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How to get the most out of Linkedin

How to get the most out of Linkedin

How to get the most out of LinkedIn

How to get the most out of LinkedIn

by Talentese Team 06/07/2018

Is LinkedIn really a “Holy Grail” tool that can help you literally with anything – from becoming a well-known expert in your field to getting an exclusive job offer you won’t find anywhere else? Let’s learn what you really can achieve with the help of this platform and how to get the most out of LinkedIn in our interview with public accounting recruiter and LinkedIn expert Adam Karpiak.

 

What are the things that you may and may not realistically achieve in LinkedIn? Should you aim for getting a real job offer there or it should be mostly used just for networking?

You can totally get a real job offer. But that should be a result of networking, engaging and relationship building. The job offer should be organic and down the line…a result of the relationship that had been built. If you go into it looking for a job, that’s a high standard to achieve. If your main goal is to find a job and quick, you want to be found by a recruiter. Recruiters look. So if you want a job, you want to be found. That’s where the profile is important. The profile does the networking for you, if that makes sense.

 

What are the things that matter the most in your profile?

The headline is key. It cant be too cutesy. You still want people to know what you actually do. ESP if you want to be recruited. Once someone commented on one of my posts “I don’t understand, not once did a recruiter reach out to me.” That person’s headline was: Human. So I told them, the headline was probably why. They blocked me. Recruiters don’t search for “human.” It’s all about keywords. So for networking, you want people to know who you are and why they should network with you. The headline and summary are they keys for that.

 

What are the main wrong stereotypes about using LinkedIn?

First, that you *have* to create content. You don’t. You can engage, you can like, you can comment, but you don’t have to post, you don’t have to write articles, and you certainly don’t have to make videos. Will it help you network to create content? Maybe. If your content is good. Otherwise it can work against you.

 

Are there any ethic rules for networking in LinkedIn?

Some people think that invites must have a personalized greeting. I don’t. I base it on the profile and potential for future networking. But a note helps me understand the person’s mindset and/or intentions (this works both positively and negatively). On an invite, don’t put the sell of your services in the invite. That’s just bad business…you get a decline and the conversation is over. Also, more and more people don’t like being asked for a call 5 seconds upon accepting an invite. Ease into the relationship building. Think of it as cooking with an oven, but some people want to put the relationship in a microwave. It might be quicker, but it isn’t as good quality.

 

How should you grow your list of connections in a smart way as a job seeker?

People in your industry. People in the industry you want to be in. Potential peers. Future hiring managers/bosses/HR. Target where you want to be and start to build your network towards that. Think long term, not immediate.

 

What are the main mistakes job seekers make in LinkedIn?

Asking any recruiter to help. Focus on the right geographic location, the right industry. People just send their resume to anyone. Your resume is your currency. You don’t just give it away. And bad recruiters just send the resume around. If you see a job you are interested in, like on a post, don’t just put “interested.” Don’t just say “look at my profile.” Don’t be lazy about it. Look at the job, see if you are interested, write a note WHY you are qualified and interested. Put the effort in to do things right. Also, if you put in your headline or summary “available for work” odds are you will only be contacted for temp or contract work. If you want a perm job, don’t do that.

 

how to get the most out of linkedin

 

How personal your LinkedIn behaviour should be? What is possible to write/share in other social networks would be a no-go in LinkedIn?

People like to know who they are networking with. But no politics and nothing unethical. Nothing sexual, but other than that, relationship-building requires actually knowing the person.

 

There’s a strong belief that posting your own content/articles in LinkedIn may help you a lot – how can an average job seeker benefit from it?

You want to be seen as an expert. Regardless of industry, you want to be known as an authority of information. Content is a way to do that. Being known for something is important. But that can work both ways. If your information is incorrect, or not great quality, that can hurt you.

 

First impression matters – what are the main things a recruiter should see in your profile immediately?

What you do, what you’ve accomplished, how you accomplished and what you want to accomplish in the future. The summary is the best place for that, and then the experience section should match your resume, including bullets of experience. That way people understand what you have accomplished and where, as opposed to a confusing keyword match.

 

What are the main networking tips you can give to anyone at the beginning of his career path?

