see the appeal and want to contact you.

Just as the general advice goes to not quit your job before you secure a new job, you want to take every precaution possible when using LinkedIn to not impact your current job.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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How To Update Your LinkedIn Profile When …

When you apply for a job, it's important to do your homework on the company so that when you get a job interview and your interviewer asks, "What is it about us that drew you to our company?" you aren't left stumped or jobless.

Not only that, but it's important to figure out if the company is a place YOU would enjoy working at. So, before you send off that resume, check out these sneaky ways to research a company:

Learn About The People Who Work At The Company

Most companies have a staff page on their website. On this page, the company will list some, if not all, of the employees at the company. Here, you can get the names (and sometimes contact information) of people who you'd be working with if you got the job.

How to learn more:

Check out their LinkedIn profile to see what kinds of work/projects they do.
Start a conversation with them.
Request an informational interview.

Warning: Don't be creepy or demanding when contacting these people! Simply reach out to them in a professional manner, introduce yourself, and tell them you're interested in learning more about the company and work environment. If they respond, go you! If not, move on and leave them alone.

Find Out What The Company Is Sharing On Social Media

Businesswoman on laptop and phone researches a company on social media

These days, everyone is on social mediaâincluding employers. Look them up on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok, and so on. Look closely at what they're tweeting, posting, or filming. This is a great way to get a feel for the company's values.

When browsing the social channels of companies, ask yourself these questions:

What events are they promoting?
What articles are they sharing?
How are they interacting with their followers?

Take note of anything that jumps out at you. If something fascinates you, mention it in your cover letter or interview.

See What The Employees Are Saying

Happy employees working at a company with a good workplace culture

Ever wished there was a place that rated companies based on how much people like working there? Well, now there is! Sites like Indeed, Glassdoor, and Comparably are great places to learn about a potential employer and how people like working there. With these sites, individuals can comment on the company's benefits, culture, work, and more. Not only that, but they can rate a company based on how much they like working there.

You can also learn more about salary and past interviewing experiences! According to Indeed's Employer Branding Survey, 83% of job seekers say their decisions on where to apply are influenced by employer reviews.

So before you apply for a job, make sure you do your research. Doing a little research can go a long way in your job search. Don't be lazyâlearn more about your dream company now!

Need more help with your job search?

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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3 Sneaky Ways To Research A Company

Why A Job Posting Feels Like A Scam (When It’s Not)

If you feel like many of the job postings you come across in your job search are scams, you're not alone. You are not the first job seeker to tell me they feel this way. But we have to think about where this comes from.

The Job Application Process Is A Broken System

@j.t.odonnell Replying to @nana_5075 Why job listings feel like a scam... #jobs #careers #careertok #jobtok â¬ original sound - J.T. O'Donnell

Back in the day, a company would post a job in the want ad section of a newspaper, so you'd have to open up a newspaper, read through it, write up a resume and cover letter, and snail mail your application off to them. When the idea came to post jobs online, it meant more people who were the right fit could apply. But over time, that's broken down.

Now thousands of people will apply for one job when it gets posted. And many of those job applicants are not a fit. So employers now have to hire recruiters, who are also called sourcers, to go through thousands of applicants so they can whittle it down to about 50 qualified applicants. What's the rhyme or reason they're using to select some applicants and screen others out?

This is why you don't get calledâbecause it's just so random.

After employers get down to 50 applicants, they look through those, find a few they like, and call them. That's why only 3% of people who apply online ever hear back from companies.

It's a completely broken system, so I can see why it feels like a scam. The whole thing is flawed.

So, how do we improve this system? It starts with making better matches, getting back to a place where only the right people are applying to the employer. We actually want fewer applicants, but more of the right applicants. That's the solution. And there are hundreds of millions of dollars in this industry trying to figure it out. But the one thing we have seen is that storytelling is one of the ways to do that.

You're going to see a rise in companies telling their stories. And there's a fancy term for this in our industry. It's called employer branding. Companies will tell their stories on social media platforms like TikTok so that those stories fatefully, naturally, and organically show up in your feed. But it's not fate, right? It's the algorithm at workâand before you know it, you'll start to see companies that feel like a fit. Then you'll go over and check them out. You'll see that there's a job posted that you're fit for. And this is how this matching process will start to fine-tune itself.

Right now, yes, you're right. Those online job postings don't work. They don't work for either side. We need a better system. And storytelling is the key. So go learn how to conduct a proactive job search today so you can finally land a job and work for an employer you actually like!

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Why A Job Posting Feels Like A …

How To Stand Out To Employers When Applying Online

In this day and age, it's crucial to stand out during your job search. Otherwise, your resume gets buriedâunread and unnoticed. This is a common problem for job seekers. So, how can you stand out from the competition when applying online?

Here's what some of our career experts say you can do to catch the eye of employers in your job search:

Research The Company

Woman researches a company before applying for a job online

"Learn everything you can about the company," says Bud Bilanich, author of Climbing The Corporate Ladder. "Tailor your resume to show what you know about them and their industry. And, more importantly, use keywords and list skills in your resume that will catch the recruiter's attention."

For example, if the job application says they are looking for a "self-starter," make sure you put the words self-starter somewhere near the top of your resume. "Sounds corny," he says, "but it works."

Create An Online Presence

Man creates a professional portfolio to stand out when applying for jobs online

Rachel Dotson of ZipRecruiter suggests creating an about.me profile, complete with links to your various social and professional profiles online. Include the link in your resume alongside your name and contact information (at least add a link to your LinkedIn profile!), and also include it under your signature in your cover letter. If you have a professional portfolio, make sure you include that as well.

"Because your resume will likely be viewed on the computer," she says, "it will be easy for the hiring manager to click through to your about.me page, where he or she can then browse your online presence."

Beat The ATS

"Before you can stand out to the employer, you have to stand out to the applicant tracking software," says Kristin Johnson of Profession Direction. "There's a real art to getting your resume noticed in today's technological job hunt." Johnson says you MUST read the job description and include key terms on your resume. If you don't include the right keywords on your resume, it'll get tossed by the ATS, and it most likely won't even get read by a human being.

The resume needs to be in a format that the software can read too. "It takes some time, but that's the way the system works," she says. "If your resume doesn't show you're a match for the job to the ATS, you're not going to get a call because you won't stand out to the employer."

In order to stand out when applying for a job online, you need to research the company before you apply, create an online presence, and beat the ATS. If you consistently do these three things in your job search, you'll be sure to stand out to employers, no matter your industry or work experience.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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How To Stand Out To Employers When …

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

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

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

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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