Tips for LinkedIn Job Seekers

An increasing number of recruiters are using LinkedIn as either their primary recruitment tool or as a supplement to their recruiting efforts.  At a minimum, many recruiters will use LinkedIn as another way to check your credentials once you have applied for a position.

Below are three simple tips to maximize your LinkedIn profile:

1. Include a professional-looking profile photograph.  A photograph has become expected for a proper LinkedIn profile.  LinkedIn profiles that contain photographs are significantly more likely to be viewed by prospective employers.  Dress for the position you seek.  When in doubt, dress up.  It should not necessarily be the same as your Facebook photo. 
2. Use professional but less formal language on your LinkedIn than on your resume.  You can use the "I" word on your LinkedIn profile but not on your resume.  You can add multi-media like PDF attachments, PowerPoint presentations, videos, or website links to highlight your accomplishments on LinkedIn.  If you have the time, don't just copy and paste your resume into the LinkedIn format. Recruiters are looking for something beyond your resume.
3. Highlight unique hobbies, activities or talents.  They just might be the tie-breaker that places you at the top of the list of applicants.

For more information and suggestions about how to enhance your LinkedIn profile, contact Randi Lewis at info@resumeboutique.com.

Randi S. Lewis, Esq., CEIP  |  Resume Boutique LLC

Professional Resume Writer - Strategic Interview Coach - LinkedIn Profile Writer

 

Linked In Profile | http://www.linkedin.com/in/resumeboutique

Office: 410.602.2500   | Cell: 410.340.3511  |  info@resumeboutique.com

www.resumeboutique.com | http://resumeboutique.blogspot.com/

© Resume Boutique LLC 2013. All rights reserved.

Applying "Lean In" Lessons to Summer Legal Jobs

Last week, the Women's Network of the law firm where I work (Resume Boutique is our side business) discussed the book, "Lean In," and how the messages of Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg, might apply to women lawyers at all stages of their career. 

 

Today, one of our male Summer Associates (law students) forwarded this link to me, calling out his favorite tip, No. 6, Focus on the firm's needs:  http://ms-jd.org/ten-tips-summer-associates-can-learn-lean.  It is an article entitled, Ten Tips Summer Associates Can Learn From Lean In, that appeared on "Ms. JD" and originally appeared in the June 24th issue of The Careerist (written by author Grover Cleveland and lawyer/Ms. JD president Katherine Larkin-Wong).

 

This is wise advice that applies on all fours to summer law students.  What's more all professionals might find wisdom in these ten tips.  Take a minute to click on the link above and think about how each tip could apply to your work life.

 

Randi S. Lewis, Esq., CEIP  |  Resume Boutique LLC

Professional Resume Writer w Strategic Interview Coach w LinkedIn Profile Writer

 

Linked In Profile | http://www.linkedin.com/in/resumeboutique

Office: 410.602.2500   | Cell: 410.340.3511  |  info@resumeboutique.com

www.resumeboutique.com | http://resumeboutique.blogspot.com/

© Resume Boutique LLC 2013. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four Things Job Seekers Should Know About LinkedIn

If you are looking for your first job or for your new job, once you have perfected your resume, your next step should be to build or update your LinkedIn profile and then use LinkedIn to help facilitate your job search. 

Here are four LinkedIn basics for you to consider: 

1.   LinkedIn is a Must.  If you are a college student or a professional and do not have a LinkedIn profile, then you do not exist in the business world.  Put your concern about privacy away and sign up for LinkedIn today. 

2.   Photo and Headline Are Key.  The Two Most Important Things About Your LinkedIn Profile are your Photo and the Professional Headline beside your photo and below your name.  You should add a head shot that looks professional.  You can be creative with your headline.  Use Keywords where possible. 

3.   Your Network - The Bigger, The Better.  Grow your network.  In short, the more people with whom you are connected on LinkedIn, the more likely it is that someone may be able to help you either by connecting you with someone in her company or providing as a reference.

4.   LinkedIn As a Recruitment Tool.  Employers are increasingly using LinkedIn to find candidates to fill job openings through basic searches that cost nothing to the LinkedIn Recruiter that costs thousands of dollars per year.  One thing we suggest is to be strategic about adding skills that are transferrable to the type of position you seek.  When describing your employment, it shouldn't be exactly like your resume, but try to use the Keywords that are required for the new position.