Focus, have a plan, and stick to it. Know who you want to talk to, why, and what you want to accomplish. Don’t be random and don’t be too picky.

 

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I’ve sent a huge amount of applications, but no interviews…  what can I do?

I’ve sent a huge amount of applications, but no interviews… what can I do?

I’ve sent a huge amount of applications, but no interviews… what can I do?

I’ve sent a huge amount of applications, but no interviews… what can I do? 

by Karin Schroeck-Singh 27/06/2018

Writing and sending a CV and cover letter to an employer is the standard approach of most jobseekers. However, nowadays smart job candidates apply a more creative and diverse job search strategy when going on a job hunt. Having a strong CV and cover letter is crucial, but it’s only a part of the puzzle.

 

Nowadays competition is tough, and whether you realise it or not, but it’s up to you how you land your next great job. So why do you keep asking yourself “Why am I not getting interviews?”? Let me give you some advice:

 

1) When writing your CV and cover letter based on a job ad, research the company and the job role thoroughly. Whatever information you come across, use it to your advantage and show in your application that you are knowledgeable about the company/position, etc. Make sure your job application does not sound like a standard application. Make an effort to customise it to the company. Repeat relevant words that were mentioned in the job ad and elaborate on them a bit further by emphasising your education, skills and experiences that are relevant for that particular job.

 

2) Find out the name of the person who gets to read your CV and cover letter and address that person by name. Everyone loves to be addressed by name, isn’t it? But ensure that you write it correctly. Take few seconds and double-check. When I was recruiting candidates in the past, the ones who got my name wrong landed on the rejection pile. Why? Because it showed me straight away that they don’t pay attention to detail.

 

3) When applying to the best firms to work for, use positive language in your CV. Tell the employer that you feel EXCITED about the role. When writing your salutation at the end, don’t just write “Kind regards” like everyone else…. be more positive, enthusiastic and passionate. I always write in my business proposals before mentioning my name “Enthusiastically”. My clients love it!

 

4) This could be your secret weapon… add something to your application that shows your employer that you already see yourself working there. Demonstrate in different ways that you already did more than any other candidate. Go the extra mile. As a former candidate I had my own very creative strategies on how to stand out from the crowd. Let me reveal two of those strategies.

a) If the job is local, go there and take a picture in front of the company and attach it to your application. It shows the employer that you can see yourself already working there. But also, that you wanted to figure out where the company is (and how far it would be from your home). Knowing already where the company is located would also save you time on the day of your interview.

b) Provide potential employers with something concrete that shows your skills and what they can expect from you in the future.

For example, if you are applying for a job as a Content Manager (add a FREE article about an interesting industry-specific topic that they can publish on their blog).

If you are applying for a job as a Translator, provide them with a FREE translation of a certain document (excerpt from their website, a blog article, a document etc.)

If you are applying for a job as a Marketing Manager provide them with a written marketing plan that includes some creative customised ideas on how they can gain more business. If you want to impress even more, turn your short marketing plan into a video.

If you are applying for a job as a Web Designer, show them already a template on how the corporate website could look like. Show that you already thought about how you can benefit the company. I promise you, your chances will increase dramatically!

 

5) Attending industry-specific fairs and conferences would be another way of getting in touch with people working in your preferred company/industry. This could happen at a time when the company is not actively recruiting. By engaging in a conversation with the company’s employees could help you to get noticed. Why not also ask the HR-person what their most frequently asked interview questions are when interviewing candidates? Later on, this could potentially lead to employment if you keep in touch with them and show them how you can add real value to the company.

 

6) Interact with the company on social media. Follow them on several social media platforms. Read the content they are publishing, comment on their blog posts, retweet what you find particularly useful, forward them articles or other relevant tips that would be interesting for them to know. Or introduce them to someone who could be valuable in their network. Buy their products or services and share your feedback with them. The more often you interact with the company and its staff, the more you will get noticed. And when the time comes to hire, guess who will come FIRST to their mind? YOU obviously! Getting an interview when they already know you, will be so much easier than being an unknown candidate, believe me!

