What a Blank LinkedIn Profile Says to Employers

What a Blank LinkedIn Profile Says to EmployersWhat a Blank LinkedIn Profile Says to Employers4Job seekers often hear that they should be on LinkedIn to improve their chances of landing a position. However, joining just to say youre on it isnt going to advance your career. In fact, an empty or blank LinkedIn profile could actually cause damage.In my view, a blank LinkedIn profile signals a degree of unprofessionalism, says Vicky Oliver, author of 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions and Bad Bosses, Crazy Coworkers Other Office Idiots. I also think it can be a signal that the worker doesnt care too much about technology. Both of these are red flags to potential employers.According to an article in U.S. News World Report, 94 percent of recruiters use LinkedIn to source and vet candidates, yet only 36percent of job seekers are active on the site. Thus, failing to take advantage of LinkedIns potential could be wasting valuable opportunities to get noticed.How to right the shi p? Critically examine your current profile, and aim to give readers a clear sense of who you are by fixing the followingMissing or Bad PhotoAccording to Business Insider, LinkedIn profiles with a photo are seven times mora likely to be viewedthan ones without an uploaded photo.A quality leumund puts a face on your brand- projecting credibility, helping with memorability, and enabling viewers to start envisioning you in their work environment.Incomplete InformationThink of LinkedIn as an online resume, and treat it with the same respect. You wouldnt dream of sending a potential employer sloppy material with critical elements missing, so why present yourself in anything but the best possible light on a popular social media platform?Lack of Non-Essential SectionsIts tempting to neglect certain categories on the profile, figuring potential employers arent interested in them. However, offering more than basic background info can spark connections with readers and present a more complete picture of who you are and what you bring to the table.If you have a strong secondary hobby that may have business applications, LinkedIn is the place to post this, Oliver says. For example, I write career books, but I also do a lot of volunteer work. The Volunteer section of the profile allows me to show strengths other than writing. This helps me show a more rounded profile. Another spot which accomplishes that is the area called Organizations. If someone sits on a board, this may be a good area for her to fill out the information.No TestimonialsFinally, leave this area blank and run the risk of employers wondering if you couldnt find anyone to say good things about you. Positive statements from others are a subtle way to toot your own horn and add substance to what the rest of your profile is trying to convey- youre a great person to hireReaders, do you use LinkedIn to job search? Do you have a blank LinkedIn profile? Share with us below

