It’s been an interesting couple of months of transitioning from being employed full-time to looking for a job full-time. Saying things have changed drastically since I last found myself searching for a job is an understatement.
To those in the job market or who just want to be prepared for a possible change, here are a few simple things I wish I’d done on LinkedIn to make the transition easier.
1. Made a list of my accomplishments. It’s not enough to just list your duties in your profile or resume. You have to share your biggest or most significant accomplishments. Did your “wins” translate into things like significant dollars earned or saved, or impressive digital metrics? Did you solve a big problem or complete a major project? While the accomplishments were fresh in my mind, and most importantly, while I still had access to reporting tools, I should have made some notes.
2. Connected with more people on LinkedIn. This one was hard because I found LinkedIn’s network-building strategies to be a little too aggressive. I would have also followed people with the kind of job I wanted next, which leads me to the next item…
3. Thought about where I wanted to go next. If it involves working at a company, set your sights on things like what company you’d like to work with, what sector you’d like to work in, the company size, or where you’d like to work. There are times when I’ve felt indecisive until I got real about what I wanted.
4. Got a nice-looking headshot for my profile. With the decent photo-taking features of even the most basic phones, this has never been easier. Also spending a little time learning about lighting and composition helps.
5. Became an active LinkedIn user. As you build your network, engage with others’ posts. Along the same lines, join professional groups in your desired field and be active in them. Is it worth giving up 30 minutes on Instagram for an additional 30 minutes on LinkedIn?
Those are the five I was thinking about and wanted to pass along. What’s helped you get a good headstart on your job search?
