#OpenToWork - attract the right attention in your job search with this new LinkedIn feature

#OpenToWork

Today this LinkedIn hashtag has 40,949 followers

Are you #OpenToWork and using this LinkedIn feature, complete with green photoframe to advertise your availability? 

LinkedIn expert Jennifer Corcoran did a great write up recently about setting it up. But don’t just grab that border and run. There’s so much more you could do to help yourself be visible to the right people.

This LinkedIn guide will help you set up the photoframe if you decide to make use of this additional feature on the platform.

How to make the best of #OpenToWork

When you’re advertising your availability for a new position on LinkedIn, remember to think about the people you’re hoping to reach – and what you’d like them to do.

One approach that can help you stand out is from answering this question: 

What can you offer that solves today’s problems in your industry? 

Then demonstrate those qualities in your headline, profile or posts. It’s not only about experience, expertise and skills, but also attributes like positivity, flexibility, adaptability and persistence. 

Your next opportunity is likely to come from a mix of answers to these questions:

·      CAN you do the job (skills, experience, expertise)

·      WILL you do the job (record of success)

·      Can we work WITH YOU  (personal qualities, culture fit)

Think about how each of these elements is represented in your posts and profile.

Aiming to attract recruiters?

Remember to see yourself from a recruiter’s point of view. They will want to see evidence that you have the skills, mindset and record of success for the openings they want to fill.  Make it easy for them to help you by making these details clearly accessible.

These 7 tips will help you do this:

1.     Be specific in your headline and summary about the role you are targeting so your profile will be picked up in a keyword search.

2.     Demonstrate attitudes that recruiters will appreciate through your articles, posts, comments and profile. Let qualities like positivity, drive, growth mindset, self-management, resilience, and adaptability come through in your posts. Are there industry-specific qualities you can highlight?

3.     Include key work and life achievements in your summary and work history. They demonstrate impact, success, resilience, conscientiousness, focus and persistence.

4.     Avoid posting a general list of all the jobs you might be able to do… that leaves the reader confused.

5.     But DO consider your transferable skills and experience - and which industries or roles you would be confident accepting. E.g. airline to rail; teaching to training.

6.     Demonstrate the positives of your previous role, why you enjoyed working there, your proudest achievements with them, the impact of your work that meant the most – this sets a great tone and shows who you are and why you would be an asset.

7.     Don’t be afraid to be human and show why your work matters to you and how you make a difference – you can then connect as a potential colleague and for shared values.

Have you made it easy for your reader to help you?

And things to avoid:

1. Making your readers do all the heavy lifting e.g. ‘Hello everyone, I’m open for a new role and would appreciate your support’ – this fails to say what kind of work, how they can help or why you’re a strong candidate with a record of success behind you.

2.  Just using the standard post that many others are using – this doesn’t help you to stand out, show what you can do, or what you would be like to work with.

3. Post and run – you need to be active on LinkedIn, to comment on other posts and to be building relationships. If others respond to your original work-seeking post, reply always,  and ‘like’ every comment  (this will help your post appear in the feed).

4. ‘I would appreciate your help with any openings you think I would qualify for’ – this puts all the effort upon the reader. They’ll need to look in depth at your profile, or know you very well to be able to help. Make it easy for them by listing one or two roles you are clearly qualified for – even better, show which of today’s problems you will help to solve.

5. Leaving your headline as ‘available for new opportunities’ – this misses so many opportunities to be found. Instead, include a mix of your profession, target role, and area of expertise as your headline. 

Are you happy with your LinkedIn headline?

What does it tell the reader?

Aiming to galvanize your network?

1.     If you’re asking your network on LinkedIn to help you identify new opportunities, firstly use some of the advice above to make it as easy as possible for them to help you. Be specific.

2.     What are you asking them to do? Keep an eye out? Recommend you? Share your profile? Be as clear as you can or people will be unsure what they can best do for you.

3.     Don’t forget to message your closest or most relevant professional and wider network, again asking for specific help, and advice. What else do they think you should be doing? Where else can you look? Who should you be speaking to?

4.     And don’t forget that LI is just one part of your strategy. Remember to pick up the phone and speak to the most relevant people who know you, have worked with you and would be comfortable to help or advocate for you. Their advice could make all the difference in connecting with others who can help you reach the right opportunities or people.

If you’re interested in developing the tactics and skills to connect well with your network, my ‘Connections to Fuel Your Career Change’ guide will help (£9.99) 

Just contact me to purchase your copy.

Great practice

The best examples of people using the LinkedIn #OpenToWork feature are being innovative and thinking about their target reader. I’ve seen great examples of:

·      Positive speak about their former employer and the experience of working there (despite being made redundant)

·      A personal account of being made redundant, what they value in their former employer, what they learnt and how they can make a difference to their next organization

·      A post showing the focus areas they are seeking from their next role e.g. online course creation; customer engagement

·      Exactly which problems they can help solve

·      A video of their former work life (hopefully with permission of those being filmed) that captures the person-focused and collaborative work culture

·      Being pro-active – not the victim. Advertising their personality, strength of character, optimism and direction.

If you do a search on LinkedIn for #OpenToWork, you’ll quickly find examples of who is using the hashtag, who has left the original wording untouched, and who has changed it and immediately stands out. 

So, will you be using this LinkedIn feature? And how clear are you about which of your greatest attributes or successes you want to advertise in your posts on LinkedIn?

Good luck, let me know which of these tips has been most useful and what other advice you would give people using this feature.

I can also help you develop a LinkedIn strategy if you’re seeking a career change. Get in touch and we can discuss next steps towards a better career.

And if you’re looking to widen your network, please do connect with me on LinkedIn here.

If a free 30-minute career call to explore specific obstacles in your career development would help, just contact me via the button below.