LinkedIn for the flinchy
November 6, 2014 6:14 AM Subscribe
Can you help me understand LinkedIn and how I use it to find a new job without it being staggeringly awkward, especially considering all of my professional connections on LinkedIn with my current coworkers?
LinkedIn gives me the willies. I'd appreciate answers to any of these questions but am first and foremost interested in avoiding awkwardness with my current boss, my boss's boss, my coworkers, the owners of the company, etc. My secondary concern is 'finding a new job'.
These are some of the specific concerns re 'awkward':
1. If I put my resume up, and all of my strengths and sort of 'sell' myself, does that not make me look like an idiot in front of my coworkers? If I'm stressing leadership abilities or whatever, do I seem presumptuous? Or arrogant? I do have leadership abilities and I like very much to be in charge. What if they're all saying, "Her?"
2. How can I present myself in a way that stresses the qualities and skills I have but doesn't seem...oh, God, I don't know. This may have something to do with the fact that I'm a woman and tooting my own horn makes me think of the phrase "tooting my own horn" which is so idiotic I feel like it disqualifies me from something. What does it look like to assertively present your qualities without looking foolish?
3. Does posting my resume and updating my profile not reveal to my boss that I am looking for another job?
4. I can never figure out whether what I'm doing or looking at is obvious to others on LinkedIn. What privacy settings should I establish so I don't look unprofessional, needy, and unhappy in my current position?
5. How can I make myself discoverable to people who are looking for my skill set?
6. Is there anything else I should be doing with LinkedIn? Paying for some premium whatsit?
7. My job is a bit niche but the skills translate well if I can figure out how to market to others. That said I'm worried about marketing too much to 'others' because 'others' are going to be less inspiring than the industry I'm currently in, which is compromised and flawed, but socially valuable.
I think the insecurity in this question is going to make someone wonder if the insecurity is perhaps warranted, but based on many objective measures I am very good at my job and successful at it. There is a cultural problem with the company that is not within my power to change, and the industry itself is unstable.
LinkedIn gives me the willies. I'd appreciate answers to any of these questions but am first and foremost interested in avoiding awkwardness with my current boss, my boss's boss, my coworkers, the owners of the company, etc. My secondary concern is 'finding a new job'.
These are some of the specific concerns re 'awkward':
1. If I put my resume up, and all of my strengths and sort of 'sell' myself, does that not make me look like an idiot in front of my coworkers? If I'm stressing leadership abilities or whatever, do I seem presumptuous? Or arrogant? I do have leadership abilities and I like very much to be in charge. What if they're all saying, "Her?"
2. How can I present myself in a way that stresses the qualities and skills I have but doesn't seem...oh, God, I don't know. This may have something to do with the fact that I'm a woman and tooting my own horn makes me think of the phrase "tooting my own horn" which is so idiotic I feel like it disqualifies me from something. What does it look like to assertively present your qualities without looking foolish?
3. Does posting my resume and updating my profile not reveal to my boss that I am looking for another job?
4. I can never figure out whether what I'm doing or looking at is obvious to others on LinkedIn. What privacy settings should I establish so I don't look unprofessional, needy, and unhappy in my current position?
5. How can I make myself discoverable to people who are looking for my skill set?
6. Is there anything else I should be doing with LinkedIn? Paying for some premium whatsit?
7. My job is a bit niche but the skills translate well if I can figure out how to market to others. That said I'm worried about marketing too much to 'others' because 'others' are going to be less inspiring than the industry I'm currently in, which is compromised and flawed, but socially valuable.
I think the insecurity in this question is going to make someone wonder if the insecurity is perhaps warranted, but based on many objective measures I am very good at my job and successful at it. There is a cultural problem with the company that is not within my power to change, and the industry itself is unstable.
Best answer: First and most importantly, go to your profile page and in the right-hand box under the recommendations you'll see a box that says "Notify your network?" - make sure that is set to NO. Otherwise, every little edit you do will be broadcast out.
1. It won't make you look like an idiot and/or it's not important what they think (unless you are putting them down as references to call).
2. The motto for LinkedIn may as well be "toot your own horn". Whoever toots the loudest there wins!
3. Maybe. Good bosses always assume their employees have feelers out. At my 1-on-1 meetings every other weeks my manager always asks if I am looking around.
4. turn off Notify setting as noted above. People can tell when you look at their profile, but you can always take a peek at them while not logged in if you are worried about it. However it is a good way to let people know you are looking!
5. use good tags/keywords and connect to people in the industry you want to be looking at your skillset
6. you can get by without premium unless you want to do a lot of "cold" emailing.
Good luck and feel free to add me as a contact if you think it will be helpful.
posted by mikepop at 6:28 AM on November 6, 2014 [7 favorites]
1. It won't make you look like an idiot and/or it's not important what they think (unless you are putting them down as references to call).
