optimize your job search

Find & Be Found on LinkedIn & Social NetworksCreated for the Job Seekers Group

©2009 Dana Lookadoo

Agenda . Agenda . Job SeekersJob Seekers

Your job search may hinge on who you know more than what you know.

You can build relationships and expand your career opportunities through friends and friends of friends.

LinkedIn and Social Networks offer free avenues to find and be found.

Business Social Networking Job ResearchChain of Relationships

Business Social NetworkingBusiness Social Networking

LinkedIn …

Celebrated 40 million users on its 6th birthday on May 5, 2009.

Estimates 1 million users sign up every 2 weeks.

Is international! It’s the world’s largest professional network to meet people, share information, ideas, news and opportunities.

www.LinkedIn.com

Business Social NetworkingBusiness Social Networking

Business Social NetworkingBusiness Social Networking

Recruiters, head hunters, decision-makers tap into LinkedIn to look for & evaluate candidates.

Your profile, connections, activity and recommendations are now your defacto “references.”

LinkedIn is a job board. It’s also a network for research, learning, sharing and establishing yourself as a subject matter expert.

Interactive Résumé

Find Jobs

Questions & AnswersNews & Events

Job ResearchJob Research

Your job search involves company research.

Search for companies by:

Name or Keyword

Location and/or ZIP

Industry & Size

Relationship to your connections

Jobs posted on LinkedIn

Job ResearchJob Research

Job ResearchJob Research

Job ResearchJob Research

Use “Advanced Job Search” to refine your search results:

Within distance of ZIP

Experience Level

Jobs posted within dates

Jobs posted by Date, Location, Company, Job Title, Degrees away from you, Keyword Relevance

Industry (drill down)

Job ResearchJob Research

Search Groups Directory for jobs within:

Alumni

Corporate

Conference

Networking

Non-Profit

Professional

Job ResearchJob Research

Sign up & Observe Your Interactive Résumé Target Keywords

Sign up & ObserveSign up & Observe

How do you make LinkedIn work for you?

1.Sign up. Fill out your profile.

2.Use keyword-rich descriptions to summarize your strengths.

3.Change your URL to a custom Web address…http://www.linkedin.com/in/lookadoo

4.Observe what others are doing. Research Group, Jobs, Companies, News, Events

Complete Profile

Include Photo

Get Vanity URL

Watch & Observe

Sign up & ObserveSign up & Observe

Sign up & ObserveSign up & Observe

Your Interactive RésuméYour Interactive Résumé

Make a statement about yourself by adding some Personal Information: List Honors & Awards List Personal Information, except your address! Contact Settings Gives people an idea of your availability and how you want to be contacted.

Your Interactive RésuméYour Interactive Résumé

Tap into the power of Questions & Answers! Observe how others are answering questions.Answer questions if you can add value to other answers already there.Don’t be afraid to ask questions!

Your Interactive RésuméYour Interactive Résumé

Recommend Others! Be generous in your recommendations of others!Ask for recommendations. Remember to thank them personally.Don’t load your profile with too much hype! You can overdo recommendations.

Your Interactive RésuméYour Interactive Résumé

Add ApplicationsShare your Reading List by Amazon.Add LinkedIn to your Blog.Update LinkedIn with blog posts, if you have a WordPress blog.

Target KeywordsTarget Keywords

Optimize how you show up in LinkedIn and search engines.

Use keywords, that define you and what you do.

Write out your skills and the type of job for which you qualify.Your full nameSkills and specialtiesJob Type, including acronymsIndustry, including field of workPassions – Let them know a little about your personality!

Full NameFull Name

Skills, Specialties

Skills, Specialties

Job TypeJob Type

IndustryIndustry

Passions (a little personality)

Passions (a little personality)

Target KeywordsTarget Keywords

Example of Dana’s “often changing” Summary…

Your Interactive RésuméYour Interactive Résumé

LinkedIn Network Updates are sent via email to all connections in your list.

Update your profile. Post updates often. Connect with others on a regular basis. Join Groups, when appropriate. Answer Questions.

Chain of RelationshipsSocial Networks for Business

Chain of RelationshipsChain of Relationships

Chain of RelationshipsChain of Relationships

Social Networks for BusinessSocial Networks for Business

Social Networking is more than hanging out & chatting with friends!

Many networks give professionals an opportunity to see and be seen.Twitter http://twitter.com

Search Twitter using “Advanced”:

http://search.twitter.com/advanced

Naymz: http://www.naymz.com/

Indeed: http://www.indeed.com/

Real Match: http://www.realmatch.com/

Social Networks for BusinessSocial Networks for Business

Social Networks for BusinessSocial Networks for Business

DoDon’tChecklist & Resources

Do…Do…

Join NOW! Get a professional photo! Look around LinkedIn to see what others in your field are doing and industry groups. Flesh out your profile so people can understand who you are, your strengths and passions. Connect with friends! Ignore a connection if you don’t want to connect with them! Treat others with respect!

Don’t…Don’t…

Be all about me! Join LinkedIn and forget it! Spam all your friends with connections or links! Get really excited and go overboard on your profile! Over connect. Be discerning. Think about each connection as a vote of confidence! Be a “drive by” social networker and post comments and links about you!

NO wedding or vacation pictures

as your profile picture!

NO spammin

g summary

with keywords

!

NO “Guru” or “Expert”

titles!

Profile picture shown is a mockup.

SEO Guru / Expert profile shown is for real!

To Do’s… LinkedIn ChecklistTo Do’s… LinkedIn Checklist Edit Your Profile – Complete it carefully and accurately. If you’re currently unemployed, list your current position as “Open to opportunities.” Include a Photo – 80x80 in size. Cropped headshot is best. Write a Professional Summary – Your headline at the top is important. This is your first chance to make a good impression. Highlight experience. Include Keywords, Skills, Full Name – 3rd person. Use words (keywords & your full name) for which you want to be found and show up in search results. Include Passions – (optional) Add a little something personal. Contact Settings – List your availability: career opportunities, consulting offers, new ventures, job inquiries, and reference requests. Website Links – Link to a personal blog, other social network profiles. Custom URL – Customize. Include public profile URL in email signature. Grow your Network! – Find connections, coworkers, friends. Get recommendations – Don’t be afraid to ask. Recommend others, too.

Optimize Your Job Search Optimize Your Job Search RecapRecap

ResourcesResources

LinkedIn Blog:http://blog.linkedin.com/

LinkedIn on Twitter - @LinkedIn:http://twitter.com/linkedin

JibberJobber Group on LinkedIn:http://cli.gs/jibberjobber

I’m on LinkedIn, Now What? http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/

Optimize Your Job Search (slides by Barbara Rozgonyi )http://www.slideshare.net/wiredprworks/optimized-job-search

About the Presenter…

Dana LookadooSearch Marketing Optimizerd@danalookadoo.comhttp://www.danalookadoo.comhttp://www.linkedin.com/in/lookadoo

Coming Soon…

YOYO (You’re On Your Own) SEOhttp://www.YOYOSEO.com