Top 10 LinkedIn Tips for Professionals

Top 10 LinkedIn Tips for Professionals I was recently interviewed about LinkedIn in a publication called DerivSource a site  for professionals active in derivatives processing, technology and related services. Basically folks working in derivatives banking in places like the City of London and  Wall Street. As DerivSource sits behind a paywall, Ive republished the article by Julia Schieffer below. Heres a PDF version of the article Harnessing LinkedIn â€" Top 10 Dos Donts  from a Social Media Expert. 1. Keep it professional â€" balance professional and personal information. The purpose of LinkedIn is for professional use and not to use it as a network to express your personality there are other networks out there for that. However, there is a section at the bottom of one’s profile called interests and hobbies where you can list some more personal items. A good way to balance personal and professional is to have a very professional profile, which is public so everyone can see it, and then have a link to a blog or twitter feed to give a bit more personality. 2. A photo is necessary but selecting the right kind of photo is key. You are seven times more likely to be found on LinkedIn if you have a photo, so putting a photo up is a no brainer. You need to have a photo. Also, you need to have a professional picture, which is cropped correctly with clothes that mirrors your role and target audience. Related: 7 LinkedIn Profile Pictures You Should Never Use. 3. Your headline is more than just your job title. Studies show that when people look at your profile, they look at your headline first, and then your photo. If you dont capture a viewer at this stage, they won’t scroll down to see the rest of your  profile. The headline should be more than just your title. So you want to expand on that by including your skills and valuable attributes, such  as being multilingual or having relevant certifications. You want to include key words to capture your target audience. So, if you are head of middle operations, consider adding asset classes, such as OTC derivatives, you cover or list relevant operational skills or systems knowledge. Also, you dont need to show your employer’s name because it will be listed two steps down in your profile. Related: 10 Creative LinkedIn Headline Examples. 4. The summary is not your bio. You have to get the summary right because that is the first page people will be reading. This shouldnt be more than two or three paragraphs. In the summary you should focus on what you want to do and include achievements and accolades because this attracts a lot of eyeballs. 5. Don’t skip the education section â€" this is an important  networking tool. The education section is worth filling out properly because then you can connect with alumni, which is an easy way to increase your connections and is often a first step in growing your network. 6. Join groups but not too many. Ten is the ideal number of groups to join with the activity focused in three main groups including commenting and liking other comments or articles. The benefits of being a member of groups is that you can actually interact with people within these groups, connect and send messages to them. By joining the larger groups, with the most number of members, you can increase your potential network by one or two million easily, which makes joining groups a quick way of gaining wider exposure. Also, you don’t have to show all groups on the profile if you dont want to. Related: Top 10 LinkedIn Groups All Jobseekers Should Join. 7. Status updates â€" integrating Twitter effectively. One to two updates per day as well as commenting on items is ideal for users. Integrating Twitter feeds is an easy way to keep your status updating throughout the day however, a lot of people get this wrong because they have too many updates due to Twitter. You dont want to put every single tweet on LinkedIn and especially if your tweets are personal or out of context, which can look strange. My advice is that if you do have a Twitter account, you can integrate into your LinkedIn account but adjust the settings so that you dont show all tweets (only the tweets with #li or #in will show up on LinkedIn status). Update: How You Can Still Connect Twitter and LinkedIn. 8. Recommendations are useful but shouldnt be reciprocal. It is ideal to have one to two recommendations for each position that youve had. And it has been suggested it is ideal for someone in the UK to have between five to ten recommendations. Double that if youre in the US and only one to two recommendations is the norm for places like France. You always want to aim to get recommendations from managers,  and the most senior executives you have access to. Reciprocal  recommendations or ‘back to back’ recommendations where members of the same team recommend each other are not useful  because people can clearly see a who supplied the recommendation. Reciprocal recommendations don’t look good. Related: LinkedIn Recommendations: How Do You Get Them? 9. Accepting LinkedIn invitations from strangers. Everyone has their own principles for LinkedIn networking and accepting invitations for people who they do not know, but I think most people look at the network of the stranger to see if there are many common connections and then connect if these connections are relevant and provide a good expanded network. Of course, some people might only connect with people they know and talk to. Related: Should You Accept a LinkedIn Invite from a Headhunter? 10. Messaging and connecting etiquette. Be personal in the message and offer them something of value as to why they should connect with you. If you dont give them a good  reason then they are less likely to connect with you. And heres a video I put together in case you prefer to hear me talking! Can you add more points? Please let me know in the comments! Image: Shutterstock