 

Last but not least, start looking at rejection letters in a different way… a NO means that that company is NOT the right place for you and something better will soon come up for you. Genuinely believe in it, visualise it in the most vivid colours and pray for it (yes!). Things will start changing with a bit of patience and belief. Once you get the opportunity for an interview, prepare for typical interview questions and answers as best as you can. Go out there and get the job you really deserve and which makes you happy 😊

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Motivational slogans for work to get you through the week

Motivational slogans for work to get you through the week

Motivational slogans for work to get you through the week 

Motivational slogans for work to get you through the week

by Talentese Team 19/06/2018

Even if you love your work, it’s perfectly normal to have some ups and downs – for the days when you’re in a “not-so-up” mood we’ve prepared some motivational work slogans for your daily dose of inspiration.

1. Monday – you’ve got a whole new week ahead of you! Let’s start small to achieve something big – all kind of efforts made matter!

2.Tuesday – don’t be afraid to make mistakes!

3.Wednesday – if you just repeat things you’re comfortable doing, you’ll never be able to move forward. Let’s try something new today!

4.Thursday – motivation and commitment can bring you A LOT!

5.Friday – it’s time to finally try something risky, isn’t it? You’ll never know if it works until you try

6.Saturday – relax and enjoy. Everything will turn out to be good!

7.Sunday – it’s time to get ready for something new coming up next week! Are you ready to grow?

by Talentese Team 19/06/2018

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What makes a happy workplace? Interview with the Happiness Research Institute Employees

What makes a happy workplace? Interview with the Happiness Research Institute Employees

What makes a happy workplace? Interview with the Happiness Research Institute

What makes a happy workplace? Interview with the Happiness Research Institute

by Talentese Team 06/06/2018

Happiness may seem too individual to be analyzed from a scientific perspective, though Happiness Research Institute employees believe that it is possible – having applied the modern research methods, they have really approached to the answer to the question “What makes a happy workplace?” and come to a better understanding of certain factors that make us happy with our jobs.

 

So, how does the research of happiness look like? Some answers are in the interview with Isabella Arendt, Executive PA to the CEO at Happiness Research Institute.

 

– What is exactly the Happiness Research Institute?

We are a private institute founded in 2013 and with currently six people working here. We have people from many different fields of study in order to understand happiness from different perspectives.

Building on measurement guidelines and benchmarks from the OECD and UN, we combine qualitative and quantitative methods to provide insights on the level of well-being, happiness and quality of life.What we care about is how people feel about their life. We believe people themselves are the best judge of whether they are happy or not. Working with subjective measures is difficult, but it is not impossible. We do it all the time, when it comes to stress, anxiety and depression – which are also subjective phenomenons – at the end of the day, it is all about how we as individuals experience our lives. What we ideally do is we follow people over time, and see how changes in life circumstances impact the different dimensions of happiness.

 

 

 

– Why have you decided to create your company?

Our founder and CEO Meik Wiking was curious about happiness and why some countries were happier than others. He wanted to understand more of this and thus founded this institute.

 

– What are your 3 top wishes for your company within the next 5 years?

We hope of course for more awareness of the happiness agenda. And for decision makers to implement the happiness research in the decision making process.

 

– What are from your experience the most important factors to be happy at work?

We have done a study in a Danish context about job satisfaction which you can find at our website. The most important factors are meaning, leadership and mastery. We found another four factors, which were important to the Danes, but I will suggest you to read this in the report.

 

 

Job Satisfaction Index, 2016

 

– What makes a good company – the one where employees are happy?

We found that listening to the needs of the workers are important and to understand that people are different and should be treated different. We are motivated by different things and work in different ways. The good employer will make room for those differences and make it an advantage rather than something that needs to be corrected.

 

 

– Money, power, teamwork, achievement… are those keys to be happy at work?

The short answer is no. Meaning and a good work-life balance is more important than all those things. But the report will give you more information about this: “According to the Job Satisfaction Index 2016, the recipe for higher motivation is to be found in meaningful work, work-life balance, confidence in one’s skills, and the experience of results. This is important to have in mind if a leader or a workplace wishes to step up motivation among employees.Purpose and mastering each explain 25 percent of motivation, while balance explains 20 percent. But purpose and motivation have the closest relationship, which means how motivated we feel about our work tasks has to do with how much meaning we feel towards our work”.

