Welcome to the first Myth Busters article. In these articles I will interview thought leaders on various job-search topics. My guest for this article, Kevin D. Turner, is one of the most knowledgeable people I know when it comes to LinkedIn, and I know a lot of people.
I met Kevin on LinkedIn on November 16, 2018. At that time I had been on LinkedIn since 2007, so I wonder why it took so long for him and I to connect. As time went on, Kevin and I built a strong relationship; so strong, in fact that I asked him to be a guest speaker for my Guest Speaker webinar series.
For the Guest Speaker event, Kevin spoke about Personal Blanding™*. You got that right, "Personal Blanding," not "Personal Branding." This is a term that Kevin uses to point out how people fail to brand themselves effectively on LinkedIn. Kevin's creative in this way.
It's safe to assume that many myths revolve around LinkedIn, yet they continue to be perpetuated by misguided LinkedIn users. Kevin is going to bust some of those myths.
MYTH 1: Create it (your LinkedIn profile) and they will come.
A common mistake job seekers make is to create a profile and let it sit, waiting for employers to contact them. I'm on board with Kevin's second myth.
Kevin: While recruiters can find your LinkedIn profile and contact you about job opportunities, more than simply setting up your LinkedIn profile is needed to guarantee that recruiters will reach out to you.
BUSTED: With almost a Billion Members on LinkedIn, it takes more than a 'build it, and they will find me approach.' LinkedIn rewards up-to-date, complete profiles of active Members with greater searchability and visibility.
To increase the chances of being contacted by recruiters, you need to at least:
➀ Ensure your Profile has all relevant experience, education, and skills information. This will help recruiters find you when they search for candidates with specific qualifications.
➁ Use keywords in your Profile relevant to your industry and job search. This can help your Profile show up in searches conducted by recruiters.
➂ Connect with other professionals in your industry and build relationships with them. This can help increase your visibility on the platform and make it more likely that recruiters will come across your Profile.
➃ Engage with other professionals on the platform by commenting on posts, sharing your insights, and adding value to the conversation. This can help you build relationships and demonstrate your expertise in your field.
Simply setting up your LinkedIn profile is not a guarantee that recruiters will contact you; optimizing your Profile, building a solid network, and engaging as a thought leader will help increase your visibility and make it more likely that recruiters will reach out to you about job opportunities.
MYTH 2: It's a waste of time for job seekers to comment on others' posts.
I'm so glad that Kevin decided to bust this myth. This activity goes a long way in branding oneself and is far better than letting their profile sit, as mentioned above.
Kevin: Over the years, social media has earned a reputation as a significant distraction that can disrupt productivity and decrease focus.
BUSTED:
LinkedIn is different; it's a professional social platform that embraces networking and social selling to establish trust, build credibility with others, and potentially land a job. Commenting on others' LinkedIn posts can help you develop your personal brand, establish thought leadership, and build relationships.
When you engage with others, they are more likely to engage with you in return, which can increase the visibility of your own content and potentially lead to new connections and business opportunities. Commenting can demonstrate your expertise and attract the attention of recruiters or hiring managers looking for candidates with your skills and experience.
I recommend 20 to 30 Minutes a day to comment. Find your target, go to their Profile, Click Follow, Click the 🔔 , look for their posts in your Feed, and Comment with value added.
Watch this Video to set up a Favorite Content Creator Filter on LinkedIn: https://youtu.be/8yKaMD0WVeQ
MYTH 3: The more Connections & Followers I have, the more valuable my Network is.
Amen to this. All of us know the ones whose goal is to collect connections. This is a great myth to bust.
Kevin: Since LinkedIn is based on the principle of 6 º of separation (basically, you can meet anyone in the world within 6 handshakes), it's generally true that having a more extensive network on LinkedIn can provide several benefits, including increased visibility, access to more opportunities, and the ability to leverage your network for introductions and referrals.
BUSTED: However, your network's quality is more important than quantity. The larger the network, the more difficult it is to cultivate engagement, and intrinsically an uncultivated network is lazy and of lower value. It's better to have a smaller network of engaged and relevant connections than an extensive network of individuals who are less responsive, engaged, or pertinent to your industry or interests.
MYTH 4: What I say on LinkedIn has no consequences.
Whoa, boy, if you think you can troll LinkedIn saying anything you like, you have another thing coming. I can say without a doubt, Kevin does what he preaches.
Kevin: LinkedIn is a powerful, professional networking platform, and it provides numerous opportunities to connect with other professionals, build relationships, and showcase your skills and experience.
BUSTED: Recruiters or potential employers will judge you based on your Activity on LinkedIn. Your Activity on the platform can give recruiters insights into your professional interests, expertise, and engagement within your industry. What you write on LinkedIn can have consequences if it is negative and hurtful.
Arguing and flaming others on LinkedIn is generally not a good idea and can harm your professional reputation. While healthy debate and discussion can be productive and demonstrate your expertise in your field, attacking or insulting others can be viewed as unprofessional and potentially damage your credibility.
Maintaining a professional and respectful tone on LinkedIn is essential, even when expressing differing opinions. Avoid attacking or insulting others, and focus on sharing your insights and engaging in productive discussions that demonstrate your expertise and professionalism.
MYTH 5: LinkedIn is too personal.
Although I think LinkedIn is ultimately a platform reserved for conducting the job search and business transactions, I think a little personal interaction is appropriate. I'm glad Kevin decided to address this myth.
Kevin: LinkedIn Membership expanded rapidly during the Pandemic as many were attracted to social sharing, content creation, and networking capabilities. Many new content creators started sharing more personal information because Members initially responded, and their content reach expanded. Those same content creators pushed others to do the same.
BUSTED: LinkedIn is a microcosm of the world, primarily focused on professional networking, designed for users to share their professional experiences, skills, and expertise. The trend above is dying down, and many content creators promoting oversharing personal info have moved back to other platforms. Like any microcosm, you can find almost anything you want or do not want; the decision is yours.
Showing Personality or personal interest is a big part of social media and social selling, but sharing sensitive personal information is generally not recommended. While being open and honest about your personal experiences is essential, LinkedIn is primarily a professional networking platform not intended for sharing personal information irrelevant to your professional life.
Bonus Myth
I couldn't let this one go without mentioning a myth that many job seekers believe, perhaps because they don't spend much time on LinkedIn.
MYTH: LinkedIn never changes.
Kevin will be the first to tell you that LinkedIn is an ecosystem that never sleeps. He's made it his mission to notify (with some help from his friend) LinkedIn users of the new features LinkedIn releases (it seems) on a daily basis.
In fact, Kevin came out with a post today that mentions a new feature LinkedIn came out with. As well, he has an ever growing article called 50+ New LinkedIn Features.
One of my favorite LinkedIn changes is the ability to demonstrate one's skills--from the list on the Skills section--in their Experience section. This is a nice, quick visual that precludes the need for visitors to travel down your profile to the Skills area.
I thank you very much for joining Kevin and I for the first article on Myth Busters. Keep your eye out for the next article in the series.
Related: Myths of the Job Search Debunked