Writing Resume Sentences

Writing Resume SentencesWhile a proper resume is definitely needed to land a job interview, you must have an idea of what you should do with your written resume if you find yourself in the position of writing a sentence. Below are some tips that can help you get through any situation when you feel you need to write a sentence on your resume.Most importantly, your resume should be targeted towards the company that you are applying for. The first thing that should be on your mind is whether or not you are writing for a job application or for an actual job. If you are writing for a job application, it is important that you use your own words and show that you are truly qualified for the job. This can be done by highlighting your skills and experience.You should always try to give as much information about yourself as possible so that they can see exactly what type of person you are and how you can benefit their company in any possible positions that they may have available. Showing this information to the interviewer is very important. You may be able to just skim this information off of your resume and on paper, but doing this will only show that you don't take the time to think about what you want to say.The next step would be to write a summary of the job you want to apply for. To help you write a good summary, keep it short and to the point. Listing the most important qualities of the job that you are applying for will help you make a great outline.When you are finished writing your resume, it is always best to read it over several times and to review it before handing it over to the interviewer. You want to make sure that you did everything correctly. Including and deleting resumes will help you get through any awkward moments while you are working on your resume.Keep in mind that when you are writing a resume that you are not the final decision maker. You should always be clear about this fact when you are working on your resume. It can be intimidating for s omeone who doesn't know much about resumes to handle, but it is necessary to ensure that you aren't simply throwing it in front of someone else for them to decide if you are qualified or not.As you can see, there are many ways to go about writing a resume sentence. It all depends on how you want to say it and how you want to sound like you are the best candidate for the job. Always keep these tips in mind when you are writing a resume sentence.When you are ready to submit your resume, consider using a sample cover letter instead. This letter should include things that can be changed for a different resume. A sample cover letter will also save you time from having to write a proper resume.

Career Confession I HATE Unprofessional Emails

Career Confession I HATE Unprofessional Emails Non-capitalized subject lines, an improper greeting, the use of “LOL” or any other form of Internet/text message slang, emoticons, lack of punctuation, attachments with no content in the email body. OK, I have been guilty of doing all of the above once or twice, but 99.9 percent of the time I avoid making these mistakes that would lead my colleagues to believe I’m either lazy or just plain uneducated. While I’ve been working with the same people for more than a year now, I am still pretty low on the  totem pole and should show my true professionalism at every opportunity. So why do I get emails from colleagues positioned below and above me, or from people whom I’ve never met, that say “Hey â€" here you go” or “Thanks times a billion gajillion ?? ?? :).” I may be wrong, but the last time I checked “gajillion” wasn’t a word. And following the use of a fake word with a series of emoticons is just embarrassing, for you and me. I’m starting to think that technology is making it too easy for us Millenials to forget we are indeed working professionals. Just because it’s OK to text a friend saying, “Hey girl, see ya in an hour,” doesn’t mean that’s also a good way to remind your client that you will meet them for coffee later. Here are a few rules I keep in mind when sending emails to colleagues: Write a subject line that actually relates to the content of the email. Include a greeting. The reader’s name followed by a comma is fine and “Hi [reader’s name],” is acceptable for a more friendly tone. Keep the body content short and concise. When in doubt, use “Thanks, [your name]” or “Best, [your name]” to end your email. Simply leaving your email signature as a stand-alone sign off can be seen as unfriendly. Before sending, read the email as if you’d received it. Delete any content that could be seen as rude or abrupt, even if that’s not your intent. Be aware when you “reply all”. Does everyone on the chain need to read your response? Remember that writing in all-caps is seen as yelling. If your email is important, use the high-priority button. Never, ever use Internet/text slang or an emoticon. It’s like begging for someone to think of you as an uneducated, technology-consumed Millennial. What do you think? Are my rules on point or too strict? If you have email pet-peeves, let us know!

