Second Shift member Katie Fogarty is a Linkedin expert who had the
unenviable job of helping Jenny and Gina reluctantly craft their personal
profiles. Here she offers advice and enthusiasm for Linkedin. If we can do it,
so can you!
What
is the best advice you can give to our members about crafting their “story” and
selling themselves to potential employers.
Women
should build their profiles and approach a job search with three guiding
principles: be confident, be authentic, and be transparent.
Be
confident. Avoid
selling yourself short or assuming your time off from work makes you
unqualified. Get clear about your value; your skills and previous work history
give you something to offer. Confidence translates your value to employers. Be
authentic. Craft a LinkedIn profile that showcases who you are versus what
you assume employers want. Feeling, and transmitting, authenticity takes you
further than imposter syndrome ever will. Be transparent. Profiles and
resumes are professional snapshots, but its okay to let the personal shine
through. If you’ve taken significant time off from work – say so directly – but
don’t make it a focus. Avoid the temptation to explain your choices. Stick to
using LinkedIn’s valuable real estate to both sell yourself and let employers
know how you will meet their needs. Demonstrating how you can deliver is the
key to getting hired.
The
question we often hear is how to best explain holes in a resume from taking
time off?
The
LinkedIn summary section is your secret weapon. The narrative component allows
you to paint a picture of your career and abilities, without focusing on dates,
and more importantly, to sell employers on what you can do for them. If you
have major gaps in your work history, address it with a simple sentence. And
then move on.
Many
women in our network do a lot of consulting and part-time work— what’s a good
way to explain that without looking like you jump around a lot?
If
you’ve job hopped with freelance gigs, talk about those distinct gigs under an
umbrella concept.
Rather
than listing each freelance role, say, “For the past five years, I’ve crafted
communications strategies for clients that expanded the footprint of
entertainment brands into new markets.” Or if you’ve career switched,
lead with, “Jane Doe Cooking
is my ‘second act’ – I previously spent ten years as a corporate attorney
working in finance and the luxury/spa industry. Now, my great luxury is
spending my days sharing my love of Italian cooking.” Identifying a narrative thread pulls
all the parts of your profile together.
Is
it a good thing to put community groups, volunteer work and interests on a
resume or profile?
Absolutely! Work
is work. Time spent volunteering or fundraising for schools or civic groups
belongs on your LinkedIn. Ditto any new continuing education skills. Present a
360-picture of yourself – an employer in the wellness industry will appreciate
your passion for yoga or running, even if they are hiring you for an HR role.