The worst dressed people in your office tend to have this name

The worst dressed people in your office tend to have this anthroponymThe worst dressed people in your office tend to have this anthroponymDo you have a coworker whose style you try to emulate? Well, there is probably a good chance their name is Sarah. According to a survey of2,000 Americans about fashion in the workplace from Trunk Club the top names for the best-dressed female coworkers tend to be Sarah, Mary, and Ashley. For men, it is usually John, Tom, and Tim.As for the worst dressed coworkers for women they tend to be a Karen, Jill or Sue and for men, it is usually Mike, Bob or Steve. Poor Steve.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreTwinning at workThe study also looked at industries where people are the most likely to twin with a coworker. You may recall twinning at work becoming a Twitter phenomenon. The survey found that the industries where twinning is most likely to occur a re Broadcast, Legal and Real Estate.When you work with the same people every day it is definitely easy to become inspired by their style, especially if they dress well. The survey found that 30% were influenced by another coworkers style and 40% will befriend a coworker who has a similar style to them.The new corporate uniformThis isnt surprising considering that so many industries tend to develop uniforms. Wall Street Journal reporter Jacob Gallagher recently wrote about the pervasiveness of the fleece zip-up vest as the new go-to for corporate men. It is functional for freezing offices during the summer and then is seasonally appropriate for fall and an easy layer in the winter. Gallagher wrote, It covers the sweating backs of nervous interns ordering supersize coffees atStarbucks.Its worn by silver-haired executives in the elevator, heading up to their ecksto suites. It appears in myriad shades of gray and blue, on men of all shapes and sizes who earn all kinds of salaries. It ha s become as ubiquitous as the take-out salad in humdrum workplaces, and is slowly supplanting the suit and tie as essential office wear.It also isnt bad to dress like someone higher up in your company. A recent study from Mens Journal foundthat 68% of managers give extra points to people under them with similar sartorial tasted. The standards usually set by the boss, said study spokesman Ed Watson, then the rest of the workplace follows.And if youre wondering why you dont have too many friends at work it could be because you dress sloppy as 20% will outright avoid a coworker with sloppy style.The worst dressed people in your office tend to have this nameDo you have a coworker whose style you try to emulate? Well, there is probably a good chance their name is Sarah. According to a survey of2,000 Americans about fashion in the workplace from Trunk Club the top names for the best-dressed female coworkers tend to be Sarah, Mary, and Ashley. For men, it is usually John, Tom, and Tim.As f or the worst dressed coworkers for women they tend to be a Karen, Jill or Sue and for men, it is usually Mike, Bob or Steve. Poor Steve.Twinning at workThe study also looked at industries where people are the most likely to twin with a coworker. You may recall twinning at work becoming a Twitter phenomenon. The survey found that the industries where twinning is most likely to occur are Broadcast, Legal and Real Estate.When you work with the same people every day it is definitely easy to become inspired by their style, especially if they dress well. The survey found that 30% were influenced by another coworkers style and 40% will befriend a coworker who has a similar style to them.The new corporate uniformThis isnt surprising considering that so many industries tend to develop uniforms. Wall Street Journal reporter Jacob Gallagher recently wrote about the pervasiveness of the fleece zip-up vest as the new go-to for corporate men. It is functional for freezing offices during the summe r and then is seasonally appropriate for fall and an easy layer in the winter. Gallagher wrote, It covers the sweating backs of nervous interns ordering supersize coffees atStarbucks.Its worn by silver-haired executives in the elevator, heading up to their corner suites. It appears in myriad shades of gray and blue, on men of all shapes and sizes who earn all kinds of salaries. It has become as ubiquitous as the take-out salad in humdrum workplaces, and is slowly supplanting the suit and tie as essential office wear.It also isnt bad to dress like someone higher up in your company. A recent study from Mens Journal foundthat 68% of managers give extra points to people under them with similar sartorial tasted. The standards usually set by the boss, said study spokesman Ed Watson, then the rest of the workplace follows.And if youre wondering why you dont have too many friends at work it could be because you dress sloppy as 20% will outright avoid a coworker with sloppy style.

Once Youve Got the Job, Start Managing Your Career

Once Youve Got the Job, Start Managing Your CareerOnce Youve Got the Job, Start Managing Your CareerOnce Youve Got the Job, Start Managing Your CareerIf you just graduated from college, youve probably been focusing your energy on your job search, and not on where youd like to be in your career in 5, 10, 20, or even 40 years.But after you land that first job is a good time to abflug managing your career. Shocking as that may seem to you today, its true if you think about where you are now and where youd like to be in the future. For many of you, the long-term career goal you have in your mind will change, probably more than once. Youll uncover likes and dislikes about work and your skills. You may question your values and take your career in a new direction to match those values. And changes in your home life may dictate changes in your career aspirations.As you continue down your career path, follow these three things that can help you manage your career while you gain experience(1)K eep a career journal update it regularly, and review it from time to time.This may seem a bit tedious, but continually updating a career journal, or diary, with your accomplishments and private thoughts about your job and your workplace, can be a big help when its time to update your resume and measure your attitude. If, for example, your most recent entries exhibit a negative attitude about your job or company, it might indicate that you should look for a new job.(2)Network online and offline.Get to know people in your industry and any industry you may want to switch to in the future. Online networking sites such as LinkedIn make this easier today. And, joining networking groups and industry associations will offer you additional chances to meet like-minded professionals in person, especially those who have more experience in your chosen field and would be happy to guide you in the early stages of your career. But be equally willing and able to help others networking works best whe n its a two-way street.(3)Always sense the climate in your company or industry.Be aware of the financial health and long-term outlook for your company and industry. If you hear a lot of grumbling within the company after a long period of relative happiness, it might indicate the start of harder times (or that you work with people who thrive on being miserable). If you see a downturn in your company that mirrors whats happening in your industry, and you dont see a turnaround in the future, ask yourself if its in your best interest to change jobs, careers, or industries.If youre newly employed in your first job post-graduation, congratulations If youre still looking for that first big break, keep plugging away at your job search. But once youre at that first job, you need to work hard, make a valuable contribution, and learn all you can. The more you evaluate your own situation, build professional relationships, and keep track of the changes in your field, the better you can prepare y ourself for the future.