Many experts and non-experts decide to share tips on how to write a CV, how to act in an interview, how to do this and how to do that. The list is endless and personally, I am not a big fan. Why not? Because much of the advice should depend on the person the advice is given to and not be given to the masses. We are all unique after all.
Having said all this, I am still “daring” to share some simple tips with all those people who are now out of work, and who wish to use LinkedIn as one of their sources for securing a new position. I have therefore compiled a list of 5 simple tips that should be relevant to all.
Good luck with you job search!
Top simple tip 1
Do not put the following in your profile header:
«Looking for new opportunities” or “Available for work”
This is boring and doesn’t differentiate you from the mass. It also says very little about you and your skills and can come across as non-creative and lazy.
Instead, why not put as follow in your profile header?
Your position + your industry + “looking for new challenges” + your location
Example: ROV Subsea Project Manager looking for challenges in Stavanger.
The suggestion above suddenly makes you very relevant and interesting to a high number of people: Hiring managers within ROV Companies, Hiring managers within general Subsea Companies and Recruitment Companies within the Subsea industry. Du to the relevance of your profile header it is therefore a high possibility that people will take a look at your profile.
Think about the reverse situation: You see two job job adverts for very similar positions. The first advert is a two liner and the hiring company name is witheld while the second advert is a page long with all the benefits of the role. Which one would you chose if you had to chose between them?
Top simple tip 2
Make sure you post a status update at least weekly in regards to your situation. Surprisingly enough, very few job seekers do this and instead simply rely on their profile header doing the work. (You are better and more proactive than this, surely?)
When you post a status update, make sure you tailor this to your targeted audience.
Example:
Subsea Project Manager with 15 years` experience from small and medium sized technology companies now looking for a new permanent position in the Stavanger region. Flexible on salary. Excellent references from all my previous employers available. Also, feel free to view several recommendations on my LinkedIn profile.
Will be happy and free to meet at any time over the next few weeks whether this is for an interview or an informal chat. Contact me on jobseeker@jobseeker.com / +4712345678
The status update above follows very much the same principle you are advised to follow when writing a CV and Covering letter; You tailor this based on the targeted audience.
Note: If you have a somewhat varied background then no need to worry. All you do is to write several status updates. Just remember to give it a few hours in between each update.
Top simple tip 3
Join groups that are relevant to your background and where you think there will be contacts that may be interested in your profile.
As with tip 2, make sure you copy your status update and also post this on the group wall. Basically follow the exact same rules as with tip 2.
Note: Make sure you only register and post in relevant groups. Otherwise your post(s) may be viewed as spam. Right example: You have 15 years experience as a Project Manager from Aibel in Norway thus a group for EPCI or MMO experts would be relevant.
Top simple tip 4
Don`t become “one of them” who comments in the open on a post that is advertising a position. Everyone can see this and it is highly unprofessional. Instead, get on the phone and call the person that has posted the postition or worst case, send this person a note through LinkedIn.
Top simple tip 5
If you want to get in touch with someone on LinkedIn that you believe has a need for someone with your experience, but they are not a connection of yours, then yes feel free to send them an invite to connect. However, don`t wait for their acceptance before you contact them. By the time they have accepted your invitation to connect it may be too late. Therefore find other ways of getting in touch. Should be pretty easy. After all, you know where they work.
Remember, always strike when the iron is hot
Erik Falk Hansen- Sier det som det er 