#MCGConnect Chat Starts Tonight Dating Columnist Wanted!

#MCGConnect Chat Starts Tonight Dating Columnist Wanted! Happy 2012!  We are super excited to bring some great new content to you this year at Ms. Career Girl.  Since the blog is going into its 4th year  of existence, we figured it was time to spice things up a bit. Who is we, you ask?  Well, youll be hearing a lot more from Kovie Biakolo who works for MCG Media  as a Social Marketing Consultant, Events Coordinator and shell also be starting her own column here at Ms. Career Girl in a few weeks! Kovie graduated from Drake in May 2010 with a Marketing degree.  She had plans to go to law school but as most of  us know, things dont typically go as planned after graduation.  Im so happy to have Kovies fresh and honest perspective on the challenges of life as a recent college graduate.  Follow Kovie on Twitter @KovieBiakolo or send her an email  at [emailprotected] What else is new at Ms. Career Girl? #MCGConnect Chat! #MCGConnect a fun and honest chat for women who want it all (and for the guys who are brave enough to hang with us!).  We’ll discuss everything from our careers, pop culture, news, fashion, food, family, relationships and more.  We give something away during EACH chat that supports a women-friendly business too! The chat is held every other Wednesday At 8pm CST starting tonight January 4th, 2012!  We’ll start with introductions, then release question #1.  Every 10 minutes, a new question will be released.  The giveaways will be randomly announced throughout the chat!  Follow @MCGConnect,  @KovieBiakolo  and @MsCareerGirl  on Twitter or use TweetChat.com to keep up with our hashtag!  For #MCGConnect Twitter chat tips and for the full 2012 schedule, please visit our Connect page! Dating Columnist Wanted! Yesterday we announced on our Facebook and Twitter page that were looking for a paid dating columnist to regularly write about her experiences as a single gal in the city!  Think a 20 and  30-somethings version of Carrie Bradshaw but in 2012.  Yes, I understand that this is a career blog, but career girls cant deny that their relationships, breakups and dating escapades are part of their lives too.  I used to have some great dating stories but my stories have dried up now that Im engaged. ?? To be considered, please fill out the application form below!   Applications will accepted until Friday January 6th, 2012 at 5pm CST.  Finalists will be contacted early next week.  Since we believe that honesty is what makes a great column, you are welcome to use an author name and use a separate email address to protect your identity.  All applications are confidential and only viewed by Kovie and me!

Writing a Sales Background For a Sales Person

Writing a Sales Background For a Sales PersonGood sales resume or marketing resume is something that can really help someone to find out what they are about. But how do you write a sales resume for a sales person?First, sales resume, no matter the field they are in, must always include a strong sales emphasis. You don't want your resume to be too general, as a sales person should sell their services. If they are going to be selling a company or product, then they need to highlight those aspects of that particular product.The first aspect of a sales background that needs to be included is the product or service you are selling. Take time to find out as much as you can about the product or service that you are applying for. This can be as simple as doing some research on the Internet or talking to your superiors and knowing what it is that you know that they know about the product or service. Any of this information can go a long way to helping you to write a more personal resume.A sec ond aspect of writing a sales background is to keep it succinct. Do not bore the reader with too much information. It is important to keep the information short and sweet. You will want to highlight your best selling points and keep them short, as this will make it easier for you to read and to remember.When writing a sales background, you will want to make sure that you are presenting yourself as someone who is not only knowledgeable, but also someone who has experience with the particular product or service. A sales background that is not focused on the product or service can have some negative impact on a prospective employer. Be sure to present yourself as someone who has had plenty of experience with the product or service. Using specifics of the product or service to help you write a sales resume is something that can help make your resume stand out from the rest.A third aspect of writing a sales background is to make sure that you use the skills and qualities that you already have. Use the experiences that you have to list your best selling points. If you have had extensive work experience in your area of expertise, then add that to your resume. If you feel that you are already qualified for the position you are applying for, then do not include that information, but if you feel that you may not be able to meet the requirements for the position, then include it.Writing a marketing resume for a sales person should be very personal and targeted towards the company that they are applying for. You will want to make sure that you carefully analyze their skills and qualifications, as well as their past experiences. Write your own resume, but you will want to make sure that you keep it as personal as possible.Now that you know some of the points to take with you when writing a sales background for a sales person, you can get started on creating your own. Remember, the key to getting your resume noticed is to be able to provide the employer with a nice brief th at highlights all of your strengths and highlight those skills and qualifications that you already have.

