Getting On the Market (Job Market That Is!)
Hiring is a hot market right now. As I am sure you have heard a bunch about unemployment rates, the great resignation, and more. Companies are getting desperate looking for talent and want to hire the right people. I get several messages a week from recruiters and headhunters who want my expertise and my company is hiring for a few roles but not finding the right candidates.
This means there is no better time than now to make sure you are showing up: up-level your LinkedIn put a fresh headshot on all of your social handles, update your email signature, and more. Let’s discuss the basics you need to cover when getting yourself on the market and what questions to ask if you are approached about a new role so you don’t waste your time.
How are you showing up?
Consistency Across Channels
- Clean up your visuals with an updated photo across all of your channels. Yes, this means LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. Your personal pages should exude a similar vibe to what you want the external world to see. For instance, I have received resumes from people that look great only to look at their online presence and have quickly switched them to the no pile. This could be due to controversial posts, inappropriate photos, and more. Even if you think that you have your settings set so that no one will see, many still can find the images.
- What words or phrases are you using to describe yourself? Your bio on LinkedIn should be similar to what you see elsewhere.
Completed LinkedIn Profile
- If I see someone who does not have a completed LinkedIn profile, odds are they have been at their job for a long time or are out of touch with the current career market. This is a key component to your personal brand image and is one of the top things on which potential employers will judge you.
- Fill out your most recent positions, focusing on keywords and active phrases. Make sure to include numbers and statistics where possible.
- Have a powerful headline — what do you want to get across in two seconds? Sometimes all someone sees is your image and headline. Make it count.
- Add your skills and ask for recommendations. There are a bunch of ways to build out your skills. One way would be to look at jobs that are out there that might be of interest to you. What skills are they looking for — make sure you are using similar words.
Thought-Leader Mentality
- You are smart and have knowledge about all sorts of things. Topics that seem normal to you are really interesting and educational to others.
- Make sure you are adding value with your posts and comments — get out there!
- Aim for at least one thought-provoking, value-add post a week on LinkedIn.
You’ve got a bite — now what?
Okay — so great! Someone has reached out to you and the opportunity looks interesting. Now what? Make sure you keep in mind that once you are beyond entry-level roles and have some experience in your field, you are in a position of power. Companies want the experience you have on their teams. Be friendly (of course!) but direct and to the point. No one has time to waste chit-chatting when to have a call. Before having a call, I recommend asking what the salary range is and requesting more information about the company and its culture. These are very important components beyond just the job description itself. If they come back and it is not what you had in mind, then feel free to directly tell them. Here is the actual response I sent someone recently:
After a recruiter reached out with a job prospect at a “confidential company”:
Hi [name],
Thanks so much for reaching out! I am available [day] [time of day] between [time] and [time] [time zone] if you are available during that window?
In the meantime, are you able to share more details about the company and their salary range? I just want to make sure we are on the same page to make the best use of our time together.
Looking forward to connect and learn more!
[your name]
After they have gotten back to you but the salary is too low, or the company culture doesn’t match what you’re looking for, etc:
Hi [name],
Thank you so much for sharing more about this company and position. I really appreciate the transparancy about salary. While I know I would bring a lot of [expertise/value] to [company]; unfortunately, this salary is below what I would need to make a move. If there is any flexibliity about the salary range or any other roles that I could be a fit for, please keep me in mind. For future reference, I would be looking for $XXX base or about $XXX total compentsaton. Thanks again for taking the time to connect!
Best,
[your name]
What have you used to make the biggest impact with your personal brand online? Have you been getting a lot of action on LinkedIn? How are you managing this wild time in the job market either as a job seeker or a company that is hiring? I would love to continue this conversation! In an upcoming weekly write up we can dive into salary and make sure you are getting what you are worth.
Talk more soon!
XO, Kate
Originally published at https://www.katemohan.com on November 3, 2021.