 

by Talentese Team 06/06/2018

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Careers that will guarantee you employment in Germany

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Careers that will guarantee you employment in Germany 

Careers that will guarantee you employment in Germany 

by Talentese Team 15/05/2018

Germany is an awesome place to work and live, whether temporarily or permanently – good salaries, strong economy, high standard of living, a modern infrastructure, affordable and also high quality housing… Aren’t there more than enough reasons to apply? If you’re looking for the information how to find a job in Germany as a foreigner you’d be pleased to know that there’re lots of industries where job seekers from all over the world are especially welcomed.

 

There is an extreme shortage of specialists of all levels and pretty much every applicant has really good chances to be employed. So what are those magical occupations that will practically guarantee you having a job in Germany?

 

Health care

The unemployment rate in health care is almost zero – almost 30000 jobs are available for doctors and nurses and 25000 vacant positions for non-medical health professionals like dentists, rehabilitation specialists etc. The German population is also not getting any younger and the healthcare system (hopefully) is not going to get worse so the demand for specialists in elderly care is going to dramatically increase over the next years (up to 150 000 by 2025) – great chances to secure yourself a job!

 

Engineering

Numerous high-tech fields are growing – you have especially good chances of employment if you’re a specialist in mechanical, automotive or electrical engineering. Considering relocation to Germany already? Well, then pay a special attention to jobs in Bayern, Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony – there is a particularly strong need for professionals with your background in those regions.

 

IT

Well-qualified IT specialist may be sure that it’s not them that are going to be looking for a job but rather the other way around: the numerous companies from industry leaders to promising start-ups are going to compete to get a really great expert on board. Candidates with the following skills have particularly good chances of employment: programming advanced machine-control systems, security specialists and web application developers.

 

What are the rеquirеmеntѕ to get a job in Gеrmаnу?

Before you саn bе аblе tо wоrk in Gеrmаnу, уоu are rеquirеd tо gеt a German work viѕа аnd also work реrmitѕ: If уоu аrе frоm thе Eurореаn Uniоn (EU), Eurореаn Eсоnоmiс Area (EEA) OR Switzеrlаnd, уоu do nоt rеquirе a реrmit tо wоrk in Gеrmаnу аѕ long аѕ уоu hаvе a vаlid ID саrd оr passport аlthоugh rеgiѕtеring уоur address iѕ nееdеd. Evеrуоnе еlѕе араrt frоm EU, EEA оr Switzеrlаnd will nееd tо gеt a rеѕidеnсе реrmit аnd Gеrmаn viѕа to wоrk in Gеrmаnу. Thеrе аrе аrоund 60 regulated рrоfеѕѕiоnѕ in Gеrmаnу whiсh inсludеѕ dосtоrѕ, орtiсiаnѕ аnd tеасhеrѕ. If уоu are in this саtеgоrу, then уоu nееd tо gеt уоur qualification rесоgnizеd bу thе rеlеvаnt Gеrmаn аuthоritу оr рrоfеѕѕiоnаl аѕѕосiаtiоn bеfоrе уоu саn bе аblе to wоrk in Germany.

 

Do I need to know German language to apply for these jobs?

There’re plenty of German companies looking for English speakers, but knowing thе basics in Gеrmаn lаngugае will help you in ѕеttling, living and wоrking in Germany – especially when it comes to bureaucracy, legal documents and forms etc. And, of course, looking for an English-speaking job in Germany as an IT-specialist or an engeneer is going to be much easier than as a health care worker – for some positions it is nesessary to have at least basic German knowledge to be able to communicate with colleagues and patients.

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Afraid of starting a new job? Do these 7 things to integrate in a team right from the start

Afraid of starting a new job? Do these 7 things to integrate in a team right from the start

Afraid of starting a new job? Do these 7 things to integrate in a team right from the start

11 things that will make recruiters reject your application immediately

by Karin Singh 01/05/2018

Imagine … you got a new job at one of the best firms to work for. You really look forward to your new challenge, but there is one thing that worries you a bit. Guess what?

