Are You LInked In?

One of the most common questions that I get from less Internet savvy friends is how to use LinkedIn effectively for job searches or business. The giant business social networking website can be a very useful tool. But if you do not use it well, it can also be useless, or even worse.

How Can You Use LinkedIn to Find A Job or Grow Your Business Or Get A Job?

Pay attention to your LinkedIn Profile. That is how you will represent yourself to other members so be sure you like the picture it paints of you. Other members will go view your profile.

Grow your network. This is no time to be shy. Start by adding personal connections. Then you can see who they are connected to that you may have missed. It is easy enough to request more recommendations from this list.

LinkedIn Groups. A good way to grow your own network beyond your personal group of friends or coworkers is to join some groups. These are smaller groups within the whole large network. Some are bound to be centered around your areas of interest. These groups have message boards. Try contributing to discussions or even starting your own discussions. This will get attention from other group members.

This way, you may get some others asking you for connections, information, etc.

Get Recommendations. Ask some connections, that you have worked with, to recommend you. Hiring managers actually do read these.

Use Your Network

Now go figure out who can help you, and what you can do in return. Once you have connections, and a face in some groups, you can start asking for what you want.

• If you need a new job, figure out who may be close to a hiring authority in a field you want to work in. You can approach them with questions about open jobs, requirements, and the application process. Having an actual conversation with somebody who is already in the company is a lot better than having an unsolicited resume sitting in an inbox.
• You can use LinkedIn for other business uses too. Groups are a great place to promote your own projects, or even find people you may want to hire. If you have questions about the right way to accomplish something, you can find plenty of experts willing to give advice.

How Have You Used LinkIn Effectively?

I would like to take this opportunity to ask readers to comment on ways that they have used LinkedIn effectively in business or a job search. Go ahead and register – for free – and help other members. This is also a good way to get your brand out t

You Are Not Too Old To Change Careers!

Midlife career changes are tough for everybody. Today, a growing number of women have been face with the choice of attempting to stay with their old job choice until retirement, or of finding a new path in midlife. Unfortunately, some women have not been given this choice, but are forced to make a switch. When finances are tight, this change has to be done quickly.

Many Older Women Need To Switch Jobs Quickly!

So, we wanted to explore the topic given that many career changes do not have a lot of time or cash to spend on their moves. This is not the place to be encouraging fifty year old women to start dental school, though if that’s on the agenda – go for it!

On the plus side, many older women do have decades of experience in their fields. Many of those skills will probably transfer to other fields too.

I have known middle aged, displaced computer programmers who landed satisfying jobs as math or technology teachers, for example. Many school districts have alternative certification plans for teachers who are in demand. Some private schools or community colleges may not require state certification.

On the other hand, I know displaced English teachers who build satisfying careers, and even businesses, providing technical writing or Internet content services.

Explore ways to transfer your old skills to a new job.

Recruiters And Online Job Sites

From feedback, and personal experience, I am not really seeing that traditional, generalized recruiters, classifieds, or online job sites are as effective as they may have been a decade or two ago. If you have a unique or specific skill, a recruiter or job site in your particular niche may be golden though.

Network. Network. Network.

Today, it’s all about networking.  Today, you can do a lot of network at home with your Internet connection. Online social networks, like Facebook and Linkedin, can be valuable tools if you use them right. These sites are good for a lot more than just exchanging recipes or posting pictures of your puppy.

Today, a high percentage of hiring managers do use LinkedIn to find candidates. Build out your profile and ask some coworkers for recommendations. You can also find a lot of niche groups on LinkedIn that provide useful conversations and person-to-person contact.

You can use other social sites, like Facebook, to contact coworkers from previous job. Some may be in a position to hire, or at least put in a good word for you. This is a much better position to be in than just having your resume delivered in a stack to a hiring manager who never met you.

Update Your Resume

I first learned to make a resume many years ago when I took a business communications class in college. That course was valuable at the time. But the sort of resume and cover letter that hiring managers expect has changed a lot. If you need to make one investment, I would suggest taking the time to learn how to produce a current resume or paying somebody else to do a good job.

Career Change Success Stories

We are always looking for good success stories about women who made good midlife career changes. You can use the SUBMIT button to learn how to spread your good news.