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Understanding Four Major Ways To Look for a Position
Once you have done your planning, you can start to look for a position. There are four major ways to find a job.
One caution about using job boards: once you upload your résumé to an Internet site, you probably have lost control of it. Here are four questions to consider before you post to a job board:
Everything in this excerpt from Joseph Cauteruccio’s LinkedIn profile makes the argument that he is talented, hard-working, and ambitious.
Although the photograph was not taken by a professional, Joseph dressed professionally and looks as if he’s eager to get into the office and get to work.
The summary statement includes a paragraph describing his major responsibilities and a summary of his educational credentials. Note that Joseph also includes a number of keywords categorized under “Specialties” and “Programming Languages.” These keywords will help potential employers locate his profile more easily.
The description of Joseph’s current position is unusually full, with details about his managerial responsibilities, specific types of projects he’s completed, and methodologies he’s employed to do so. All of this detail not only increases his chances of attracting potential employers but also makes clear that he loves his job and has energy to burn. You get the clear impression he’ll be the first one in the office in the morning and the last one to leave at night.
Joseph also listed a number of specific skills in the “Skills & Endorsements” section of his profile. Many LinkedIn users have endorsed his skills, not only affirming Joseph’s abilities but also suggesting that he is an active LinkedIn user who probably endorses his colleagues, as is appropriate, in return.
Joseph also follows a number of LinkedIn influencers and companies within his industry, signaling to potential employers his dedication to his field and desire to grow professionally.
Using LinkedIn’s Employment Features
In 2013, 77 percent of employers used social media to recruit. Among those employers, 94 percent said they used LinkedIn (Society for Human Resource Management, 2013). The following five guidelines can help you take advantage of the employment features on the world’s most influential networking site for professionals.