2. The motto for LinkedIn may as well be "toot your own horn". Whoever toots the loudest there wins!
3. Maybe. Good bosses always assume their employees have feelers out. At my 1-on-1 meetings every other weeks my manager always asks if I am looking around.
4. turn off Notify setting as noted above. People can tell when you look at their profile, but you can always take a peek at them while not logged in if you are worried about it. However it is a good way to let people know you are looking!
5. use good tags/keywords and connect to people in the industry you want to be looking at your skillset
6. you can get by without premium unless you want to do a lot of "cold" emailing.
Good luck and feel free to add me as a contact if you think it will be helpful.
posted by mikepop at 6:28 AM on November 6, 2014 [7 favorites]
Like everything about job-searching, a lot of this depends on the specifics of your field. Updating your LinkedIn can send a message to your boss that you're looking for another job, if your boss pays attention to that kind of thing. It's entirely possible your boss doesn't pay attention, though? But do turn off that "Notify my network" thing.
If you have some kind of non-directly-related-to-job-searching thing to post to your LinkedIn, that's a good place to start. Like, if you recently completed a continuing ed class or something, you would want to put that on your LinkedIn, right? And then while you were there you'd probably want to update a few more things? If your boss is suspicious, your boss is suspicious.
I would say with LinkedIn, above all, don't post anything you don't want everyone in the world to see. Because it should all be stuff you *want* everyone in the world to see.
The premium settings are more for recruiters and HR folk than for job searchers. I think you get a month free, though, so there's no harm in trying it.
posted by mskyle at 6:33 AM on November 6, 2014
If you have some kind of non-directly-related-to-job-searching thing to post to your LinkedIn, that's a good place to start. Like, if you recently completed a continuing ed class or something, you would want to put that on your LinkedIn, right? And then while you were there you'd probably want to update a few more things? If your boss is suspicious, your boss is suspicious.
I would say with LinkedIn, above all, don't post anything you don't want everyone in the world to see. Because it should all be stuff you *want* everyone in the world to see.
The premium settings are more for recruiters and HR folk than for job searchers. I think you get a month free, though, so there's no harm in trying it.
posted by mskyle at 6:33 AM on November 6, 2014
Best answer: This may be dependent on your industry, but personally I sidestep many of these issues by not really treating my LinkedIn profile like my resume. Rather, I treat it more like a professional version of Facebook in that I post brief information on my role/responsibilities for different jobs, but don't get much into describing accomplishments with the kind of vigor and detail that I do in my resume. As far as I can tell this has not hurt me, in the sense that I still get unsolicited messages from recruiters. Also everyone is on LinkedIn, so I don't really worry about it.
But I may be somewhat cynical. I think the kind of people who will contact you because of your LinkedIn profile will probably contact anyone with a pulse, and LinkedIn isn't really a good replacement for an offline network.
posted by AndrewInDC at 6:38 AM on November 6, 2014 [4 favorites]
But I may be somewhat cynical. I think the kind of people who will contact you because of your LinkedIn profile will probably contact anyone with a pulse, and LinkedIn isn't really a good replacement for an offline network.
posted by AndrewInDC at 6:38 AM on November 6, 2014 [4 favorites]
Do you have a friend who either understands your job or who is generally a good writer?
Have that person do it for you.*
I am not kidding.
The ideal is to find someone in your situation and you prepare each other's profiles, CVs, and resumes.
If you have regular performance reviews, crib and paraphrade the good stuff from those.
*Obviously, don't share any confidential or proprietary info from your current employee with the writer.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 7:33 AM on November 6, 2014
Have that person do it for you.*
I am not kidding.
The ideal is to find someone in your situation and you prepare each other's profiles, CVs, and resumes.
If you have regular performance reviews, crib and paraphrade the good stuff from those.
*Obviously, don't share any confidential or proprietary info from your current employee with the writer.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 7:33 AM on November 6, 2014
Also, recommend your favorite former and current co-workers! They'll probably return the favor. These are a lot more important than endorsements. In fact you shouldn't endorse anyone for anything. They are kinda annoying at worst, and useless at best.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:37 AM on November 6, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:37 AM on November 6, 2014 [2 favorites]
Half of your co-workers are probably updating their resumes on linked-in all the time, and will endorse you, and you should endorse your co-workers, as well.
posted by empath at 7:47 AM on November 6, 2014
posted by empath at 7:47 AM on November 6, 2014
Endorsing is silly and useless. Recommendations have some value; not a ton. Specificity on your skills and achievements so that recruiters can find you with keyword searches and identify you as a go-getter is what you ought to be going for.
As far as your boss goes, your achievements make her team look good. Throw some verbiage in there about what your company does and how awesome they are. If she does see your profile she should appreciate it; and bonus, it helps recruiters find you as well.
