Many Career Counseling clients are interested in networking at some point in their career or job search and setting up a strong LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is a great way to connect to professionals in any industry. The process of pivoting to a different career involves talking to people who are in the position that you are targeting. You have the opportunity to get clarity on what the new position requires and what a typical day is like. The more you learn about the new position, the easier it is to develop a resume and a LinkedIn profile that builds on the skills and experiences you have gathered in your past jobs, and that makes you an attractive candidate for this new role.
Here is a good article that describes how to build a LinkedIn profile that stands out: https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-31-best-linkedin-profile-tips-for-job-seekers. The key points are:
- Include a good professional head shot
- Write a strong Headline
- Write a short 3-5 paragraph Profile Summary that makes the reader want to contact you.
- Lean heavily on target job descriptions (even if they are not in your preferred geographic location) to identify key words and phrases that can then be ‘sprinkled’ appropriately throughout your own experiences.
- Use numbers and case studies whenever you can to show your successes.
- Add volunteer experiences, languages, special projects.
- Be strategic about asking for recommendations and choosing which ones to show.
- Aim to have 50 or more connections, but only people you know personally.
- Let your enthusiasm about your future come through.
This article shows examples of strong LinkedIn profile summaries to help you write yours – https://business.linkedin.com/talent-solutions/blog/linkedin-best-practices/2016/7-linkedin-profile-summaries-that-we-love-and-how-to-boost-your-own
My Career Counseling page describes how I work with my clients to help them with their work-related issues. This includes finding a new job in their industry or pivoting to another role or position. Feel free to schedule your free 20-minute consultation to learn more.