At my MTNRN presentation, click Recap: 2017 Ready, Set, GO!!! Recruiter Checklist, I had this simple slide:
 

My challenge was… go one day a week without using LinkedIn.

And there were some butts squirming in the chairs. A couple of recruiters said they might not be able to go an hour without using LinkedIn.

That surprised me a bit.

Back in May (2015) I gave my 6^th presentation at Social Media Breakfast Minneapolis St Paul:

Get Recruited: Finding Your Next Job Through Social Media

When Mykl Roventine asked me to speak again this year I paused thinking… does anybody really want to hear from me again?

Mykl was right (Mykl warming up the group):

The answer was yes. We had 100+ at the event.

And we had a good time.

Here are a couple of blog posts recapping the event with some takeaways:

I’m not a New Year’s Resolution kind of guy, I do a theme, but I usually have a couple of “things” I want to get done in the next year.

Thinking about 2015 one of those “things” is to help my friend’s network with each other.

I’ve had a number of conversations the past months where someone said something like:

I was having an issue with a non compete and I ended up with some bad advice.

• And I was thinking if I had known I would have sent them to Teresa Thompson (disclaimer, she’s my wicked smart attorney).

My sister was looking for a senior level position with Minnesota non profit or community organization.

• And I was thinking if I had known I would have sent them to Lars Leafblad.

A week ago on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook I posted the following status update (click image to make it larger):

Phishing for LinkedIn password? Received this today... note the email address

I have at least 15 friends and colleagues reply that they too received the same message.

Unfortunately the past 24 hours I have seen a couple of LinkedIn status updates that appear to me to have been from “hacked” accounts.

For those of us in the Upper Midwest when we talk about the Winter of 2014 we say “WINTER” with emphasis. We think it’s funny when family and friends “down south” talk about how cold it was.

We know better. When your snot freezes… THAT’S cold.

Thankfully that is past us now and across the state we had a most beautiful Memorial Day weekend. I posted some #LakeLife photos below…

Minnesota IT Jobs

I had a feeling it was long past time for me to start the Minnesota IT Job Board and while sure the short term traffic spike is curiosity more than anything else… I think the numerous email I received from recruiter and IT friends is a good sign.

On the first batch of jobs posted there are 17 IT jobs… all full time and a mix of large companies and startups.

Another round of job will be posted later this evening.

Thinking back to the presentations I did at the University of St Thomas the past month (Social Media – Best Practices for Maintaining an Optimal Online Presence) one of the most frequently asked questions I received was:

You talk to us about using buzzwords, keywords and acronyms in our profiles and resume… what are some of the words you most like to see?

Given the amount of time we had I did not get into a long list but I did mention a few themes:

• Increased sales
• Cut costs
• Increased web traffic, newsletter signups, engagement with customers
• Made something more efficient

And add numbers… as in statistics like:

By doing this “thing” we increased sales “X”%

In streamlining this “process” we cut costs “X”%

Implementing “this strategy” we increased web site traffic “X” times

The University of St Thomas Alumni Association is co sponsoring an event “Social Media – Best Practices for Maintaining an Optimal Online Presence” and invited me to be the presenter.

I am a big, BIG fan of St Thomas, their staff and alumni and love speaking at their events.

Below is information (note there are two events) and no, you do not need to be a grad of St Thomas or a member of the alumni association to attend.

Register (click the link)

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— LinkedIn Help (@LinkedInHelp) October 23, 2013

Earlier today LinkedIn was having some service issues and for many the site was “down”.

I took a call from a search firm friend that went like this:

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

LinkedIn has become the go-to site for individuals who want to display all aspects of their professional life in one place.  By setting up a profile you can showcase your resume, display your professional websites and blogs, garner recommendations, catch up with former associates, and acquire new networking contacts.

There’s currently no better online “catch all” for professionals hoping to gain exposure with recruiters and hiring managers.  This is why, as a C-level executive, it’s a good idea that you jump on the bandwagon with everyone else.

What is LinkedIn?

LinkedIn is a business-related social networking site, connecting millions of individuals throughout the professional world.  Founded in 2002 and officially launched in May 2003, the site reports having more than 135 million registered users in more than 200 countries and territories as of September 2011.

I saw the infographic below from Lab 42 a couple of months ago but as I am frequently asked for LinkedIn user statistics I thought I should post it here after seeing it posted again this time on Infographic: How people really use LinkedIn (ragan.com)

The numbers affirm most of what I see as LInkedIn users behaviors although I think the 35% access LinkedIn daily number is a bit high.

I also wonder if maybe the numbers are a bit high because this likely came from LinkedIn users and not from those who have a profile.

The difference being the number of folks who never use or have an orphaned profile. I am assuming they are not part of the survey.

Click this to make it larger:
 

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Today’s “link of the day” in the Recruiter and HR world (and on some major web sites) is this one from LinkedIn, Buzzwords 2011: Who’s been ‘creative’ and ‘effective’ this year?

