MSCCN Blog

LinkedIn Scaring Employers Away?

10/28/2019

Knocks on opportunity’s door… Trick or Treat? And, no one answers.
Did you know networking is still the number one way to get a job? And that 92% of recruiters sourcing for positions for employers check you out online? The majority of research is done on… Linkedin.
If you are using LinkedIn in your job search to open opportunity’s door…. And feel like you are being tricked… more than treated…it’s time to take a hard look at your online networking game to see if you are scaring potential employers away.
Here are a few things to check… if you are not getting the response that you want:

SCARY PROFILE PICTURE. Your picture is the FIRST item in your LinkedIn profile that a recruiter notices. Make sure that you are not scaring them away with unprofessional looks, inappropriate gestures, and casual settings. So you went out with your buddies and they snapped a picture of you in a political shirt, with a beer in your hand, flipping the bird… maybe it was the first photo on your camera roll that was of you… not the best profile picture. Pick a headshot in regular business attire.
MASKED SKILLS. Does the content in your profile match the career skills needed for the positions you are currently applying for? Too much information, or the wrong information, could be keeping potential employers away. If you are looking for a job in logistics, LinkedIn might not be the place that you list out the non-profit that you started to save the whales or that you are looking for singing jobs in a Jazz band. Make sure your profile is focused on the career you are pursuing… if you have other interests, either create another profile or make a profile on another platform to seek opportunities.
GHOSTING. Please don’t POST and GHOST. One of the biggest complaints with recruiters is a lack of response. If you are using social media or a job search platform to find opportunities and applying, make sure you are checking your messages. You might have gotten a response, but it went to an email you don’t check, or spam, or the phone call got screened. I get it, you have several emails, phone numbers, and multiple accounts to check… and all kinds of spam and telemarketers to avoid. Maybe that job wasn’t the first on your list, so you don’t respond… that same recruiter might have your dream job, too. They are often hiring for multiple positions... make sure that you at least are responsive to the recruiter to say, that you got another position or that you are looking for a different type of position.

One of the benefits of searching for a job this time of year is that most companies are hiring seasonal employees to handle the increase in work. And that a lot of job seekers take a break so that they don’t have to start a new job during the holiday. Make sure you are making the right impression by avoiding the pitfalls of a bad profile, and job search etiquette.

Written by: Amy Rossi, Director of Training

0 Comments

Your Job Tool Kit: Professional Headshot

10/22/2018

0 Comments

We all know there are certain things you have to have to get a job… A resume, a suit, and an interview, to name a few. But what about those other professional tools, the ones that will set you apart (even if they aren’t on the tip of your tongue)? At MSCCN, we’re here to make sure you have all the tools you need, the obvious and the not-so-obvious.

On an application form, the request for a headshot can send your stomach plummeting. It feels like one more step, one more hoop to jump through in the whole employment circus. Do they really need to know what you look like? Couldn’t they just judge you on your merits? Isn’t that why you wrestled with that resume and cover letter in the first place?

The truth of the matter is, even if you don’t submit a photo, in this digital age you can be sure a hiring manager is going to research you. While your resume shows how qualified you are for the job, a picture can give a sense of what kind of person you are.

We can debate the ethics of this practice all day long (yes, your mother was right—it’s what’s on the inside that counts), but it will help if you start to think of a headshot as an opportunity. This is your chance to show the hiring managers who they’d be working with. This is your chance to show how you could fit into the industry and their office.

If taken right, a professional headshot will show elements of your personality, your professionalism, and your confidence. To get recommendations on what sets a good one apart, look no further.

1. Why a professional headshot? I’ve got a camera phone.

While we all have cameras and camera phones these days, a good headshot isn’t as instant and carefree as a selfie you post on social media. It’s hard to focus on projecting confidence if you’re worried about cropping your closet (or extended arm) out of the picture.

Working with a photographer who knows what they’re doing takes the hassle out of taking a perfect photo. They will know the best tricks for posing, will handle all of the equipment, and ensure you have the best lighting. They’ll even tell you how to choose fabrics that will photograph well.

Check on post if you live on/near a base… sometimes photographers offer their services via the USO or other organizations. If you can’t hire a professional, take the next steps to heart when taking your photo, and make sure you enlist the help of a friend to take the actual shot.