 

For more information and suggestions about how to enhance your LinkedIn profile, contact Randi Lewis at info@resumeboutique.com

 

Randi S. Lewis, Esq., CEIP  |  Resume Boutique LLC

Professional Resume Writer - Strategic Interview Coach - LinkedIn Profile Writer

Linked In Profile | http://www.linkedin.com/in/resumeboutique

Office: 410.602.2500   | Cell: 410.340.3511  |  info@resumeboutique.com

www.resumeboutique.com | http://resumeboutique.blogspot.com/

 

© Resume Boutique LLC 2013. All rights reserved.

Footnotes are for Papers, Not for Resumes

Have you been told that you need to put everything down on a resume?  That you should explain any and all gaps in employment?  Should you explain why you changed jobs every year or three?

Resume Boutique clients often tell us they have been so advised.  Our view is simple:  there are very few absolutes when writing resumes.  But, you don't need to add everything on your resume.  Rather, you should consider including as much relevant and more recent information depending upon your audience. 

How do you explain gaps in employment?  Recently, I have seen two resumes using footnotes to explain employment gaps.  Our view:  Your resume is not a book.  Nor is it a research paper.  Therefore, it is advisable to avoid footnotes.   If something is important enough information to call out in a footnote then add it to either your resume or your cover letter.  Leave the footnotes for research papers, financial statements, or legal briefs.

Here are two examples of how to deal with leaving a company in the body of your resume (the spacing below would not be the same as the spacing in a resume):

Example 1:

NAME OF COMPANY, City, State
Director of Operations,  2005 - 2009
(Moved to San Francisco after company headquarters relocated to Dallas; declined offer to work in headquarters.)
Here you would add the content of your responsibilities and accomplishments.

Example 2:

NAME OF LAW FIRM, City, State
Counsel, Real Estate Department,  March 2005 - June 2012
This section would contain a few general sentences about your practice in general summary fashion.  At the end of this paragraph, you could add something like this:  Left firm and joined political campaign advance team after loss of major development work to restructurings.

~  ~  ~

Every situation is different.  But be positive about finding a professional way to tell your unique story.  For more information on how to handle departures, layoffs, and employment gaps, contact Randi Lewis at info@resumeboutique.com. 

 

Randi S. Lewis, Esq., CEIP

Resume Boutique LLC | http://www.linkedin.com/in/resumeboutique

Professional Resumes & Cover Letters | Strategic Interview Coaching

Office: 410.602.2500 | Cell: 410.340.3511 | info@resumeboutique.com

www.resumeboutique.com | http://resumeboutique.blogspot.com/

Look your best on paper. Show your best in person.™

 

© Resume Boutique LLC 2013. All rights reserved.

 

Guest Blogger on BlueprintJD: Eight Tips for a Top Notch Legal Resume

The requirements for legal resumes are different than the requirements for other professional resumes, particularly resumes of law students and newer lawyers. 

I have written about legal resumes before and wanted to share the most recent guest blog article from BlueprintJD, where I share eight key tips for legal resumes - the last of a series of 4 guest blog posts. 

If you are going to retain a resume writer to help you with a legal resume, make sure that person has a lot of experience writing legal resumes. 

Your goal is to get your resume on the TOP of the YES pile!  Here is the link to the blog posting:

http://www.blueprintjd.org/recruiting/eight-tips-for-a-top-notch-legal-resume/

Randi S. Lewis, Esq., CEIP | Resume Boutique LLC

Professional Resumes & Cover Letters | Strategic Interview Coaching

Linked In Profile | http://www.linkedin.com/in/resumeboutique

Office: 410.602.2500 ~ Cell: 410.340.3511 ~ rlewis@resumeboutique.com

www.resumeboutique.com | http://resumeboutique.blogspot.com/

Guest Blogger on BlueprintJD - FAQs About Thank You Notes

Do you ever wonder whether you should send a thank you note after an interview?  The answer depends, although it never hurts to send one.  But send it right away, talk about something the interviewer said, and keep it short.

Below is a link to FAQs and my answers regarding thank you notes in the legal setting, which I wrote as a guest blogger for BlueprintJD. 


http://www.blueprintjd.org/recruiting/faqs-about-thank-you-notes/

Randi S. Lewis, Esq., CEIP | Resume Boutique LLC

Professional Resumes & Cover Letters | Strategic Interview Coaching

Linked In Profile | http://www.linkedin.com/in/resumeboutique

Office: 410.602.2500 ~ Cell: 410.340.3511 ~ rlewis@resumeboutique.com

www.resumeboutique.com | http://resumeboutique.blogspot.com/