Tips For Public LinkedIn URLs

You’re viewing an archived post. This post was originally published by The Change Laboratory, which is now part of No Vacation Required — our platform for Everyday Fulfillment. While this content is archived, it’s still full of solid advice and timeless insights.

---

When it comes to resumes, details matter. One such detail is the URL for your LinkedIn profile. There are a few things that many users of LinkedIn don't know or don't understand about the URL for their public profile, so here are a few tips. First off, though, if you don't have a well maintained LinkedIn profile and are not including the URL for that profile on your resume, then it is time to change that; you are missing an excellent opportunity to tell more of your story.

The URL for your public profile is different than the URL you see in your browser when you are editing your profile. More often than not, when I ask a client to share their URL with me, they send the URL that is used to edit a profile. So let's clear this up.

1. Your public profile starts with "www.linkedin.com/in/...".

2. The URL for editing your profile is "www.linkedin.com/home?trk=hb_tab_home_top".

International LinkedIn URLs work without the country specific prefix (i.e. uk.linkedin.com/in/… works the same as linkedin.com/in/…). This is good news for international candidates who are applying for US-based positions because it means that you can remove the country "prefix" when you list your LinkedIn URL on your resume.

LinkedIn makes it easy to customize your public profile URL. This means that you can have a cleaner and more memorable LinkedIn URL on your resume, which is a nice thing. When choosing your custom URL, I recommend using some variation of your name.

You Have to Target Your Resume

You’re viewing an archived post. This post was originally published by The Change Laboratory, which is now part of No Vacation Required — our platform for Everyday Fulfillment. While this content is archived, it’s still full of solid advice and timeless insights.

---

Sending a generic resume is a mistake.

The lack of targeting – aligning your skill set with the job requirements – puts you at a big disadvantage. Hiring managers can smell a standard, one-size-fits-all resume from a mile away. 

Some basic tips to help:

1) Start with a "core" resume that is easily tweaked and targetable.

2) Use the job requisition as your guide. What is the company looking for? What does the position require? How can you bring those things to the forefront in your resume?

3) Do not underestimate the power of automated resume screening software. Are you using terms that represent your abilities and match up with what you are seeing in the requisition?

The Value of a Deep Process

You’re viewing an archived post. This post was originally published by The Change Laboratory, which is now part of No Vacation Required — our platform for Everyday Fulfillment. While this content is archived, it’s still full of solid advice and timeless insights.

---

More than anything, I want potential clients to understand the value of a deep process.

So often, people contact me when they are in "quick fix" mode, which is not a great long term strategy.

"I need this promotion!"

"The job closes tomorrow!"

"I just need to put a bandaid on my resume in order to get it submitted."

By seeing the value in – and accepting – a robust process, clients are validating that they are in it for the long game, and not merely focused on the resume that "has to go out tomorrow!"

I am most satisfied when clients accept responsibility for their own career growth and development, and they choose to utilize me as a key resource. I use me years of experience to be a guide and facilitator, helping people to greater self awareness and, thus, career success. I am not a magician that can guarantee my work will produce certain outcomes.

You are the primary player in the narrative of your life. Accept that reality.

Check out this post for all of the reasons why Tandem just might be the perfect partner as you go about growing your career and life.

The Best Job Search Sites

You’re viewing an archived post. This post was originally published by The Change Laboratory, which is now part of No Vacation Required — our platform for Everyday Fulfillment. While this content is archived, it’s still full of solid advice and timeless insights.

---

One of the questions that I receive most often is which job sites are the best when it comes to searching for posted job openings.

When it comes to career sites, I can't say that I specifically recommend one over the other, mostly because I think it is important to tap all of the resources available to you. Having said that, if you are looking for a good place to start, I can suggest the major career sites: indeed.com, monster.com, simplyhired.com, and careerbuilder.com, to name a few. There are also some sites that cater to more niche audiences or specific industries. For example, dice.com can be great resource for technology focused professionals. For those in or looking to break into the non-profit space, idealist.com is a great jumping off point.

Another increasingly big player in the job search game is LinkedIn.com, which has a whole portfolio of additional benefits, so should definitely be considering LinkedIn a key part of your job search strategy.

Beyond job search sites, I recommend exploring companies’ career portals. Individual company career portals are excellent because, generally speaking, you are starting by identifying the organization that you want to work with and looking for ideal positions with that organization. That means that you can more easily speak to your interest in a specific organization (its culture, its products, etc.), not just a position, which can increase your likelihood of getting noticed.

Ultimately, though, there is no better resource than your professional network and colleagues. No job search site or career portal is as effective as building and leveraging a professional network. 

Making A Career Transition

You’re viewing an archived post. This post was originally published by The Change Laboratory, which is now part of No Vacation Required — our platform for Everyday Fulfillment. While this content is archived, it’s still full of solid advice and timeless insights.

