Time for Reflection

Some random thoughts regarding your job search

From our backlog of helpful tips and tricks for the job seeker, we’ve gone back over our files and have found some interesting tidbits to help you.

With LinkedIn being the 600-pound gorilla in the job search world, we cite this quote we heard from a recruiter recently: "If you're not on LinkedIn, you're not in a job search." We’ve heard estimates as high as 95 percent of recruiters use LinkedIn on a daily basis.

The Missing Link?

One of the most important ways to be found on LinkedIn by the right hiring manager or recruiter is to have the right keywords in your profile. Sometimes, however, job seekers have difficulty finding the right words for themselves. The solution? Search through job descriptions for jobs you would like to have or for which you would be willing to apply to find the words those HR professionals are using.

Or, you could utilize AI for help. Ask AI to suggest keywords for someone like you who is looking for a job to (something) for a certain type of client.

Once you’ve identified your keywords, use them throughout your LinkedIn posting. Start with them in your headline, then in your "about" section and continue on through your experience, skills and endorsements.

It also helps to find the right recruiter to assist you. Where? Once again, LinkedIn can help. To find recruiters who serve your industry, search for them on LinkedIn as you would for any company or type of company. Perhaps the best way to identify a suitable recruiter would be to ask. Ask your friends. As your colleagues. Depending on how you left your last employer, ask your former HR department. Once you have identified suitable contacts, reach out to them, send them your resume and maintain contact with them.

Speaking of resumes, keep in mind that a resume is not a legal document. On the other hand, a job application is a legal document.

When talking about yourself and your work, it helps to keep in mind that you’re looking for your next job – not your last one. One recruiter advises to describe everything not in terms of your past, but your future. The hiring manger is more concerned with what you’re going to do, not so much with what you’ve done.

More tips.