There are plenty of things you can do to optimize your LinkedIn profile as someone looking for work. We could do a whole series on LinkedIn profile optimization probably (maybe we will!). I’ve included some other great posts in the Related Links section, but here’s one simple power move you can make.

LinkedIn power tip: your headline

I learned from my friend Amybeth Hale that there is a whole science around how recruiters and sourcers (not sorcerers!) – people whose job it is to find potential candidates for recruiters – search for people. In fact, there’s a blog you can read that goes into this very subject called Boolean Black Belt. One thing she taught me was that these folks are searching the Professional headline/tagline/status field in LinkedIn specifically for people who mention that they are “looking for work”.

LinkedIn status

This item in your LinkedIn profile is also what shows up as others browse connections while using LinkedIn. It shows up whenever you post discussions and answers. It’s a great way to help brand yourself.

Read more about it at Amybeth’s article “What!? *Don’t* put ‘looking for a job’ in your LinkedIn status?!?“. My key takeaway: if you don’t ask for it, you won’t get it. (That, and to be nice to the sourcers and recruiters in your life who can help you find your next gig!)

What are some LinkedIn power tips that have worked for you?

Related articles

• How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile (e1evation.com)
• How to Create a Strong LinkedIn Profile (e1evation.com)
• LinkedIn: Three ways to polish your profile for the New Year (macworld.com)
• What Your LinkedIn Profile Says About YOU (customerthink.com)
• Top 20 Most Useful LinkedIn Blog Posts of 2010 (customerthink.com)
• LinkedIn Reveals the 10 Most Overused Job-Hunter Buzzwords (mashable.com)

Connecting with Daniel Johnson, Jr. directly on LinkedIn is easy, but please mention that you saw this post: LinkedIn power tip: your headline.

Related posts:

1. On LinkedIn? Do this Right NOW (before it’s too late)
2. Feedburner Headline Animator for GTJ
3. New to the Blogroll: Talent Power!

Last week I asked the following question on LinkedIn:

What advice would you give to someone who will be attending their very first job fair?

Many unemployed workers are finding themselves in the job market for the first time in many years. Some have never been in the job market before. What advice would you give to such a job seeker? I’m looking for help in setting expectations, etc. This is also going to be for a blog post at http://getthatjobonline.com and will immediately go out to some local folks who will attend a job fair in the coming weeks. Thanks for your help!

I am glad that I received so many responses, and you should definitely check out what others have said, since the advice is too numerous to include in this post.  One of the many noteworthy responses came from Doug Field, who is a training manager, course developer, and instructor in the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina area:

Rent a copy of Hello, Dolly! starring Barbra Streisand as Dolly Levi; watch the first 10 minutes several times and pay particular attention to how Dolly treats everyone she meets as a potential employer or source of work.

I did some research on YouTube and Wikipedia to see if I could find a short video clip to illustrate what Doug was talking about, and this is the closest thing I found. I’m not sure whether this is what he’s talking about or not. The song is “Call on Dolly” from the musical “Hello, Dolly“:

Anything more to add? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.

Possible related articles by Zemanta

• How To Win Your Local Job Fair [Job Fairs] (consumerist.com)
• Looking for a job? Get busy on Twitter and LinkedIn but skip the job ads (thisisherd.com)
• Do Job Seekers Have to Use Social Networks? (usnews.com)
• Online News Association Job Fair (cyberjournalist.net)

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I initially started this blog as a resource for myself.  As I read and consume content that I think would be worthwhile sharing, I often consider it in that frame of reference.

Such is the case with this jewle  jewel from Rachel Levy:

Using social media for a job search | Rachel Levy – Boston marketing pro (social networking, Twitter).

Related posts:

1. The Buzz Report: Five reasons social networking doesn’t work – CNET.com
2. TweetMyJobs – Using Twitter in the job search
3. Marketing lessons for your job search

Jason recently mentioned a case of someone having her ENTIRE LinkedIn profile DELETED.

STOP what you’re doing, read his post, and follow the instructions. Then come back and chat if you want.

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Check out my other blogs:
Daniel Johnson, Jr.
Get That Job!
Journey Inside My Mind
How I Got My Job
QuotesBlog
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Interesting Things I’ve Read

Related tags: getthatjob, get+that+job, job+hunt, job+search, career+advice, networking, professional+development, daniel+johnson+jr

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