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Social Media: Searching for Work on LinkedIn, Part 2

by Sally Cox  

We have previously explored the importance of having a strong LinkedIn profile. Your profile is really the key here so if you haven't yet updated and beefed up your LinkedIn profile, I suggest you go back and read through the article before moving forward.

A Word about Recruiters

I always preach to my colleagues who are seeking work, and I believe this: the best way to find work is to have the work find you. The strong LinkedIn profile is twofold--prospective employers can see your work history at a glance, but it's also helpful for recruiters to find you. They use keyword searches to help narrow the field, and I can tell you from experience: recruiters are the best way to find and keep steady work.

That being said, there are two types of recruiters: the ones who make blind calls or send blind emails--with no idea of whether you are the suited for the job, and the ones who work closely with you and know your skillset and work ethics. The second is obviously the one I recommend. A strong profile and a few tips to get you noticed by recruiters can go a long way. 

I have a handful of recruiters who have taken the time to view my portfolio, talk to me about my goals and future plans, and learn my skill set. Those are the ones who think "Sally would be perfect for this role!" That's what I want for you so let's explore how to get there.

Get the free LinkedIn Jobs App

This is a great way to keep up with jobs on LinkedIn. It's easy to browse and search for jobs, and in many cases, you can apply with your LinkedIn profile right from your mobile device.

Below is an overview of the LinkedIn Jobs App. Enter keywords, location if desired and tap Search. Apply for some jobs directly through the app with your profile or save jobs in the app, to complete on the company's website later.

 

 

A few tips to help you with your search:

1. Try variations of your keywords. I search for "Instructional Designer" but I also search for "Instructional Design" or "eLearning Developer," for example.
2. Set up notifications within the app to alert you when a job matching your description gets posted.
3. Many jobs can be applied for right from within the app--in your pajamas, while in bed! The LinkedIn jobs app keeps track of the ones you've applied for that way, which is quite helpful.
4. If you're having trouble finding work in your field, consider expanding your skillset. A photo retoucher who does nothing but retouch photos will have a harder time finding work than one who has other skills. 
5. I always recommend you stay active in the newsfeed, for maximum exposure. "Like" relevant articles, share insights, etc., to get yourself noticed. This is especially helpful when you are job hunting.

Here is an infographic I put together on the LinkedIn Jobs App. You can click the image to download a copy for yourself.

 

 

Next Time: I'll share more tips about maintaining a strong LinkedIn profile.

Social Media: Searching for Work on LinkedIn

by Sally Cox  

As a freelancer, people are always asking me how I find work. The answer for me has two parts: 

1. I have a strong LinkedIn profile
2. I have a small pool of recruiters who know my skill set and find work FOR me. That is where you want to be: having people looking for work FOR you. 

In this series of articles, I'm going to share some of my LinkedIn job-hunting tips with you. This week you'll get some tips on writing your headline and summary, choosing a profile photo, and how to garner recommendations.

Strong LinkedIn Profile

There is no way around it. You must have a strong LinkedIn profile. Most companies use LinkedIn to check out applicants. And recruiters are actively searching on LinkedIn for the best candidates. If you want to compete today, you simply have to have a strong online presence, and it all starts with LinkedIn.

I'll use mine as an example:

 

I created a custom URL for myself, as shown in the lower left corner of the image above (and there's a close-up below). When you are signed in and choose Edit My Profile, a gear will appear to the right of your current URL. Tap the gear and create a new custom URL for yourself. It looks professional and sets you apart.

 

Notice that in my profile (the first image above), I listed previous companies I have done work for. Although you cannot tell in the photo, I linked to their business pages, if they have one. If you have your own business, create a LinkedIn page and link to it.

Writing your Headline and Summary

You have only seconds to impress someone who is looking at your profile. Make it count. Here are some tips:

1. Don't list "Looking for Work" as your headline. You're wasting valuable space to talk about yourself, and research shows recruiters react negatively to it.
2. Use keywords and key terms. LinkedIn searches are based on keywords and key terms, so make it count. Use LinkedIn's search features to explore other profiles like yours and see what terms the professionals are using.
3. Headline: distill your career to one sentence. It's a challenge but it forces you to decide what is important and get rid of the rest.
4. I list my skills on my profile, usually wrapped into my summary. For example, I'm very good in Articulate Storyline. If someone searches for "storyline," I want them to find me!
5. Use the "pipe" character as a separator in your text (it's a vertical line (|) and can be created by pressing [SHIFT] and the key directly above ENTER/RETURN. The pipe gives your profile a fresh look and is a nice alternative to bullets.

