It’s not all gloom and doom

October 15, 2020 in Blog

Every Thursday like clockwork the latest job numbers are reported with follow-up comments. Stocks invariably tumble. I don’t have a magic answer as to how and when things will improve but what I do know is….

While you can’t control most of this, you can decide NOT to get caught up in this weekly ‘gloom and doom’ event. I know dozens of people across different industries who have gotten job interviews and others who are starting new jobs now.

The future of job search will be even less about applying to job boards and more about networking, attending events, joining job support groups and having follow-up conversations with as many people as possible along with a LinkedIn presence.

Sunday and networking

October 11, 2020 in Blog

Sunday is a perfect day to plan out your networking week. That’s what I’m doing again now.

With cup of coffee in hand  I update my networking spreadsheet with my new contacts, how I met them and what my next steps will be with each. It takes an hour or so but listening to great ’60s music keeps me going.

Then, while suffering through another Giants game (maybe this week will be different) I’ll start winding down.

In the evening, I’ll list my planned weekly networking activities along with what I hope to accomplish at each.

You may not consider this part of networking or job search, but it’s just as important as preparing for an interview or updating your resume.

What are you doing to prepare for the week ahead?

Texting and job search

October 1, 2020 in Blog

Texting during job search is more acceptable now than a few years ago. Between an email overload and trying to get messages into a filled voicemail, you should be using every avenue to follow-up.

You could text to

* Ask about connecting
* Ask for more information about a job spec
* Reschedule a meeting you’ve set up
* Follow-up on your status for a job you applied to

I’m starting to see articles like these which suggest the proper etiquette for a recruiter.

I believe texting, if not abused by either job seeker or recruiter, should be part of your follow-up

Some quick do’s and dont’s

Do:

  • Keep it short. Long messages are hard to read on a mobile screen. If you need to go into more detail, email or phone would be better. As a rule of thumb, follow the 140-character tweet length limit to ensure your messages are brief.
  • Keep it professional. Texting is a more casual way of communicating, but you should still keep it professional. Emojis, abbreviations and slang are off limits.  Before hitting ‘send,’ double-check your message for grammar and spelling errors. Also, double-check who you’re texting, to ensure you’re contacting the right person,

Don’t:

  • Text on first contact. If this is the first time you contact a recruiter, text messaging probably isn’t the best option. You might be asked who you are and how you got their number. They might even perceive your mobile approach as intrusive.

 

More LinkedIn changes coming!

September 25, 2020 in Blog

The latest Linkedin changes rolled out yesterday and as you see them, consider first how (or if) you’ll use them. I’ll detail them a bit further as I try them.

Most changes are on mobile and will first require you to update the App.

Changes include:

* New look to desktop interface
* Ability to add ‘stories’ on LinkedIn. On the top of your mobile profile, you’ll see images of those who have posted stories. You can add a story as an option when you create a post on mobile. I tested this out and it seems quite simple.
* My personal favorite – linking a Zoom-type meeting to a sent message.

My first thoughts

* I’m not a big fan of ‘Stories.’ I fear a feed with story after story. That was how polls started out and this isn’t Instagram.

* I can see job seekers using the Zoom interface and, perhaps, using a story to promote themselves in job search much like the microphone does.

 

What do you think?

Quality vs Quantity

September 10, 2020 in Blog

Quality vs quantity means everything in what you do in networking.

Consider

**It’s not how many people you connect with, it’s what you do as a follow-up to remain in touch with those who you may eventually develop business relationships
**It’s not how many jobs you apply for, it’s the jobs you’re targeting that match your skills and background.
**It’s not how much you post and comment on, it’s how you choose to engage

Hiring managers and recruiters, especially…Be understanding and stop trying to find that ‘perfect’ candidate. They don’t exist on paper but they’re in front of you every day.

Use LinkedIn as part of your job search and networking strategy

August 29, 2020 in Blog

Where to start?

*Build a complete profile that markets you in the best way possible (that’s where keywords and engagement come in)
*Know how to use that profile when networking. People aren’t just going to find you. You need to start finding them so they can, in turn, start finding you. The more you do it, the easier it gets.
*Develop a plan – starting with that profile, and then using that profile to network, share your profile whenever possible – through Zoom meetings, on your Email signature, and anytime to speak to someone – we all still go out but not to events. *Get familiar with LinkedIn on mobile

LinkedIn and Excellent Email Etiquette

August 21, 2020 in Blog

I decided to revisit a post I made 6 years ago about Email Etiquette. While many of the basics remain the same, I have some suggestions for these challenging times.

  •  Write in a positive tone. Avoid negative words and blaming statements as much as possible and above all, be emphatetic.
  • Allow more lead to time follow-up on emails 
  • Include the action you require of the recipient in the email subject line. For example, “Response required or FYI only’
  • Think about what you’re writing before you hit the ‘send’ button.
  • Read your message twice and see if the email makes sense. Calm down before responding to a message that offends you.
  • Use capital letters sparingly, if at all, because ‘tone’ can’t also be detected in an email.
  • Just because you think something’s important, doesn’t necessarily mean that your email has the same sense of urgency for the person you’re emailing.
  • Follow me on LinkedIn –   https://www.linkedin.com/in/langk/

Introvert Posting on LinkedIn

July 31, 2020 in Blog

One of the most common LinkedIn usage questions I get is how and what content to post

While on LinkedIn you should post and comment on articles relevant to your background – an easy way to get started is writing about something you can relate to.

My first post was about pet peeves I had about emailing. Among more than 100 comments:

**Excessive email chains
**Re-read your email before sending it out
**Not everything needs to be URGENT
**Emails that were more like documents
**Cc’ing excessively
You will always be able to find a topic of interest related to something in your professional life or in job search which you can turn it into a post

Above all – don’t overthink this –

Some suggestions:
**A post seeking advice (e.g. interviewing tip, follow-up)
**How you’ll gear up for an uncertain fall season (balancing school and work or job search)
**Changes you’ve needed to make in your daily routines – asking others to add theirs
**Mention any networking events you’ll be attending and why you’ll be there

 

The water’s fine – jump in!

May 25, 2020 in Blog

Networking can be easier said than done if you don’t know where and how to start. Networking was extremely hard for me when I started.

I was devastated when I was shown the door by UPS in 2008. I had no idea what I was going to do next. As an introvert, meeting people I’d never met before was the hardest thing I ever had to do – harder than any job or assignment I had. I got better at it, but not before my share of failures. I’m more at ease networking these days and it does gets easier but I’m still an introvert by nature.

Think of it this way, you’re by the ocean and you want to go in. But the water is too cold. So you dip one toe in, then another, then your feet and eventually you take the plunge.

Networking is like that

+ Start slowly with people you meet here
+ Follow-up on connection requests
+ Schedule some time to speak or meet virtually
+ Attend online events – even if it’s just to listen in and be a ‘fly on the wall.’

As you continue growing your network, some basic things to keep in mind.

April 20, 2020 in Blog
  • Personalize the invite (which most people know by now)
  • Send a ‘Thanks for connecting’ note to those you connect with, including some type of CTA (Call to Action).
  • While meeting in-person may not be possible for a while, having a phone call or Zoom-type meeting should be.
  • Be empathetic – we’re all in different situations than we’re used to
  • Don’t be pushy, now is not the time
  • Use the time to develop content for sharing and then share with others (like I’m doing on this post)
  • Keep your LinkedIn profile relevant. – Volunteering will help fill in work gaps you may have now
  • And above all, if you don’t know how to do something ask someone