5 Things to Consider Before a Midlife Career Change [Guest Post] - Career Pivot

5 Things to Consider Before a Midlife Career Change [Guest Post] - Career Pivot 5 Things to Consider Before a Midlife Career Change If you’re in your 40s or 50s and are considering a career switch, you’re not alone. According to a 2014 survey, more than 4.5 million Americans made a career change in midlife, either to pursue a more fulfilling line of work or earn more money. Another study that looked at workers aged 45 and older by the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) found that 82% of those who made a midlife career-switch had been successful. Of these successful career switchers, 60% said they were finally doing something they felt good about, 65% felt less stressed at work, and 70% were earning the same or a higher salary. Of course, before making any big changes to your career, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons to make sure it’s the right decision for you personally, so here are five important things you should consider before a midlife career change. Is it what you really want? It can be difficult to judge whether a particular job or industry will be a good fit until you’ve experienced it firsthand, so even if you think you know exactly what you want to do, you should consider giving your new career a test drive before leaving your current job. Volunteering or interning are excellent ways to gain insight into an unfamiliar industry, but if neither of these is an option, you could try things like freelancing, attending industry conferences and events, taking short courses, finding someone to shadow for a few days or even just connecting with industry professionals on Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social networks. Can you afford it? Switching careers often means starting at the bottom and working your way back up, which may mean working for less money, at least initially. Additionally, even if you have some transferable skills, you’ll likely still need to do some retraining or gain licensing. Can you afford to survive on a lower income for a while if necessary? Can you afford the cost of the necessary education or retraining? Find out how much you can expect to earn during the first few years in your new career and create a realistic budget based on those figures. Do you have a strong support system? Having the support of your family and friends can make all the difference when changing careers, and according to the AIER report, 88% of successful career changers believed family support had played an important role in their success. Get feedback from friends and family members you trust, and listen to their opinions and advice. This is especially important if you have a spouse or other close loved one who will be personally affected by the change. Discussing your ideas with them and being open to critique will help them understand your motivations and get on board with the plan. Listen to the most recent episode Of course, not having the full support of your family or friends isn’t necessarily a good enough reason to stay in a career that isn’t right for you, but having people you can go to for advice or just confide in when things aren’t going according to plan can definitely make the switch smoother. Will your new career utilize your current skill set? One of the most important things the AIER report highlighted is that the most successful career changes were the ones who found a way to apply their current skills to their new career rather than doing something completely outside their skill set. So although you’ll probably need to brush up on certain skills or even learn a few new ones, your career change is more likely to be successful if you move into a profession that allows you to put the skills and experience you already have to good use. Think about the career you’re interested in pursuing and how your current skills and experience translate to that new field. If you find it difficult to pinpoint exactly what your skills are, start by making a list of your current job duties and past accomplishments, and then think about the specific skills you use or have used to accomplish each one. Are you changing careers for the right reasons? There are many reasons why people change careers, from feeling unfulfilled or unchallenged at work to wanting more flexibility or a better work/life balance. Whatever your reasons may be, though, you should ask yourself whether a new career is really the best solution. Switching to a new career requires a lot of effort and can be expensive too, so before you resort to a complete career change, do some research to find other, potentially easier, solutions to your problem. Would taking on new responsibilities or pursuing a promotion help you feel more fulfilled? Could a new boss or different colleagues relieve some of your stress? Or perhaps negotiating shorter hours would help you achieve a better work/life balance? Once you’re absolutely sure that nothing but a career change will solve your underlying issues, you’ll be more confident in your decision and will also have a better idea of what your new career should provide. Author bio: Marianne Stenger is a writer with Open Colleges one of Australia’s leading online education providers. She covers everything from life hacks and career development to learning tips and the latest research in education. You can connect with her on Google+ and Twitter or find her latest articles here. Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