I'm not saying that my summary is perfect, but here it is in all of its glory:

 

 

I used the "pipe" character to separate my roles. I used several keywords and even added a personal touch with my Mr. Rogers story. I typically use the 80/20 rule in social media (80% business, 20% personal). However, on LinkedIn I usually do 90% business. It's nice to offer recruiters a glimpse at your personality, but I recommend that you keep personal content to a minimum.

Professional Photo

As a creative, I can get away with some things on my LinkedIn profile that a lawyer might not. For example, my profile pic is not a professional headshot. It's simply an outdoor shot that I like and so I use it. That being said, follow these guidelines for your LinkedIn photo:

1. Don't cut yourself out of a group shot and expect that to be sufficient. 
2. Spend the money for a professional shot, or trade services with a photographer. Perhaps you can design their business card in exchange for a handful of head shots?
3. Try to find a way to show your personality, even with a formal portrait. Wear a polka dot dress (like me!), or a colorful pocket handkerchief - just something that helps set you apart.

Recommendations vs. Endorsements

Don't waste a minute on LinkedIn Endorsements. When you add skills to your profile, those skills are seen by your connections. They are then asked to click a button to endorse you for that skill. It's a total waste of time and doesn't hold any weight in the eyes of a recruiter.

Recommendations, on the other hand, hold tremendous weight on your profile. Recruiters look for recommendations. They give the recommender a chance to talk about your skills, your strengths and add personal interest. Here are some tips to getting recommendations:

1. Don't ask for 100 in one day. I always tell people to ask for two a week. Pick two of your connections who would be strong references for you, and ask them to write a recommendation. Each recommendation has a timestamp, so 100 in one day would be painfully obvious.
2. Although it's customary to recommend someone who recommended you, don't recommend someone you would not hire. It's your reputation on the line - don't risk it over hurting someone's feelings because you refuse to recommend them.
3. It's ok to ask for a recommendation and it's perfectly ok to direct them. I once had some write "Sally is so funny and kind." That's nice to hear but doesn't show my business skills. So I wrote to the person, thanked them and explained I was trying to play up my project management skills. Most people will respond well if you give them specifics on what you want them to emphasize.

Recommendations are mentioned right at the top of your profile, when viewed by the public. I have 41 recommendations (I have built that list over time). You need to do the same. Make your profile a work in progress and keep it updated so it's ready when you need it.

Next time: We'll explore how to actually look for work using LinkedIn, including the LinkedIn jobs app.

Social Media: Gathering LinkedIn Recommendations

by Sally Cox  

My colleagues know that I am a fanatic about LinkedIn. It's my top source for work; and when I hear people complain about it, I always think, "What could I do to help them strengthen their LinkedIn profile?"

One of the most powerful features of LinkedIn is the ability to collect recommendations on your profile. If you take the time and effort to set up your LinkedIn profile correctly, it becomes your online resume. And recommendations are an important part of that. Instead of a leather portfolio filled with letters of recommendation, in today's world recommendations are part of your online LinkedIn profile. Let's take a closer look.

Ask for Recommendations

It's perfectly acceptable to ask a colleague for a recommendation. However, it's customary to return the favor so if you don't feel comfortable recommending a colleague, don't ask them to recommend you.

Here's how to ask for a recommendation. Go to your LinkedIn profile (you've already signed in at this point), then choose Profile > Edit Profile.

 

Hover over the arrow next to View profile as and choose Ask to be recommended. This allows you to select someone in your Connections list to send them a message.

 

 

This navigation bar appears with several options. Notice the heading Recommendations. Under Ask for recommendations, LinkedIn suggests connections but I ignore that. I choose from the list of connections below that navigation bar.

 

You'll also see an option to choose which company/role you wish to have them recommend you for.