The list is the “Top 10 overused buzzwords in LinkedIn Profiles in the United States”:

• Creative

• Organizational

• Effective

• Extensive Experience

• Track Record

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:

 
A job search can easily move at a fast pace; so fast, in fact, that we don’t consider the importance of the steps we take in the process.  This can be true of searching for jobs, writing resumes and cover letters, and even choosing the companies to which we submit.

LinkedIn has quickly become an amazing tool, aiding job seekers in finding employment thanks to its networking facilities.  But it can serve as a great way to supplement your resume.  Do you use your profile to meet this goal?

Expand on Your Qualifications

Your resume provides a snapshot of your qualifications.  It offers a bit of insight into who you are as a candidate, what skills you’ve acquired from or provided to other companies in the past, and how likely you are to succeed in the role you want.  Typically, your cover letter and interview provide additional insight into these qualifications, but your LinkedIn profile can also be used to fill in the gaps.

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:

There aren’t too many employers that at some point don’t search LinkedIn to see if an executive job candidate has a profile.  This is because LinkedIn provides such an amazing window into a person’s professional life—more so than even a resume.

It’s a given that most employers will look for your LinkedIn page at some point, which means you not only should acquire a profile but begin branding it immediately.  If you’re not convinced, here are some reasons to acquire and brand a LinkedIn page.

1. Executive Recruiters and Employers Can Easily Find You

By developing a strong LinkedIn profile that touts your accolades and brands you as an executive, you are likely to attract recruiters and employers who are looking for your talents and wisdom to contribute to their businesses.  Just don’t forget to label yourself as an executive so seekers will be sure they’ve found the right match.

2. You Can Attract Networking Possibilities

Many industry professionals are on the hunt for people with which they can build their networks.  Of course, networking opportunities equal job opportunities.  So take this opportunity to label yourself as a knowledgeable executive in your field by linking out to your industry blog, Twitter account, and any other associations (memberships, etc.) you can mention.

3. Your Credibility Strengthens

As mentioned previously, employers and recruiters are visiting LinkedIn in hopes of finding out more about potential candidates.  If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, your credibility could diminish in the eyes of some employers.  The same goes for having a weakly branded profile.  If you have a profile but don’t show that you are ingrained in the industry and know your stuff, you may as well not have a page at all.

4. Differentiation is Easier

A major goal as an executive job seeker is differentiating yourself from your competition.  With a LinkedIn page, you have the opportunity to strengthen your brand by listing your logo, blogs, and more.  Also, you can showcase your notable recommendations that your competition won’t have.

5. You Can Showcase Your Industry Wisdom

A great way to brand your LinkedIn Profile is by using your status updates to discuss bits and pieces of your industry.  Whether you’re talking about what’s going on in the news or sharing a new publication you’ve been quoted in, this is your chance to update others on your field and career while strengthening your brand.

There are many other reasons to get on LinkedIn and brand your profile.  The more seriously you take the benefits of this site, the better your chances will be of getting noticed while conducting your executive job search.

Author: Jessica Hernandez, expert resume writer, is a nationally-recognized resume authority and former HR Manager who has achieved over a 99% success rate securing interviews with prestigious organizations through exclusive, personal branding strategies.

 
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The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:

LinkedIn is one of the best online resources for professionals looking to network with other professionals, find employment, or be discovered by hiring managers.  If optimized, LinkedIn could ensure you don’t spend too much time unemployed since you’re likely to attract the best of the best in the hiring world.

Interested in improving your profile?  Here are just a few things you could do the next time you’re signed in that could help strengthen your page:

Customize your profile URL: This may not seem like a big deal, but personalizing your LinkedIn URL (e.g., www.linkedin.com/in/johndoe) lends to your credibility and strengthens your brand.  It also makes you easier to find on the site, especially if recruiters want to conduct a quick search and are hoping that typing your name in the URL will do the trick.  What do you have to lose?  The quick change could make a world of difference.

Link to your other Web sites: In order to make the most of your profile and build your brand, it’s important to add links that point to your other professional ventures.  Whether you’re linking to a blog, your Twitter page, or your professional Web site (www.johndoe.com), it’s important to show visitors that you’re more of a dynamic prospect than what is seen on your LinkedIn page.

For the love of (whoever or whatever you believe in) please make it stop!!!

Memo to LinkedIn Group Managers:

You could help with this. Email the offenders and explain to them that their relentless posting will not be tolerated.

Or… risk losing people from your group who opt out of the whole thing.

Hey you Recruiter person, yeah you… your every day job posting on LinkedIn groups is annoying.

It’s called Spam.

How is it working for you? Are you getting the folks you need?

Or are you annoying people?

Have you even thought about this? Yeah, that’s what I thought.

Instead of just ranting at you allow me to give you a few tips:

- You do not need to post each job.

• How about one post that says 4 new jobs have been posted