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:50 AM on November 6, 2014 [2 favorites]
As far as your boss goes, your achievements make her team look good. Throw some verbiage in there about what your company does and how awesome they are. If she does see your profile she should appreciate it; and bonus, it helps recruiters find you as well.
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:50 AM on November 6, 2014 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I've avoided Facebook but I really like LinkedIn to help keep track of people I've connected with at work.
Definitely search for and join professional groups and lists on LinkedIn. I see dozens of jobs on my sidebar and people in my industry post jobs all the time. I'm not even looking for a new job right now, but it's reassuring to see the demand for what I do.
As for question 3: Add your boss. Add your coworkers. Add friends. Don't check the box that says "new employment opportunities." Where I work, it's kind of an expectation to be on LinkedIn -- we hesitate to hire anyone who isn't and our bios even connect to our LinkedIn link. If your boss and coworkers are there, you should be, too.
posted by mochapickle at 8:36 AM on November 6, 2014
Definitely search for and join professional groups and lists on LinkedIn. I see dozens of jobs on my sidebar and people in my industry post jobs all the time. I'm not even looking for a new job right now, but it's reassuring to see the demand for what I do.
As for question 3: Add your boss. Add your coworkers. Add friends. Don't check the box that says "new employment opportunities." Where I work, it's kind of an expectation to be on LinkedIn -- we hesitate to hire anyone who isn't and our bios even connect to our LinkedIn link. If your boss and coworkers are there, you should be, too.
posted by mochapickle at 8:36 AM on November 6, 2014
Best answer: 1. and 2. You don't post your resume per-se, you add to your profile. MeMail me, we can link and you can see how I did it. I get about 1 bite a week on my profile asking me if I'm interested in changing jobs, FWIW.
3. Since you're not posting your resume, it shouldn't tip your hand. Do turn off the Notify my Contacts dealy though.
4. I dunno, I don't think any of my contacts studies my profile that closely.
5. Use keywords that recruiters would search on, Salesforce.com, Excel, Leadership Team, Manage, Project Management, etc.
6. Don't pay for premium anything, especially not job seeker. The only thing it might get you is the ability to send an email directly to a recruiter. Nah.
7. Phrase your skill-set such that you highlight transferrable skills. You can pick from the positions you might accept as they are offered.
Go to the Jobs section on Linked In and search for positions there. When you see one, apply for it. Then check your profile view stats and see who's been looking at you.
Good luck!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:16 AM on November 6, 2014
3. Since you're not posting your resume, it shouldn't tip your hand. Do turn off the Notify my Contacts dealy though.
4. I dunno, I don't think any of my contacts studies my profile that closely.
5. Use keywords that recruiters would search on, Salesforce.com, Excel, Leadership Team, Manage, Project Management, etc.
6. Don't pay for premium anything, especially not job seeker. The only thing it might get you is the ability to send an email directly to a recruiter. Nah.
7. Phrase your skill-set such that you highlight transferrable skills. You can pick from the positions you might accept as they are offered.
Go to the Jobs section on Linked In and search for positions there. When you see one, apply for it. Then check your profile view stats and see who's been looking at you.
Good luck!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:16 AM on November 6, 2014
A Terrible Llama: "1. If I put my resume up, and all of my strengths and sort of 'sell' myself, does that not make me look like an idiot in front of my coworkers? If I'm stressing leadership abilities or whatever, do I seem presumptuous? Or arrogant? I do have leadership abilities and I like very much to be in charge. What if they're all saying, "Her?"
Honestly, I just don't like people who claim to have leadership abilities, or that they like to be in charge. Leadership is a duty, not a perk. And it's very difficult to quantify. Especially if you're not in a leadership role currently. I wish I could find that article about a guy who rebranded his senior developer role as a management role, because it was kind of insightful on how management is judged versus engineers.
2. ... What does it look like to assertively present your qualities without looking foolish?
It looks like quantitative results. Anything else is mere puffery filled with bizspeak. For example, "lead a software development team to release version 3.0 on time and under budget" quantifies project management and budgeting skills positively. "lead a team of 10 software developers on project XYZ using Java, Hibernate and Oracle" does not.
Alternatively put, leaders are rated just as much on where they lead to as much as how they got there. Use the many objective measures that you are very good and successful at as bullet points on your LinkedIn.