 

 

Here are a few tips for gathering recommendations:

1. It's acceptable to send a message and ask them to recommend you for a certain skill or role. I once had a colleague recommend me on LinkedIn by emphasizing how "fun" I was to work it. I politely thanked them for their recommendation but asked them to edit it, and focus on my project management skills (which he did).
2. Don't recommend anyone you would not trust to work for you. Your reputation is in play here; so friend or not, if they aren't a good candidate--don't recommend them!
3. Don't send 150 requests for recommendations in one day. When people recommend you, it leaves a time stamp. Fifty in one day looks suspicious and recruiters notice things like that.

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Want to learn more about LinkedIn? Come check out my live, online 3-hour LinkedIn mini course. Among other things, you will learn to build a strong LinkedIn profile and tons of other awesome LinkedIn tips and tricks.

Social Media: Increase Your Visibility by Sharing Content via LinkedIn Pulse

by Sally Cox

One of the more obscure features of LinkedIn I have come to love is Pulse, which gives you access to industry professionals and global leaders in a variety of fields. You "follow" them, much like you would on any social media platform. For example, Richard Branson is someone I greatly admire, so he was the first person I followed on Pulse.

To access Pulse, log into your LinkedIn account and choose Interests > Pulse.

Once you start following people on Pulse, it will automatically begin suggesting influential people for you, with an easy "Follow" button to press, if you want to follow them.

In the far right column, Pulse shows thumbnails of people you might want to follow. Click See all to view the entire list.

Pulse suggests industry leaders you might wish to follow, based on your prior choices. Use the + Follow button to add the person to your list of favorites.

I'm active on social media so I use Pulse not only to find good content to share with the LinkedIn community, I also share on Twitter at the same time.

To share an article on LinkedIn Pulse, select the Share icon (shown highlighted in the orange box below).

In the Share dialog box, decide how to share the content. If you want to share with everyone, choose Share with Public. To post to Twitter, select the check box at the right of the dialog box. Add a short note if you want (as long as it's within the 140-character limit for Twitter).

LinkedIn Pulse App

I love the Pulse app for reading articles on the go, but I can also follow and share via the app as well. The interface is clean and easy to navigate.

Above, the Pulse app in my Social Media apps folder. Below, I can swipe horizontally to see all the articles from people I follow.

Sharing articles to social media from the Pulse app is a breeze... just choose the venue you want and press Share.

Overall, Pulse is a useful feature if you like to read and share good content and is especially helpful if you're active on social media.


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If you like Sally's articles, you'll love her mini classes. Join Sally online for Mobile Photography Basics: Taking Better Photos with your Mobile Device and Enhancing Them Afterward and Building a Strong LinkedIn Profile.

Social Media: Creating a LinkedIn Summary That Gets You Noticed

by Sally Cox  

There is an art to creating a strong LinkedIn profile. One of the most powerful assets in your LinkedIn profile is the Summary. Most people put minimal thought into it, but honestly, it's a golden opportunity to make yourself shine.

Tips to Creating a Stronger Profile

Be clear on your objective before you begin. What do you want recruiters and prospective employers to gain from reading your summary? How do you want them to feel?

Gather your content. Put everything in place so you can begin to write the summation. List your greatest accomplishments, and a sentence about each one. Try to capture not only what YOU got out of the experience but more importantly, how the company benefited. If the team cut costs by 70% under your management, that needs to be part of the sentence.

List your values and passions. If saving African wildlife is high on your priority list, make sure you notate that in some way. Aside from your professional accomplishments, people like to see snippets of the real you.

List things you can do better than anyone, things that make you stand out. If Project Management is a strength of yours, or you're a competitive swimmer, these traits can both accurately portray your dedication and look good on a profile.

Awards, accolades, achievements--gather them and include both personal and business accomplishments.

List things that make you unique. Find out what they are and include the strongest ones. For example, I worked for "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" in the 1980s, as designer. It was long ago, but that one event on my resume or LinkedIn profile is a conversation starter, more than any other. It may not even pertain to my current work, but it's a great way to start a conversation that gets me noticed--and remembered.

Writing Your Summary

Begin with a strong statement, a "bang," if you will. You could ask a question, make a statement, or just list a few of your skills for a dramatic opener. Make it memorable. 

Weave your story, including snippets from the information you gathered in earlier steps. Mix up your content to make it more interesting, so it doesn't read like a list, and use correct grammar and punctuation.

