π Saying it right makes your career bright
LinkedIn's Andrew Seaman on the importance of written, spoken and unspoken communication for career advancement
Andrew Seaman, LinkedIn's Senior Managing Editor for Jobs and Career Development, shares his expert advice on navigating the professional world with the right words inΒ written, spoken, and unspoken communication.
Optimize your online presence.
Maintaining a strong online presence is crucial as it serves as your first interview.
Regularly post about your professional interests and passions to keep your profile active and engaging.
Curating your online activity helps potential employers see you as a well-rounded individual, making a positive impression even before a face-to-face meeting.
"Online presence is your first interview, so post what you're reading about your profession and what you're passionate about. It's a way for people to get to know you before they actually meet you."
Balance professional and personal content.
Sharing professional content is important, but adding posts about personal interests can humanize you and make your profile more relatable.
Be mindful not to overshare; posting about hobbies occasionally can show you're a well-rounded individual without overwhelming your professional brand.
"When I look at someone's profile, I skip their experience section and just look at their activity because it tells me more about what's on their mind now than what they did five years ago."
Be strategic with your comments.
Adding value to conversations online is just as important as creating original posts.
Ensure your comments contribute meaningfully to the discussion to showcase your expertise and increase visibility on platforms like LinkedIn.
Interview presence matters
Your presence in an interview extends beyond just answering questions.
Consistency in your demeanor and interactions with everyone in the organization is key to leaving a positive, lasting impression.
"Presence in terms of how you show up for an interview matters a lot. People form opinions of you even before you log into the Zoom or walk into the room."
A thematic approach to answering questions.
Candidates should prepare for interviews by identifying key themes they want to highlight about themselves.
Use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate these themes, making your responses more compelling and relevant to the job you are applying for.
"The funny thing about common sense is it's not so common. We often assume that people will connect the dots, but you have to explicitly explain what your experiences mean in relation to the job."