Custom Resumes, Cover Letter, LinkedInProfiles. Job Search Tips, Career Advice
Reassess Your Network:
As your career grows, your existing network needs to expand / be tweaked, esp. if you are relocating, considering a career transition or have switched industries (not position type). You need to periodically assess your network, your goals and alliances in order to leverage your network better, whether it be for jobs, partnerships, vendor relations, etc.
Random Networking Statistics:
1. 80% of professionals consider networking important to career success.
2. Only 6% of all job applications are submitted with referrals, yet they are responsible for 37% of all hires.
3. 89% of hiring managers say referrals are important when filling a vacancy.
Network as aggressively as possible
For every online job application you submit, you can bet there are numerous other candidates doing the same. To give yourself an edge, try networking your way into a new role. If there's a company you want to work for, reach out to your contacts on social media or sites like LinkedIn and aim to get connected to a current employee who can potentially put your resume in front of a hiring manager.
Similarly, putting the word out you're seeking a new job could prompt people in your network to inform you of different opportunities. That could spare you countless hours of searching for jobs online.
While looking for a job can be time-consuming and challenging, now's a good time to be doing it based on the number of positions available. Use these tips to make the process of finding a job easier. With any luck, you'll soon be on your way to a great offer -- and a better job.
Source: Fool.com
My LI Profile - https://lnkd.in/gshNVy5
#allanbrown #followme #networking #networkingtips
Tap your network to escape the resume pile! - Think of this as NETWORKING 101.
59% of the unemployed respondents to the Robert Half survey reported that “too many applicants and competition for positions” was the top obstacle in their current job search.
When a company is besieged by unsolicited applications, it’s just law of numbers that some candidates will be overlooked. Instead, if you have a colleague, friend (or even an acquaintance) share your resume with the recruiter or hiring manager, you escape the resume pile and get a longer look.
If you don’t have anyone who can introduce you, make your own introduction by connecting to the hiring manager or team on LinkedIn. If you can’t find specific people at the company, network in the broader industry via conferences and professional associations to find someone who may know someone.
Networking on LinkedIn -
1. Build a clean, easy to read profile with success stories.
2. Comment on others posts, congratulate them on their successes / promotions, new opportunities.
3. Follow people who are in positions of influence, those that have published articles of interests.
4. Any direct messages that you send, keep it short, specific and provide context.
5. Be consistent - "one shots" do not work
6. If you are attending an event (virtual / onsight), let contacts know you will be there, make a list of people you wish to speak with and be organized with targeted questions and topics to discuss.
Job Boards - Inefficient use of time.
Dedicating more than 5% of your precious time to the job boards is a waste of time. That is proven to be true. The volume of resumes is incredibly high and getting through the ATS, let alone getting a call back is a very low percentage.
In short, and anybody who has followed me / worked with me know my opinion on job search.
1. The best jobs are not posted. You have to NETWORK to find the best jobs. Networking is not easy. This week, I will post networking tips that will help you find the great opportunity that you seek.
Ideas not couple with action never become bigger than the brain cells they occupy....Arnold Glasnow
To begin - I do not like the idea of headshots / banners - can be viewed as "age discriminatory". However, LI claims the those with headshots get 14x more views than those that do not. Also, those that do not include headshots are often thought of as scammers using a fake profile and / or hiding something else.
These are the reality and we must all deal with the way LI does business - like it or not. (Don't shoot to messenger - just providing perspective and data about the LI algorithm.)
With all that stated, please refresh your LinkedIn profile with a new headshot and banner. If you don’t have either, add them. Job searching in 2026 is all about being visible and, more importantly, trustworthy. Therefore, go with as conservative a headshot and banner as possible.
Functional Resumes (NO!)
Employers often prefer chronological resumes over functional ones for several reasons:
Clarity of Career Progression: Chronological resumes clearly outline a candidate's career progression and employment history, making it easier for employers to see how skills and experiences have developed over time.
Skepticism About Gaps: Functional resumes can obscure gaps in employment. Employers may be wary of candidates who choose this format, as it can raise questions about why they are not presenting their experience chronologically.
Focus on Skills: While functional resumes highlight skills, employers often want to see how those skills were applied in real job situations. A chronological format provides context for skill use within specific roles.
Industry Norms: Many industries have a traditional preference for chronological resumes, so deviating from this norm can make a candidate seem less familiar with standard practices.
It is universally accepted that NETWORKING is the best way to find new opportunities. With that stated, you still must have an ATS compliant resume. Many companies, as a matter of protocol, require that all candidate resumes are scanned by ATS systems.
Therefore, do not take the path of least resistance and create a resume with AI tools or not bother to take your time to make the resume compliant.