End with a call-to-action, remembering your summary needs to be 2,000 characters or less. Tell your readers where they go to learn more about you, or how they can contact you. (This may not be necessary if you've listed it elsewhere on your profile, but make sure they know how to find you.) 

 

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Check out Sally's 3-hour mini class on Building a Strong LinkedIn Profile.

Social Media: Reinforce Your Brand

by Matt Sullivan  

How do you determine if someone is a consumer of social media? Would you know a social media consumer if you saw one? Guess what? Well... if you're reading this, you are a consumer of social media. How do you find like-minded consumers and convert them to customers? Social platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook let you move content toward those who need it.  So if you have a message, how can you make social media work for you?

Create a Social Media Indentity

The first step in a social media plan is to establish a presence for you and your brand. Determine the location of your customers and meet them there. Create a profile that is obvious and consistent with your marketing goals. Make your username an obvious extension of your brand. 

I've created a social media branding class that provides an opportunity for you to explore options for a social media identity. As an example, my online identity is mattrsullivan. Go ahead and search online to see who Google says I am. The results are a collection of content and social interactions that I've developed, all tethered to the mattrsullivan social media ID. During my class we use online tools to explore the available options for you and your brand, and show you how to save time by automating the creation of those profiles across relevant networks.

Create Content

Here is where originality counts. During the recent WritersUA conference in Palm Springs, I had to create a PowerPoint presentation for each of my three sessions. Since I'd already put in the work, I recorded a quick overview of the conference, complete with:

• an intro video
• lower-third titles (like on a newscast)
• background
• logo branding
• cuts between:
  • the slides
  • my video
  • an overlay of video and slides

Though it sounds tough, I already had everything but the five minutes of video and 30 seconds of intro on my machine. In about 30 minutes, I'd produced my introduction video (in MP4 format).

Reuse Content

Once I'd posted the video to my YouTube channel, it took me mere moments to create a WordPress post, which contained a few paragraphs of text and the video. I also placed my slides on Slideshare, along with the video. Of course, the missing piece here was broadcasting the content beyond people who are currently subscribed to my YouTube, WordPress, and Slideshare accounts. For further social media outreach, I used twitter to broadcast to #writersua attendees and #techcomm watchers. I also posted regular updates to my LinkedIn account, relevant LinkedIn groups, and FaceBook.

Re-purpose Efficiently 

Be efficient when repeating your message across your social media accounts. There are a number of social media aggregators available (I use HootSuite). During the WritersUA conference mentioned earlier, I used HootSuite to schedule twitter and other messages to occur in the hours leading up to my presentation. I also scheduled teasers from my presentation that were automatically made public at the same time that I was giving my presentation. (This little trick made me look like some sort of magician to those people who were attending my session live.)

What Did You Have For Lunch?

Unless your lunch was truly epic, you should assume that people who consume your social media offerings for business really don't care about your dining habits. Above all else, you need to produce content that's interesting and relevant to your readers. Every situation is different, so carefully consider the appropriate mix of personal and professional content to keep your audience engaged.

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If you'd like to learn what it takes to make social media work for you, consider attending my social media branding class. By the end of the day, you'll understand what it takes to:

• create an effective social media ID
• identify and reuse content
• cross-promote content across networks
• use an aggregator to increase effectiveness of incoming and outgoing content

I hope to see you in class!

SociaLogic: How to Cite Tweets in Academia or eLearning

by AJ Walther  

The President has a Twitter account. So does the Pope. It makes sense that eventually someone important is going to use this social outlet to say something that you'd like to include in an academic paper or maybe even in your eLearning. But how do you do that?  

Here's how, according to the Modern Language Association (MLA):

Last Name, First Name (User Name). "The tweet in its entirety." Date, Time. Tweet.

That was painless, eh? But I have an even easier option. Simply paste the tweet's URL into the citation generator at Tweet2Cite and the work will be done for you--in either MLA or American Psychological Association format. The only catch is that you'll need to know the URL for the specific tweet. Don't worry though, here's how you get that:

1. Click any Tweet on Twitter to expand the Tweet.
2. At the bottom of the Tweet, click the Details link. (The Tweet will open in a new window with its URL in the browser box.)
    