---

Setting someone up for success with a new or improved resume is always gratifying. However, it is most rewarding when the process involves a significant career transition. Often, clients that fall in this category are competing for a big promotion or, perhaps, transitioning away from a company that is eliminating jobs. More and more, though, projects look a lot like Angela's, a client I recently worked with.

When Angela contacted me, she was ready for an entire career shake-up. She couldn't continue to go through the motions of working in a position that ignited no passion – that didn't call upon any of her true strengths. That's a tough reality to wake up to day after day. Well, I just heard back from Angela; she's doing exactly the work she wants to be doing in the Social Responsibility department of a company that she had targeted.

Are you invigorated as you head off to work each day? If not, lean into the possibilities that exist when you make the decision to put your strengths to work in the right place.

The Wrong Job Search Attitude

You’re viewing an archived post. This post was originally published by The Change Laboratory, which is now part of No Vacation Required — our platform for Everyday Fulfillment. While this content is archived, it’s still full of solid advice and timeless insights.

---

I am surprised by the number of people I speak to who believe that achievements and an accomplishments-centric resume are "not appropriate" for their field.

To present yourself as someone who raises the bar – who achieves things – is always in order. Even if you are in, say, Science or Education you can present achievements without diluting the need to also present what you've done.

Remember, the point of a resume is to present your background, experience and potential in a compelling way that separates you from the crowd. There is no need – no matter your field – to present yourself as part of the pack.

If you don't make yourself standout, there will be another candidate who will.

3 Quick Job Search Reminders

You’re viewing an archived post. This post was originally published by The Change Laboratory, which is now part of No Vacation Required — our platform for Everyday Fulfillment. While this content is archived, it’s still full of solid advice and timeless insights.

---

Three things that are often forgotten but very important.

1) Send a cover letter unless the requisition says not to.

2) Send a resume follow-up letter about a week after the position opening closes. If you don't know that date, send it about 10-14 days after you submit your resume.

3) Ensure that all of your job search documents present you as someone who accomplishes things (rather than someone who simply does things).

Following these three tips will put you ahead of most candidates.

More Career Satisfaction

You’re viewing an archived post. This post was originally published by The Change Laboratory, which is now part of No Vacation Required — our platform for Everyday Fulfillment. While this content is archived, it’s still full of solid advice and timeless insights.

---

We're heading into the final stretch of the year. I can't believe it. It seems like I was just writing about my wish for my clients late in 2015: That they feel "on purpose" and fulfilled in life.

While we still have time left in 2016, I want to resurface some questions:

What changes do you want to make?

What will bring you more career satisfaction?

What necessary "next move" have you been delaying?

Ask yourself these questions, as tough as they might be. Give yourself some honest answers, and turn those answers into an action plan.

I just worked with a guy who turned what he intended to be a "temporary job" (as a manufacturing manager) into a 17 year mis-step. 

It's not too late. It's never to late. He and many of my clients are proof of that.

You can read that entire post here.

Move Your Career Forward

You’re viewing an archived post. This post was originally published by The Change Laboratory, which is now part of No Vacation Required — our platform for Everyday Fulfillment. While this content is archived, it’s still full of solid advice and timeless insights.

---

Wishing a happy holiday to all of you celebrating Labor Day.

As summer comes to and end (for my Northern hemisphere readers), I want to quickly announce that I am extending my promotion on Tandem's Toolkit through Friday.

You can read all about it here.

Autumn is a time of rejuvenation for many people. Why not apply that mindset to your own career. I promise, you won't regret it.

Have a great day!

What Interviewers are Really Thinking

You’re viewing an archived post. This post was originally published by The Change Laboratory, which is now part of No Vacation Required — our platform for Everyday Fulfillment. While this content is archived, it’s still full of solid advice and timeless insights.

---

I got a few questions like this after recently posting about nailing your resume and job interview.

Q: While I appreciate your thoughts on being mindful of how you present yourself, I don't know that I see the harm in coming off as extremely professional and qualified. Even if that means my personality is dimmed a bit. Isn't it the hiring team's job to extend an offer to the most qualified applicant?

A: Well, yes and no. Many would argue that the goal is to hire the most suitable candidate. But that's not what you're really asking.

Professionalism – even extreme professionalism – is never out of order in a job interview. Let me make that perfectly clear. If you're going to skew, that's definitely the way you want to skew.

However, what I was intending to do with that post is to give readers some insight into the reality behind the hiring process. Remember, much of my professional work is on that side of the table.

Injecting you – a polished yet personable you – is important for a couple of reasons:

1) Like it or not, the people who are interviewing with you are imagining having to work with you several days a week. People like to work with people they like. Period. 

2) Those same people interviewing you do not want to feel threatened by you. Remember, they have their own careers and professional trajectory to keep in mind. So, coming off as overly "buttoned up" can send a message that some interviewers don't want to hear.

This is behind-the-scenes sort of stuff. Not right or wrong. Just the reality.