3. Does posting my resume and updating my profile not reveal to my boss that I am looking for another job?
If you don't turn off notifications, every time you update your profile, LinkedIn will notify your contacts. I don't think many people understand this, so it's an interesting pattern. Since you need to build your LinkedIn network from scratch, there is going to be a tell, even with notifications off. But there are some defenses:
1) if you're truly a leader, or intend to be, you need access to LinkedIn to formalize and document your "bench" of talent
2) a friend has asked for a reference, and the site kept complaining about your incomplete profile
3) in today's business environment, a professional is always interested in opportunities, and it helps keep you in the loop on market rates
4) LinkedIn can be used to ask questions of your professional network to help you get your job done more effectively
5) linkedIn is also a good way to learn more about coworkers you might be interested in meeting -- example: when you're having a problem with a database index, you can search linkedin to find out who else in the company manages MySQL
5. How can I make myself discoverable to people who are looking for my skill set?
Keywords strongly depends on skillset, and industry. Pretend you are a hiring manager for a moment, and figure out how you'd fill the roles you're interested in. Then find them, and figure out which parts of the profiles you found you need to duplicate on your own profile. Research your competition, essentially.
6. Is there anything else I should be doing with LinkedIn? Paying for some premium whatsit?
LinkedIn premium is for recruiters. Recruiters get paid bonuses for placement, so they have huge incentives to buy in, but other than that, I don't think you need a premium account.
7. My job is a bit niche but the skills translate well if I can figure out how to market to others. That said I'm worried about marketing too much to 'others' because 'others' are going to be less inspiring than the industry I'm currently in, which is compromised and flawed, but socially valuable."
I can't tell you where you want to work. I can tell you that it helps to have multiple competing offers, and finding them is easier with a broader net.
posted by pwnguin at 9:26 AM on November 6, 2014
Honestly, I just don't like people who claim to have leadership abilities, or that they like to be in charge. Leadership is a duty, not a perk. And it's very difficult to quantify. Especially if you're not in a leadership role currently. I wish I could find that article about a guy who rebranded his senior developer role as a management role, because it was kind of insightful on how management is judged versus engineers.
2. ... What does it look like to assertively present your qualities without looking foolish?
It looks like quantitative results. Anything else is mere puffery filled with bizspeak. For example, "lead a software development team to release version 3.0 on time and under budget" quantifies project management and budgeting skills positively. "lead a team of 10 software developers on project XYZ using Java, Hibernate and Oracle" does not.
Alternatively put, leaders are rated just as much on where they lead to as much as how they got there. Use the many objective measures that you are very good and successful at as bullet points on your LinkedIn.
3. Does posting my resume and updating my profile not reveal to my boss that I am looking for another job?
If you don't turn off notifications, every time you update your profile, LinkedIn will notify your contacts. I don't think many people understand this, so it's an interesting pattern. Since you need to build your LinkedIn network from scratch, there is going to be a tell, even with notifications off. But there are some defenses:
1) if you're truly a leader, or intend to be, you need access to LinkedIn to formalize and document your "bench" of talent
2) a friend has asked for a reference, and the site kept complaining about your incomplete profile
3) in today's business environment, a professional is always interested in opportunities, and it helps keep you in the loop on market rates
4) LinkedIn can be used to ask questions of your professional network to help you get your job done more effectively
5) linkedIn is also a good way to learn more about coworkers you might be interested in meeting -- example: when you're having a problem with a database index, you can search linkedin to find out who else in the company manages MySQL
5. How can I make myself discoverable to people who are looking for my skill set?
Keywords strongly depends on skillset, and industry. Pretend you are a hiring manager for a moment, and figure out how you'd fill the roles you're interested in. Then find them, and figure out which parts of the profiles you found you need to duplicate on your own profile. Research your competition, essentially.
6. Is there anything else I should be doing with LinkedIn? Paying for some premium whatsit?
LinkedIn premium is for recruiters. Recruiters get paid bonuses for placement, so they have huge incentives to buy in, but other than that, I don't think you need a premium account.
7. My job is a bit niche but the skills translate well if I can figure out how to market to others. That said I'm worried about marketing too much to 'others' because 'others' are going to be less inspiring than the industry I'm currently in, which is compromised and flawed, but socially valuable."
I can't tell you where you want to work. I can tell you that it helps to have multiple competing offers, and finding them is easier with a broader net.
posted by pwnguin at 9:26 AM on November 6, 2014
Follow companies and organizations that interest you -- there should be a handful of suggestions on the right side of your front page. Click through, and there's a search engine. This can be done in the name of purehearted industry research. But I've been found by prospective employers that way.
posted by gnomeloaf at 9:58 AM on November 6, 2014
posted by gnomeloaf at 9:58 AM on November 6, 2014
Response by poster: Honestly, I just don't like people who claim to have leadership abilities, or that they like to be in charge.
Thanks for answering anyway I guess?
posted by A Terrible Llama at 10:15 AM on November 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
Thanks for answering anyway I guess?
posted by A Terrible Llama at 10:15 AM on November 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by xingcat at 6:21 AM on November 6, 2014 [1 favorite]