The MLA citation for the Tweet picture above would be:

Walther, AJ (LogicalAJ). "Wanna Read Faster? Try These Apps http://t.co/52RNyeuyv8 #mLearning #edtech #iOS7". 17 Oct 2013, 20:00 UTC. Tweet

Localization & eLearning: The Translation Process

by Jen Weaver

You are ready to move forward with your translation project, but despite your preparation you still feel a bit in the dark about what steps will be involved in creating your translation. The 'unknowns' can make you feel a bit fearful about moving forward. So let's bring some light to the situation, and uncover those foggy areas of the translation process. We have broken out the steps to a typical e-learning project below to help you better understand what will occur with your project.

Project Scope: Translation of an e-learning module from US English into Chinese

Evaluation

1. Analysis of material from the technical and cultural viewpoint to determine objectives, target audience and culture-specific content.
2. Evaluation of source material, layout, as well as the quantity and type of graphics used.
3. Project assessment to determine frequently used vocabulary, register, file format, etc.
4. Selection of team components, tools and software to be used.
5. Overall project assessment including identification of Professional Voice Talents comparable to project goals.
6. Research and provision of Voice Talent demo recordings from voice bank.
7. Casting of Voice Talents based on client approval.

Preparation

1. Extracting of the text from its original file format in (InDesign, PPT, etc). This includes preparation of graphics, graphs, and charts.
2. Transcribing (if it is not already done) the audio script for recording to include time stamp.

Translation, Editing, & Proofreading

1. Translation of the text from the source file.
2. Editing and Proofreading by professional target language (native speaker) editors.

Client Review

1. Delivery of proofs to Client for internal review.
2. Review and one round of input of client changes.

Voice Over Recording

1. Approved voice talent will record in a studio and will be directed by a studio director who is also a native in the language.
2. Use of fully digital, industrial strength Pro Tools recording system.
3. SP capabilities, time coded DAT, Neumann microphones, Industrial Acoustics sound booth.

Audio Client Review

Implementation of one round of client changes pre-delivery of completed files (edits can be pronunciation preference, slower speed, faster speed, error in script, etc).

Voice Over Recording of requested changes

Requested changes will be implemented and finalized, following the same process as Voice Over Recording.

Localization Engineering/Desktop publishing

1. Localization engineers/desktop publishers will ensure all components of the project have been fully localized.
2. All graphics/visuals will be formatted into the target language.
3. Localization engineers will sync audio files to the animations, ensuring all files are running properly.
4. Language tester will do a final QA of the end product, checking that all audio clips are clear and running to match the animation on screen.

Delivery

Delivery of final file (Java, XML, HTML, other formats), tested to ensure all localized components are in working order (audio is synced with animation, etc).

Reliable translation providers will use a translation process that adheres to basic industry quality best practices. Don't be afraid to ask your vendor about their internal translation and quality management processes. A reputable vendor will be proud to share this information with you.

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If you would like to learn best practices for managing translation projects, contact Jen at Carmazzi Global Solutions.

Training & Social Media: Fitting Into the Modern Marketing Mix

by Rosie Hausler

The growth of Internet users has gone from 16 million in 1995 to more than 2.7 billion users in March of 2013. It is amazing that it's taken just 18 short years to connect 38.8% of the world's population to the Internet and potentially to each other.

The implication of this shift for marketing and sales organizations is far-reaching. Potential customers can and are researching and learning about products and services online and within their ever-growing trusted social network. Customers often are more knowledgeable about the products and services they want and need than the vendors' own sales force. They also may prefer to educate themselves about competitive alternatives and price way before they actually contact or interact with a vendor sales rep. Clearly the old ways of selling by having the sales team engage early in the sales process is not only expensive, but more and more often, it just doesn't work. The "best" prospects know how to stay under the radar and decide for themselves when they want to start engaging directly with a salesperson, if at all.

Companies need to educate potential customers and provide ongoing learning beyond the first sale to compete in this new selling landscape. Marketing's role is becoming more complex. Traditionally marketing departments developed strategies, researched market segments, crafted messages and delivered programs to get prospects into the sales funnel as early as possible and hand-off to sales to walk the prospects through the education, evaluation and close stages. Marketers have long been buyers of Marketing Services to deliver programs, not sellers of products and services.