"Hello? We're calling to let you know you picked the perfect outfit for your headshot. The job is practically yours."

2. Do headshots come with a dress code? At least wedding invitations give you something to work with…

When it comes to a headshot, your wardrobe should reflect your chosen profession (or the one you’re trying to enter). If you’re going into business, wear something that aligns with a job interview, be it a nice sweater, a blouse, or a collared shirt with a suit jacket (and be mindful of how low a neckline might look on camera). If you’re entering a more creative field, it helps to go online and look at people who are in the jobs you want to have. LinkedIn® profiles and “About me” sections of a website can be very helpful.

No matter the profession you’re trying to impress, as a general rule, the goal is not to distract from your face. You’re trying to build a sense of familiarity and connection.

Wear colors that flatter your skin tone, be aware that too much black can look stark (I like wearing a colorful top under a black blazer), and remember that busy patterns tend to look better in person than on film. You want to look like yourself, but an edited version… so if you tend toward an abundance of jewelry or make-up, think about highlighting one feature rather than two or three.

Be confident in the person you are, and it will come through in the photo, I promise!

3. But what do I do with my hands? How can I feel confident when posing makes me feel… awkward?

I’m with you. Posing is tricky—you want it to be flattering, you need to project confidence, and you still need to appear approachable. If you’re working with a photographer, they’ll be sure to tell you how to pose to your best advantage. However, here are a few tips I’ve learned:

Angle your body 45 degrees instead of facing the camera head-on. It will make you look lean, and keep you from looking boxy.
Consider whether crossing your arms makes you look confident… or closed-off and angry. Some people can pull it off, some can’t. Approach this pose with caution.
When it comes to your arms, your best bet is to make sure they aren’t just resting against your body. Angling them off your hips or resting your hands near your pockets gives your upper body more dimension.
Relax your face. You can smile broadly, you can give a half-smile, whatever is most flattering for you. Move your face around between shots, try to think of something that makes you feel happy inside—it will come through.
Always, always double-check yourself halfway through. How are your clothes sitting? Did you miss lipstick on your teeth (or spinach in your teeth)? Is your hair staying put? Is someone walking through the shots? Better to catch this now than later.

4. Where should I take these pictures? Indoors, outdoors… what works best?

Personally, I love outdoor headshots—as long as the backdrop doesn’t compete with your face (having a photographer who knows how to focus a lens or use the portrait feature on their phone makes a difference here).

With that being said, a studio backdrop can look great as well, and gives you more reliable lighting conditions. Whatever you decide, just remember—you want your face to come through, that’s the star.

5. But really, how do I make sure it’s a good picture?

When you’re assessing your headshot, it can be hard to stay picky… especially when you’re itching to cross something off your list. However, it helps to remember that this picture is an investment—you want to get it right now so you don’t have to do it again next week.

Always check to make sure:

Is the picture in focus (and are you the primary focal point)?
Does your photo look pixelated? A high-resolution photo will stand up to resizing… one with more limited pixels will only work in small, thumbprint settings.
Is your photo underexposed (everything looks too dark) or overexposed (everything looks bleached out)?

This is my current headshot. I'm at a 45 degree angle, holding a camera I use in my professional life, and wearing an outfit that represents my creative, professional persona. Photo by Kori Smith Photography.

Once you have your images, take your time selecting which one you want to represent you in the world. Check to see which one looks the most confident, the most genuine, the most like you.

When you find a photo you can believe in, update your LinkedIn and any other profiles your potential employers could check.

Here’s to you, and here’s to putting your best face forward!

Story by Zaneta Padilla

0 Comments

Why (and How) Your Resume and LinkedIn® Accounts Need to Work Together

7/16/2018

0 Comments

Gone are the days when you can type up a resume, submit it to a job posting online or hand it to a recruiter at a hiring fair, and know that your work is done.

Now, if you want to be competitive in the job market, you need a self-marketing plan that includes your resume and a well-crafted LinkedIn® profile.

These tools are the two most common ways a recruiter or hiring manager will get to know the professional you and understand the value you can add to their organization.

I know, it may seem like you should be able to do one or the other and call it good. However, in this case, it’s helpful to think of these tools as parts of the same whole—interrelated representations of the PROFESSIONAL YOU and WHAT YOU CAN DO.