Working in Dentistry - Career Opportunities - CareerAlley

Working in Dentistry - Career Opportunities - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. The dental profession offers numerous career opportunities. Apart from a general dentist, you can also opt for positions like dental hygienists, dental assistants, and lab technicians. Each profession in the dental field is equally important and carries a unique set of responsibilities and duties. Depending on your financial means and skill, you can opt for a suitable field in the dental profession. source Dentist Common dentistry degrees awarded to general dentists include BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) and MChD/ BChD (Master/ Bachelor of Dental Surgery). Though named differently, both degrees are essentially the same, covering identical subjects. Dental specialists undergo additional training and education after receiving their degree in general dentistry. Like nursing, dental hygiene is almost always in demand. These assistants to dentists can expect relatively high pay and a job with a lot of variety in the duties expected. Tweet This The main responsibility of a general dentist is to coordinate different dental treatments after diagnosis. The treatment and management of a patient are handled by a general dentist. Taking overall care and maintenance of oral health, general dentists are trained in all procedures. Some examples of dental specialists include cosmetic dentists, orthodontists, endodontists and oral surgeons. source Dental hygienist Focusing on preventive oral care, dental hygienists are preventive care professionals who have completed a recognized dental hygiene course. These professionals are licensed for dental hygiene and their main responsibility includes promoting good oral health through clinical, administrative, educational, therapeutic, and research services. With a special focus on preventive oral health care, dental hygienists work with on specific skills under general dentists. Dental assistant Dental assistants are trained to assist dentists during treatments. These dental professionals are in charge of keeping the instruments and work area clean and often perform numerous lab procedures. From constructing dentures to carving models of the mouth and teeth, you can become a dental assistant with a high school degree and a few years of on-the-job training with a dental clinic. A registered dental assistant is licensed from an accredited program. This license is received after intensive education including comprehensive written exams as well as practical exams. Certified dental assistants are allowed to perform more complex functions for the general dentist to ensure that all treatments are running smoothly. Dental assistants help improve the dentists efficiency by providing immediate services during treatments. Photo by Eddie Kopp on Unsplash Dental lab technicians Lab technicians in the dental profession are responsible for the creation of tooth crowns, bridges, dentures and other orthodontic appliances based on the written instructions provided by the general dentist. Dental lab technicians work in numerous settings. From personal labs to dental offices, hospitals and dental schools, lab technicians also work for dental suppliers and manufacturers. To create contraptions for dental restorations and replacements, these professionals work with several materials like porcelain, wax, plastic, as well as precious or non-precious alloys. To become a dental lab technician, a college degree is preferred. But lab technician careers can also begin with on-the-job training in dental offices and labs. With an average training of two years, you can become an accredited dental lab technician. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to find the opportunities that help you grow your best career. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search

Career Corner Interview Tips from ReFocus on Careers - Face-to-face Interviews Make a Good First Impression Part V - Hallie Crawford

Career Corner Interview Tips from ReFocus on Careers - Face-to-face Interviews Make a Good First Impression Part V I recently spoke to a great networking and career search group, Re:Focus on Careers, about creating a kick ass elevator speech. Keep an eye out for all of these free interview tips in my Career Corner posts: Make a Good First Impression The outcome of the interview will depend largely on the impression you make during the first five minutes. To succeed, you must project a professional, competent and enthusiastic image. Your aim is to convince the interviewer that you would be an asset to the company. Keep the following in mind: 5. Body language. Send the right message by standing straight, moving confidently, and sitting slightly forward in your chair. Extra Tip from Career Coach Hallie: Practice this beforehand. For example, I’ll ask a client to sit in a way that makes them feel confident and tell them to show me what that looks like for them. Do that in the interview, always sitting slightly forward to show interest in the conversation. If you’re interested in having me speak at your next event about finding a career you love, go here: www.halliecrawford.com/appearances.html. I’d be happy to discuss! Career Transition CoachCareer Speaker