This new online world demands that Marketers be publishers of content that informs and educates potential buyers without blatantly promoting one company over another. This is a new role and a new skill for many marketers. It's also an opportunity for Trainers to help Marketer's make this transition. Marketers need help to begin to see potential customers as learners that are searching for truth instead of viewing them as fish to hook with the best available bait so that sales can reel them in.

The Traditional Sales Funnel is no Longer Enough

The sales funnel depicted below is still in wide use despite the fact that it no longer fits the current selling environment. Social media is paving the way for scaling one-to-one interactions. The Internet has also made it possible for prospects to gain access and insight to more and more information and even try out competitive products in the try-and-buy era of cloud-based services. There is a need for a new model that can accommodate the new online world that is emerging in front of our eyes.

The New Improved Sales Funnel

In a connected world the sales funnel is shaped more like an hourglass on its side than a funnel. It looks more like the "New Approach" graphic below. Prospects consume content that is more educational than promotional. They conduct free trials and compare and contrast their alternatives among their trusted social media networks before engaging with a particular selling company. In this model, the dollar sign represents the point in the process that they become a paying customer. Sales reps engage slightly before and after the transaction or contract is final but not beyond that. Once a prospect has become a customer, they join the company's "University" where they embark on their journey to learn more and more about the products and services they have just bought. Some customers will turn into evangelists for the products they feel strongly about and recommend them to their trusted network.

The new reality: every employee is a trainer; every customer is a learner and potential evangelist.

Collaborative Learning: Strengthen Your Team

by AJ George

 

A group of your team members has just wrapped up some training. Now that the learning is finished, it's time to get right to work, right? Wrong! The training itself is just the first step. Read on for what to do after the formal training to ensure that the real learning begins.

 

If You're in Management

 

While it can be a distraction when your employees are busy "Liking" Lady Gaga, now is not necessarily the time to crack down on social media at work. Instead, consider embracing social media to see what it can do for you and your team. Use SharePoint. Use Google Docs. Use wikis. Use Facebook. Use LinkedIn. Use something that allows your team to congregate and collaborate.

According to July's T+D magazine, Millennials will make up more than half of the workforce in the next five years. Increasingly, not only will access to collaborative learning strengthen your team, but those Millennials who will be taking over your workforce, they'll expect it. To illustrate this, below is a chart outlining the respondents who answered "high" or "very high" when asked to what extent social media tools helped them to achieve tasks at work (you can click the image for a larger view).

Image source: www.astd.org.

If You're the Trainee

Have a question? Ask it! Know an answer? Share it! Many students rely on their instructor after the class if they need more assistance, but don't seem to take into account that the instructor is just one person. Why rely on just that one person if there is an entire network of people who could help you? Knowledge is one of the few assets that people are willing to pass along to other people, not only willingly, but happily. If you took your training class with fellow team members, hopefully you have some sort of shared workspace at your office where you can collaborate freely. If not, all is not lost. Ask your instructor how you can connect with fellow students after the class. Often training companies have Facebook or Twitter networks that they would love for you to join and add to the conversation. If not a network, perhaps your instructor maintains a blog with archived articles that you could search. Don't forget to check the blog comments for helpful feedback from people in your same situation.

If You're the Trainer

Don't let the training be the end of the communication with your students. Follow-up with students and outline exactly what they should have learned from the course. Believe me, if your students feel they didn't learn it all, they'll let you know.

Provide a link to your blog and make sure you are diligent about responding to your blog comments. Invite students to become a fan on Facebook, but be sure not to drop the ball. Respond to any questions thoroughly and promptly to foster a reciprocal community. Direct students to your Twitter account so you can keep them updated with all things related to the field and pass along useful information.

As your class wraps up, this is not the time to bombard your students with sales pitches. However, if you offer additional learning in the field (an advanced class perhaps), make sure students know about it.

Still not convinced that collaborative learning could make your team all that and a bag of chips? Check out this list of 44 Benefits of Collaborative Learning from the Global Development Research Centre. I'd love to hear how you are using collaborative learning, please leave your comments below.

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About the author: AJ George is IconLogic's lead Technical Writer and author of both "PowerPoint 2007: The Essentials" and "PowerPoint 2008 for the Macintosh: The Essentials." You can follow AJ on Twitter at http://twitter.com/andrayajgeorge.