You are joining a team that is very different from what you have experienced so far. Until now you worked in a team of 5 people, where everyone was of similar age and of the same country. Now you have been employed by one of the most desirable employers.

A multinational company with a team of 14 people and all of them coming from different parts of the world. Also, their age range (24-56 years), their gender (men, women, transgender) and their culture/religion (Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims and Jews) is something you feel unfamiliar with.

Remember, your goal is to achieve workplace happiness, job satisfaction and success in the long term. How are you going to integrate in this new, so diverse, group without causing any disruption? These are some tips that a career guidance counsellor would give you to have a quick, easy and smooth transition.

# 1 – Memorize all their names before you even start your job.

Try to find this out online, from LinkedIn, the corporate website or other sources. It does make a difference, if right from the beginning you can address and remember them by name.

# 2 – Build relationships with every member.

Find out as much as possible about their background, their interests, their strengths. The more you know about them, and the more interest you show in them, the better. It’s important to find some common ground. That will always help you to establish bonds with them. If you are not very familiar with other cultures, try to learn the basics of every culture/religion so that you don’t make any embarrassing faux pas.

The best firms to work for usually also offer additional opportunities to learn more about each other by running several social events. Another approach would be to ask your team members lots of questions (but don’t intrusive ones!) and take advantage of every chance you might get to get to know them better. At lunchtime, for example, don’t spend that time alone, set yourself a goal to socialise every day with a different member. Imagine how much you will be able to find out and learn after just 1 month.

# 3 – Be approachable.

If you consider yourself as an introvert, and dealing with others for you is every time a hassle, it’s not going to be easy. In order to build bonds, you need to be open, positive, approach others with a smile and allow them to get to know you better, too.

# 4 – Find a mentor.

Find a mentor who can guide you. Someone who knows the written and unwritten rules and agreements within the company. If you can make use of that person’s knowledge, and provide him/her with something useful in return (e.g. some advice, or skill that would benefit them too) you would have it easier to settle in. Building a good relationship with a mentor might also help you to understand the corporate culture and personality in a deeper way. Their knowledge will be invaluable in helping you to integrate quicker into the team. They can tell you who in the group coordinates, leads or keeps the group together. If you observe team dynamics and interactions, you will soon find out who the most influential members are.

# 5 – Get involved wherever possible.

 Attend as many events as possible in which your colleagues take part in, show that you are a team player. Attend the breakfast club, come along in the happy hour after working hours, etc. But don’t be tempted to socialize too much, if it stops you from fully focusing on your job responsibilities.

# 6 – Don’t complain and embrace change.

If you are facing a new environment, you need to embrace new practices and systems. The most desirable employers don’t want to have someone aboard who is complaining and tells others how great their previous job was. Don’t expect others to adapt to your style, instead embrace the new way your team is doing things and offer solutions where possible.

# 7 – Earn the respect of others by doing a good job.

Find out in what areas your colleagues are good at and where YOU can add real value to the team with your strengths. Also, keep your promises once you promise something.

If you love your job and the responsibilities involved in it, but you find it difficult to integrate into your new team, you might face isolation or even problems in carrying out your daily job duties as usual. It is therefore important to evaluate already at the interview stage whether you can really see yourself working there with those employees or not. The most desirable employers often give you the chance to get to know your team members during the recruitment stage. Don’t underestimate therefore this crucial part in evaluating whether the company is right for you.

Starting a new job and settling into a new environment, where team members might know each other already for a long time, is always a challenge. However, if you embrace the new corporate culture from day one, and seize every opportunity to become a real ambassador for your new company, you will experience a painless transition. Don’t forget, the better you can work with your team, the more productive you will be. For the best firms to work for, that means that it’s a win-win for every person involved.

Karin Schroeck-Singh’s passion lies in creating, translating and promoting content of high-quality in multiple languages (English, German, Italian). She holds an MBA from the University of Leicester (UK) and is the author of several ebooks. She gained more that 20 years of international work experience in various industries in Italy, the UK and India. Helping businesses to optimise their online presence is her priority, no client or project is too big or too small for her.

Stop worrying. Start outsourcing! www.hirekarin.com

Karin Schroeck-Singh

www.hirekarin.com

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