NETWORKING - Via LinkedIn - Prioritizing Contacts

 NETWORKING - Via LinkedIn - Prioritizing Contacts

Here is a good way to look at your LINKEDIN network (as related to any job search). The percentages are arbitrary but you will get the idea:

• 75% of them are PERIPHERL. I have ran into these people once or twice but really didn't have the time to maintain the relationship.
• 20% of them are STRONG and you should have no issue letting them know that you are looking for new opportunities. You have had frequent interaction and have established a good relationship.
• 5% of them are SUPREME. This is reserved for people who are valued colleagues, but good friends and mentors.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SPECIAL NOTE: I am now taking on speaking engagements to groups as well as accepting invitations to critique resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles at trade shows, workshops, seminars and various other events. Please contact me at ajbresumes@gmail.com for more details.

Networking: Read on Instagram this Afternoon:

   Networking: Read on Instagram this Afternoon:

https://www.instagram.com/p/COeJGDxAa68/?hl=en

LinkedIn Networking Tip: Follow 20 Target Companies and Show Up Consistently

 LinkedIn Networking Tip: Follow 20 Target Companies and Show Up Consistently

Start by identifying 20 companies you genuinely want to work for that hire people with your skill set. Follow each of their LinkedIn company pages.

Then, make it a habit to check in on those pages weekly. When a company posts content that connects to your professional expertise, leave a thoughtful comment. Not a generic "great post!" but something that actually adds value to the conversation. Share a relevant insight, ask a smart question, or offer a perspective based on your experience.

Why does this matter? Because LinkedIn's algorithm is paying attention. Every time you engage with a company's content, you are sending a signal that you are interested in and informed about that organization. Over time, this positions you as someone already in that company's orbit, before you ever apply for a single job.

Source: J.T. O'Donnell

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SPECIAL NOTE: I am now taking on speaking engagements to groups as well as accepting invitations to critique resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles at trade shows, workshops, seminars and various other events. Please contact me at ajbresumes@gmail.com for more details.

What are the Seven (7) Factors of Employee Engagement?

What are the Seven (7) Factors of Employee Engagement?

The 7 factors of employee engagement are leadership trust, recognition, growth opportunities, purpose, autonomy, wellbeing, and workplace relationships. 

Let's Define Leadership Trust - The office staff  / employee's belief in the managers / executive suite's character, integrity, competence, communication skills and business intentions. It forms the foundational bedrock of effective management, allowing people to collaborate, embrace change, and share ideas without fear of negative consequences. 

Abridged: Indeed

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SPECIAL NOTE: I am now taking on speaking engagements to groups as well as accepting invitations to critique resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles at trade shows, workshops, seminars and various other events. Please contact me at ajbresumes@gmail.com for more details.

Demonstrate that You are an Engaged Employee - Part 2

Demonstrate that You are an Engaged Employee - Discretionary Effort.

While we all realize the relationship between employers and employees can be acrimonious, esp. post COVID, you still have to manage your career.  Therefore, always show your engagement, no matter how you may feel about your work environment. Showcase your effort, determine, drive, dedication and commitment to perform task that go beyond the job description will resonate with managers and co-workers, displaying your engagement and quest for success.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SPECIAL NOTE: I am now taking on speaking engagements to groups as well as accepting invitations to critique resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles at trade shows, workshops, seminars and various other events. Please contact me at ajbresumes@gmail.com for more details.

• 
  

Information about AI Interviews - Part 1

 Information about AI Interviews - Part 1

I will be concentrating my posts for the next couple of days on AI video interviewing.  An important topic that job hunters need to embrace, like it or not.

++++++++++++++++++++

AI video interviews is based on a complex scoring system, based on  speech patterns, vocabulary (e.g., checking for specific industry or culture-fit keywords), industry jargon, energy of your voice in your responses, facial expressions, eye contact and more.  The algorithm is also based on scripted answers, whether the answers come from written notes or from an AI-assisted software tool. 

Some interviews are highly impersonal (one-way pre-recorded answers to real-time conversational agents, ranking your performance before a human recruiter ever views your profile. If the process sounds awful and dehumanizing...well, it is...

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Does this post add value to your business day? I post about job search best practices and issues related to the job market 2x per day M-F. Click "Follow" on my profile - Allan

https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrownresumewriter/ (posting job search advice 1 – 2x daily)

Demonstrate that You are an Engaged Employee - Part 1

Demonstrate that You are an Engaged Employee

While we all realize the relationship between employers and employees can be acrimonious, esp. post COVID, you still have to manage your career.  Therefore, always show your engagement, no matter how you may feel about your work environment.  I recommend that you make it a priority to pursue continuous learning by seeking mentorship, shadow colleagues in other departments, or take advantage of company-sponsored training and career development.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SPECIAL NOTE: I am now taking on speaking engagements to groups as well as accepting invitations to critique resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles at trade shows, workshops, seminars and various other events. Please contact me at ajbresumes@gmail.com for more details.

Is your Boss a Narcissist?

Is your Boss a Narcissist?

1. A narcissistic manager may exploit an employee without proper compensation, such as scheduling overtime without extra pay.

2. Many narcissistic managers love to be the center of attention, and do so by dominating meetings, presentations, and phone conferences.

3. Some narcissistic bosses are extremely stingy with praise.

Source: Psychology Today

Signs of a Psychopathic / Narcissistic Boss:

  Signs of a Psychopathic / Narcissistic Boss:

1. Bosses that are defined as psychopaths / narcissists do not handle criticism or feedback well, often blaming others for the ills of their work and performance.

Job Market - Since 2025

 Job Market - Since 2025

Aside from inflation, one of the top economic concerns for voters is the state of the job market. And here the picture is mixed. Job growth has slowed considerably since President Trump took office in early 2025. But at the same time, immigration is also down, which means fewer people are looking for jobs and less hiring is needed to keep unemployment stable. At 4.2%, the unemployment rate is virtually unchanged since November 2024 and still very low by historical standards.

That adds up to a slow but steady job market with few layoffs and little hiring (low hire / low fire). If you have a job, you probably have little reason to worry about losing it but mostly likely you are not getting the merit increase you desire.  Essentially, you are "job hugging" and miserable because of the lack of fluidity in the market. If you don’t have a job (and if you don’t happen to be an electrician or a plumber), finding one can be difficult and the job search cycle is often lengthy

Partially Sourced: WSJ.com

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

SPECIAL NOTE: I am now taking on speaking engagements to groups as well as accepting invitations to critique resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles at trade shows, workshops, seminars and various other events. Please contact me at ajbresumes@gmail.com for more details.

Job Market - Post Election

Job Market - Post Election

The question of the job market post-election comes at a particularly uncertain moment for American workers.  In September, 7.1M Americans were unemployed, while 1.9M had been jobless for 27 weeks or longer. The labor force participation rate was 61.8 percent.  The job "gains" in September were less than August by a factor of 4.5x (October's numbers are due Friday the 6th).

With the change in government, we can see economic policies, based on lowered oil prices, which will resulted in lower costs of good sold (COGs), enabling companies to dedicate more resources to building internal infrastructure (jobs).  Building infrastructure will provide more opportunities to people to advance their career, minimizing the current low-fire; low-hire (aka job hugging) environment experienced over the last 18 months.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

SPECIAL NOTE: I am now taking on speaking engagements to groups as well as accepting invitations to critique resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles at trade shows, workshops, seminars and various other events. Please contact me at ajbresumes@gmail.com for more details.