On LinkedIn and life lessons
I don’t want to talk smack about LinkedIn, because, in my opinion, the problem isn’t LinkedIn so much, as the depressing ways people (mis)use it. So much of people’s mistakes on LinkedIn arise, I believe, from people’s insecurity, their self-loathing, their inability to believe in themselves or their abilities. There’s a lot of people on LinkedIn who clearly have no idea what they’re doing, either on that site or in their lives. If you dislike yourself, if you feel that your career is a waste… it is rather hard to commit to creating a useful, professional profile, right?
That’s why, and I’m 100% serious, if you don’t know why you’re on LinkedIn, just go ahead and take down your profile. Right now. Right about now, some people are hyperventilating, thinking, Carlota, are you crazy? Everyone’s on LinkedIn, what the hell are you talking about??
Indeed. Everyone is on LinkedIn, and thus, everyone is looking at your atrocious profile. Your profile rife with spelling mistakes, and gaps; your profile that makes no sense whatsoever. But you’re right: everyone is on LinkedIn and they’re looking at your profile, and wondering if you need a hug. A hug and/or Prozac.
At the very least, if you’re not willing to take down your (troubled) profile, yet neither are you willing to invest the time necessary to consider and properly present your goals, achievements, and the like…then, humor me and do these two things:
1. Create a succinct headline that makes sense and is relevant to your career goals. Just yesterday, I had a consultation with a woman displaying a headline was allll over the place. She had about 15 different titles. Confusing. I haz a confused. I mentioned my confusion to her, and she agreed saying her workplace had hired a LinkedIn “expert” (dear God), who advised people to choose as many titles as possible, so their profiles would pop up in as many searches as possible. Oh my. Somebody needs to remind that “expert” that he shouldn’t quit his day job, because if you have a multitude of titles, your reader is going to be left wondering,”…but what is it that you do??”
When I see people with 4000 titles I don’t think, “Oh, they’re flexible, cool!” No, I assume that these poor souls are absolutely clueless about their career goals. Also, how are people doing a mishmash of searches going to help you achieve your career goals? People doing very broad searches generally have no idea what they’re looking for. You don’t want to network with these people! You want to network with organized people in your dream industry, who are going to be looking for streamlined, focused profiles. Help the people who can help you by identifying yourself in an directed, coherent manner as per the POV of your ideal reader.
Make a decision and identify yourself in a way that any stranger can immediately understand what it is you do, and what you’re looking for. If you’ve played a variety roles, great, then tell the world about your ability to multi-task, still choosing one overall title. I myself worked for a number of networks in TV news, and held a number of different jobs. I don’t list every single title, or position, since that would be both tedious and sad. Instead, I created a section, “Extensively Experienced Network Producer” and wrote a coherent couple of paragraphs summarizing my achievements. I created order for the reader. Otherwise, all you’re telling me is that you’re not in charge of your career, and that makes potential employers run in the opposite direction.
2. Make sure all links on your profile are working. This is especially important for small business owners. If you’re going to link to your business website, that LINK MUST WORK! Because if I click on the link, and get a message from GoDaddy.com, that this particular domain is up for sale…oy.
Immediately, you’re giving me the impression that you don’t know what the hell you’re doing…that your business is sort of a joke, and crucially, that I should never ever hire you. (Ever.) Now: Baby, don’t be like that! FIX YOUR LINKS! Take responsibility for your website, blog, whatever and check it regularly. Also, if you’re not checking your social media platform(s) regularly, no one else will, which makes me wonder why you’re using these platforms in the first place. Why are you? Just because everyone else is? Oy.
If your website is down for an extended period and you don’t realize it…hmmm, maybe you should think about that, and just take the damn site down. So many people rush into a website, thinking that their business won’t be legitimate without one, but, because their small business is brand spanking new, they quickly realize that they don’t know what to put on the site, so it sits there–sadly–neglected, ignored, devoid of interesting content and eventually, someone forgets to pay their bills and…whomp whomp.
It is 2014. There are people launching businesses with just a Twitter handle, a credit card and a lot of determination. Maybe you don’t need a website. Free your mind, as En Vogue used to sing.
But, if you are determined to have a website, and if you are going to link to said website on your LinkedIn account, you MUST make sure, on a regular basis, that those links are viable! Allow your business, and yourself, to succeed by presenting as the professional you know yourself to be, instead of as a cautionary tale.