Shut The Front Door! - You use LinkedIn to network!

What do we have here?

A wonderful feature of the paid LinkedIn account is 'InMail', this is an internal messaging/mail service that lets you reach-out and communicate with individuals without having to go through the embarrassing process of 'sending a meaningful and informative connect request', getting accepted [or rejected] and then sending a message to explain more....

Notice I used the word 'COMMUNICATE'  and not 'connect'.  Whilst many individuals view LinkedIn as a social media tool used exclusively by and for recruiters, it is first and foremost a 'NETWORKING' tool!

Now most people can and do operate a free LinkedIn account, therefore you don't have access to the 'InMail' tool, but what you do have is the ability to connect via 2nd or 3rd level connections, utilize these by developing a positive and value proposition reason for your connection to communicate with the target person.

A highly reputable and strongly opinionated 'Professional in the Recruitment World' added a comment to one of my recent pinterest 'pins' stating - " LI isn't a social media site. It's a job board/resume database with a Q/A section."  I have heard it said by others that they don't like LinkedIn because they are being contacted by 'recruiters', Yep that is right, Recruiters are quite prevalent on LinkedIn and do reach out to people who they feel will add value to their network - that is how they [Recruiters/HR/Sales/etc... can help find [source] potential candidates/business leads to meet their clients needs/requirements in the present and future.

Top Social Media Tools to use [carefully] in a Job Search!

Using the list of reasons to use Social Media provided by Lilach Bullock in her blog on Social-Able of Top 10 Reasons to use Social Media I thought it would be a good starting point for job seekers or career transition people; so, from Lilach’s reason list we have:

Reason To Use Social Media

1. Build relationships
2. Network with like-minded people
3. Drive traffic to our website(s)
4. Sell our service/products
5. Show our expertise
6. Get support & motivation
7. Organise & promote events
8. Integrate with other websites
9. An alternative to a website
10. Monitor your brand awareness

Some of the Tools to utilize to support the ‘Reason’

1)      LinkedIn, Google+, Quora, Facebook, Twitter, Plaxo, Gist, Blog, Vizualize.Me, 

Slideshare, Box.Net, BranchOut, Hootsuite, Bit.ly, goo.gl, Mirror.Me, BeKnown

2)      LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Quora, BeKnown, Gist, Plaxo, Ning, Xing, RSS, 

Hootsuite, Tweetdeck, Bit.ly, goo.gl

3)      About.Me, Skillpages, Twitter, RSS, Prezi, Tumblr

4)      LinkedIn, About. Me, Facebook, Twitter, Indeed, Social-Hire, Wordle, Tumblr, Bit.ly, 

Goo.gl

5)      LinkedIn (Groups, Answers), Google+, 

Blog. Slideshare, Skillpages, Talent.Me, 

Quora, Prezi, Tumblr, Mirror.Me

6)      Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Quora, 

Blog

7)      Eventbrite, LinkedIn, Facebook, 

Google+, Plancast, Twitter, Box.Net, Bit.ly, 

goo.gl

8)      Google+, Twitter, Box Net, RSS, Dropbox, Box.Net, Slideshare

9)      Blog, Google, About.Me, Tumblr

10)    Google Alerts, iGoogle, Hootsuite, Tweetdeck

The list is by no means complete, new and/or improved ones are appearing.  If you know of others and would like to share them – with your thoughts – please do.

2 Important Areas often neglected on your #IN profile

Procrastination is my biggest enemy!  I have been 'going to write about this!' for the past couple of weeks.  And finally I got a kick up the backside by a question from LinkedIn on Job Search and Confidentiality

There are 2 key areas [sections] of your LinkedIn profile that need attention and should be as current as possible;

Firstly: Contact [First Name] for:

When you first create a basic profile on LinkedIn this one area that is paid attention too once and then forgotten about.  Big mistake, depending what you allow to be visible here, will determine how LinkedIn allows others to connect/contact you.   If you are 'confidentially' seeking another opportunity then make sure you un-check 'Career opportunities' and even consider un-checking 'Consulting offers':

Secondly: Add Skills:
If you have not already done so, Add the section: Skills to your profile - this section is searchable and can be used to enhance your 'find-ability':

You can add up to 50 'Skills' - so utilize and maximize this section.

If you haven't added this section to your profile yet - DO IT NOW!!!

How too:  Log-in to your LinkedIn Acct, from the Top menu bar chose Profile - Edit Profile, scroll down until you see NEW Add sections - click on the + symbol on the right

then scroll down until you find Skills, select it then click 'Add to profile' - 

Don't be like me a procrastinate - do it now whilst it is still fresh in your mind. :)

A funny thing has happened at the HRPA!!!

OK! OK!! OK!!! I know what you cynics are going to say - How can I have "funny" and "HR" in the same sentence? Please allow me to explain! Warning - if you are of weak mind and character? do not read further...nor watch the related video...you know who you are.

The other day, whilst diligently going about my normal work related activities, I was pointed towards a video on YouTube and recommended to watch it. Never one to avoid embracing the plethora of social/multi - media tools, and I am a sucker for a good movie, I dutifully clicked on the link and ...

What is this? Are they serious? Which forward and modern thinking person came up with, and created this?....Awesome!!!

Please, oh Please tell me this is real, not a joke! Have some senior people in the HR world finally realised the need to embrace and engage the present and the future and REALITY. Taking a humorous approach to promoting the profession will and can only change the status and view of HR professionals in the eyes of everyone else, they will be viewed as real people, just like the rest.

Now, I can hear the screams of derision, and see the written 'horror' expressions flooding the local HRPA Chapers, such sentiments as: "I want my membership money back!" or "How can the HRPA sanction this?" or "I am embarrassed – it wasn’t even funny. Clearly they need better writers." and one final item "At times [such as this] I question what value the CHRP really has on my professional career, the true value of membership of the association, and this [video] seems to have given me my answer".

This video so reminds me of the Professional Accountants when they produced a couple of videos that included humour...what ever happened to the peanut and where did it ended UP?

Before anyone starts pulling their hair out, or pulling their membership of the association...STOP and ask yourself a question and be honest and a true 'professional'...Why use humor to advertise the association? What message[s] are the producers of this video trying to convey? Who is the target audience/market?

Not being privy to the inner sanctums of the HRPA or the creators of this video, can I give you my answers to each question: Why - to show an ability for the profession to think outside of the 'norm' and show the membership and leadership can and do embrace change. What - to raise awareness of the association and promote the profession of HR as human, not aloof, stuffy and full of own self importance. Who - to attract the present and next generations into the profession and prepare them to influence.

Members of the HRPA who are on LinkedIN, and after reviewing the video, I encourage you to make your voice heard checkout this discussion.

Members of the rest of the world who are neither HRPA members or on LinkedIN, please add your comments to this blog and I will communicate them to HRPA leadership...with humor and a big smile...

Thank you all, and note I am not having a dig at anyone, just encouraging the promotion of this video and to stimulate discussion...oh yeah! and to have a laugh