But to be successful in the job market, you also have to understand the best ways to use each of them.

The Targeted Resume
The good, old, sturdy, and reliable targeted resume—not much has changed here. Yes, there are a thousand templates out there from which you may choose, and sure, you can create a functional or chronological resume depending on your needs. But the targeted resume remains mostly what it’s always been.

The targeted resume is the tool you use for a specific job. It’s crafted to connect your experience to the needs laid out in the job description. It includes the standards—your contact information (now including your LinkedIn® URL), your education, your professional experiences—as well as your summary or objective, qualification summary, and whatever the job posting requires.

The targeted resume takes time. It requires job posting analysis as well as resume revision to turn your professional self into the ideal candidate for the job.

It is accepted anywhere and everywhere (after you reenter it into the Applicant Tracking System).

But here’s the thing, it’s not the only tool in your toolbox.

The LinkedIn® Profile
I like to think of the LinkedIn® profile as an expanded targeted resume, or perhaps a targeted master resume.

Not all jobs are created equally, and if you are in a hurry to submit an application, but not so committed as to spend the time targeting your resume, you can often submit your LinkedIn® profile through the Applicant Tracking System. So long as your LinkedIn® profile is targeted to the general job or industry, it gives you a good chance. It’s not the same as a specifically honed and targeted resume, but if it’s the eleventh hour and you just don’t have it in you to revise your resume, this is a good option.

If you have submitted the targeted resume to your dream job, your LinkedIn® account still has a role to play.

Story by Jamie Boyle

0 Comments

Getting LinkedIn® When You are Just Starting Out

5/21/2018

0 Comments

At MSCCN, we are always talking about the importance of your online persona when you are looking for a job. Beyond making sure recruiters won’t find negative information about you, you should also provide them with a professional version of yourself by completing your LinkedIn® profile. The following three steps can help you build a useful online presence if you are just beginning a career.

First, do no harm. Make sure there’s nothing floating around on the web that would detract from your professional self.

Second, fill the void. Recruiters will search for you. While you don’t want them to find something negative, you also don’t want their search to yield nothing of interest when it comes to your potential.

Third, give them something professional and positive to find. This is where LinkedIn® comes in.

LinkedIn® is intuitive, and it’s easy to set up a profile—so easy that everyone is on LinkedIn®. Recruiters, friends, and connections on LinkedIn® can help you meet your professional goals.
But make sure you stand out…

Have a professional picture. Profiles with pictures get more views. Period. But make sure that your picture shows how you’d like to be perceived professionally—this is not the time to casually crop yourself out of a group shot.
Have a compelling summary. Typically, a summary is a place where people with a lot of experience can point to their knowledge and past accomplishments. If you have less experience, it’s better to show your potential and your goals.
Have a complete profile. At this point, your profile won’t go on for miles and miles, so take the time to complete the portions that apply to you; highlight the skills, experience, and education you do have.
Join groups that interest you professionally. These groups will help you to stay in the know about trends and concerns in your field. You may even learn about job opportunities or internships. You may meet someone who can mentor you and help you in your career.
Be an active member of those groups. Engage in conversations. Ask questions, and provide professional responses to others.

LinkedIn® is easy and free—but a half-empty profile won’t get you the connections you’re looking for. Take the time to set up a well-developed profile; it’s more than worth your while. By doing so, you’ll establish your professional self online while giving recruiters something to think about.

Story by Jamie Boyle

0 Comments

MSCCN Blog

LinkedIn Scaring Employers Away?

Your Job Tool Kit: Professional Headshot

Why (and How) Your Resume and LinkedIn® Accounts Need to Work Together

Getting LinkedIn® When You are Just Starting Out

Deb Kloeppel,
Founder & President MSCCN

Authors

Archives

Categories

MSCCN Blog

LinkedIn Scaring Employers Away?

Your Job Tool Kit: Professional Headshot

Why (and How) Your Resume and LinkedIn® Accounts Need to Work Together

Getting LinkedIn® When You are Just Starting Out

Deb Kloeppel,Founder & President MSCCNAuthors

Archives

Categories

Deb Kloeppel,
Founder & President MSCCN

Authors