Somebody Sent me a Message Through LinkedIn About a Job! What Should I Do?

InMail Screen Shot

You're going through your LinkedIn account, and you notice there's an email from a recruiter. The message says that they've reviewed your profile, and you might be a match for a job that they are working on.

It's nice to be wanted, isn't it? But how do you handle this situation? You didn't ask to be contacted, you aren't really looking for a job, and you're not sure the company is someplace you'd like to work.

In short, answer the message. Schedule some time to talk with the recruiter.

Opportunities are just that - opportunities. And by definition, an opportunity may not always be there when you want it.

If you think that getting that job you want is all about putting your résumé up on Monster and waiting for the responses to roll in, think again. Job hunting is all about relationships and networking.

Which means, the job the recruiter is approaching you about may or may not be the right position for you. But you won't know until you speak with them, and they're definitely interested in speaking with you.

In addition, if you both come to the conclusion that this role might not be a fit for you, you may be able to refer somebody to the recruiter who is a better fit, and make the recruiter's life a little easier. They'll remember that in case something more up your alley emerges.

And don't forget - people know people. Recruiters know other recruiters. If you make a good impression with one, but you don't fit their needs, they might be willing to help you with an introduction to another company which may be a better fit.

Lastly, make sure to send a note of thanks to the recruiter after your conversation, regardless of the outcome. It demonstrates professionalism and leaves a positive lasting impression.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. He is a Human Resources professional and staffing expert with almost two decades of in-house corporate HR and staffing firm experience, and is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC).

Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, and career coaching services, including a free resume review. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.

Three Weekly Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy Job Hunting Tips – July 6, 2015

Lemon Squeezy

Here are three simple job hunting tips for you to begin your week!

1. Before sending out your résumé to employers, have a trusted friend (somebody who will tell you things exactly the way they stand - no B.S.) read over it for accuracy, spelling, and grammar. It's remarkably easy to miss mistakes on your own résumé.
2. While you're at it, have that same trusted friend do the same for your LinkedIn profile.
3. Eat a good meal before your interview. It's tough to concentrate on an empty stomach.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. He is a Human Resources professional and staffing expert with almost two decades of in-house corporate HR and staffing firm experience, and is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC).

Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, and career coaching services, including a free resume review. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.

Four Ways to Let Your LinkedIn Contacts Know You're Looking for a Job Change

Answers to your Questions

Reader question from the mailbag:

Question: What is a good way to let people on LinkedIn know that you are actively looking despite the fact that you have a job?

Answer: Great question! LinkedIn has become kind of the public résumé database. How do you let the world know that you're open and receptive to recruiter inquiries? Let me put a twist on your question, though. Try to think about it this way: "How can I make sure recruiters find me on LinkedIn?" Here are a few ideas:

1. Update your LinkedIn profile to look like a résumé. I don't necessarily mean that you include an objective. However, think of your résumé as a marketing document - its primary goal is to sell you as a candidate. You can transfer a great portion of the data from your résumé to your LinkedIn profile. Fill in your jobs beyond just your job title - What responsibilities did you hold? How many people have you supervised? What quantifiable accomplishments have you accomplished? Don't be modest - include all of these (but be truthful). The more information your profile contains, the more recruiters will see it when they search for candidates.
2. Upgrade your LinkedIn subscription. LinkedIn offers Premium memberships. You're paying for increased visibility of your profile through better promotion as a featured applicant, you can see who's looked at your profile (so you can contact them back to express your interest in their company - a-ha!), and you'll get a few InMails, which enable you to reach people who aren't your direct contacts.
3. Become an Open Networker. This means you accept all invites. Accepting more invitations expands your network. An expanded network means you'll show up in more searches.
4. Be Proactive. Look at what companies of interest are posting scads of jobs. Identify the recruiter at the company. Send them a note to express your interest, along with your résumé.

Good luck!

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. He is a Human Resources professional and staffing expert with almost two decades of in-house corporate HR and staffing firm experience, and is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC).

Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, and career coaching services, including a free resume review. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.