Every week, NETSHARE hosts Ask the Coach, a phone-in coaching session with leading career management experts. Here is an excerpt from our most recent session with Christine Dennison, The Job Search Coach.
This week, career coach Chris Dennison fielded questions from NETSHARE members about their online profile, and how to position themselves for work either full time or on a contract basis. No matter what type of work you are seeking, your LinkedIn profile is extremely important. It serves as your online calling card, whether you are looking for full-time employment or contract work. You want to make sure your LinkedIn profile effectively represents your personal brand and that it’s structured so hiring managers can find you for all the right reasons.
Here is the advice that Chris fielded from callers regarding LinkedIn and finding the best job opportunities”
Question: What does a great LinkedIn profile look like?
Chris: When building out your LinkedIn profile, you need to think about it from the perspective of a recruiter or hiring manager who is looking through hundreds of profiles seeking just the right candidate. Your LinkedIn profile should be concise and readable, and it should focus on accomplishments rather than presenting a long chronology of jobs or a rehash of your resume. Think of your LinkedIn profile as if you were hanging out your shingle – you want to present your expertise. Emphasize your areas of specialization in the summary and the skill sets. Remember it’s what’s “above the fold” that sets you apart.
Question: I’m interviewing for two opportunities: one contract assignment and another full-time position. Both are with target companies. How do I handle this?
Chris: It’s important to evaluate each opportunity individually. Prepare a list of pros/cons for each position, being sure to eliminate any emotional and timing issues. That should give you a clearer understanding of which opportunity might be the best one. Also let each company know that you are interviewing for another position as a courtesy, but don’t try to play them off each other in a hardball way. Keep the conversations positive – just be sure to keep each party informed and clarify where you are in the process. It’s important to express a strong interest in the position you want, but you want to make sure that all parties are kept in the loop.
