LinkedIn is a powerful tool for building your professional network, showcasing your skills and experience, and attracting job offers from recruiters. But with millions of profiles on the platform, how can you make sure that your profile stands out from the crowd?
Here's a prioritized checklist of tips for optimizing your LinkedIn profile to attract job offers and impress recruiters.

1. Headline: Your headline is the first thing that recruiters and potential connections will see, so make sure it accurately reflects your professional brand and highlights your key skills and achievements. Use keywords that are relevant to your industry and job title.
2. Profile Photo: Your profile photo is the first impression you make on LinkedIn. Use a high-quality photo that shows you in a professional light. Avoid using selfies or casual photos.
3. About Section: Your About section is an opportunity to showcase your personality and unique value proposition. Write a clear and concise summary that highlights your skills, experience, and achievements. Use keywords that are relevant to your industry and job title.
4. Experience: Your experience section should provide a detailed overview of your work experience and achievements. Use bullet points to highlight your responsibilities and accomplishments, and quantify your results wherever possible. Use keywords that are relevant to your industry and job title.
5. Skills: Make sure to include all relevant skills in your profile. These can be added manually or endorsed by other LinkedIn users. Use keywords that are relevant to your industry and job title.
6. Education: Include your educational background, including any relevant degrees or certifications. Use keywords that are relevant to your industry and job title.
7. Recommendations: Recommendations from past colleagues, managers, or clients can add credibility to your profile and help to showcase your skills and accomplishments. Reach out to people you've worked with and ask them to write a recommendation for you.
8. Interests: Share your professional interests and any relevant organizations or groups you belong to. This can help you connect with other professionals in your industry.
9. Activity: Engage with your network by sharing relevant content, commenting on posts, and participating in groups. This can help you build relationships and establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry.

By following these tips, you can optimize your LinkedIn profile and increase your chances of attracting job offers and impressing recruiters. Remember to use keywords that are relevant to your industry and job title, and to showcase your unique value proposition and achievements. With a strong LinkedIn profile, you can take your career to the next level. 

Need help optimizing your LinkedIn to attract recruiters and hiring managers?
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Finding the right career can be a daunting task. It's important to choose a career that aligns with your strengths, interests, and values in order to find long-term satisfaction and success. With that in mind, here are 10 great strategies for finding your ideal career.
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1. Self-Assessment: One of the first steps in finding your ideal career is to gain insight into your natural abilities and passions. There are many different types of assessments available, such as personality tests and career assessments, that can help you identify career options that align with your strengths, interests, and values.
2. Research: Once you have an idea of the types of careers that may be a good fit for you, it's important to research different industries, companies, and job titles to gain a better understanding of what each entails. This will help you to determine which careers align with your interests and skills, and which ones may not be the right fit.
3. Networking: Networking is an essential part of any job search. Building professional connections in your desired field can help you gain insight into the day-to-day responsibilities of different roles, and can also provide valuable leads for job opportunities.
4. Job Shadowing: Job shadowing is an excellent way to gain real-world experience and get a feel for what a particular career is like. This can provide you with a better understanding of the job and whether it's the right fit for you.
5. Volunteering: Volunteering can be a great way to gain new skills, meet new people, and make valuable connections in your desired field. It can also be a good way to gain experience in a field you're interested in but may not have professional experience in.
6. Freelancing or Doing Side Projects: Taking on freelance or side projects can be a great way to gain experience in your desired field and start building a portfolio of work to showcase to potential employers.
7. Continuing Education and Professional Development: Taking classes or earning certifications in your desired field can increase your knowledge and skills, making you a more attractive candidate to potential employers.
8. Internship: An internship is an opportunity for students or new graduates to gain experience in their field of interest, and to make contacts with professionals who can help them find a job in that field.
9. Keeping your resume updated and tailored to the job: Your resume is often the first thing a hiring manager sees, so it's important to make sure it is well-written, easy to read, and tailored to the specific job you're applying for.
10. Being open-minded: It's important to be open-minded about other opportunities that align with your skills and interests even if they were not on your radar before.

Finding the right career can take time and effort, but by using these strategies, you can increase your chances of finding a career that aligns with your strengths, interests, and values. Remember to take your time, be patient, and don't be afraid to try new things. A career change can be scary, but it's also an opportunity to start a new chapter and find a fulfilling career that makes you happy.

1. The first thing that should never be said in a job interview is negative comments about your current or previous employer.
   It's important to avoid speaking ill of your current or past colleagues or managers, as it can make you appear difficult to work with and disloyal. Instead, it's best to focus on the positive aspects of your previous experience, and how it has prepared you for the role you're interviewing for.
2. The second thing to avoid is lying or exaggerating about your qualifications or experience.
   Not only is this dishonest, but if you're caught in a lie, it can be very damaging to your chances of getting the job. Additionally, during the interview, you might be caught in a lie or unable to answer some question, which will make you come across as unqualified or unprepared for the job.
3. The third thing to avoid is disrespectful or discriminatory language.
   Using disrespectful or discriminatory language, even if unintentional, can create a negative impression and may lead to disqualification. This can include, but not limited to, racist, sexist, or any other kind of discriminatory comments.
4. The fourth thing to avoid is showing a lack of enthusiasm or interest in the job.
   It's important to come across as genuinely interested in the position and the company, so try to express your excitement and ask thoughtful questions. Also, not asking questions or showing a lack of interest can give the impression that you are not invested in the role.
5. The fifth thing to avoid is sharing too much personal information.
   In an interview, it's important to keep your answers focused on the job and how your qualifications align with the role. Avoid sharing information that is not relevant to the position or that could be used to discriminate against you.
6. The sixth thing to avoid is being unprepared for the interview.
   It's important to do your research on the company, the role you are applying for, and the person who will be interviewing you. It will help you to have a better understanding of the position and the company, and will also make you come across as more knowledgeable and prepared.
7. The seventh thing to avoid is asking about salary, vacation time, or other benefits before the employer has made an offer.
   This can make you appear more interested in the perks of the job than the job itself and may discourage the employer from offering you the position. It's important to wait for the employer to bring up the topic of compensation, and instead focus on showing why you're the best candidate for the job.

In summary,the interview is a critical step in the job application process, and it's critically important to make a good impression.
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To increase your chances of landing the job, it's essential to avoid any and all of these points.
It's also important to keep in mind that you should not only avoid these mistakes but also try to actively demonstrate your qualifications, show enthusiasm and interest, be prepared, and ask thoughtful questions.

​The process of applying for a job as a college or university instructor typically involves the following steps:

1. Research potential job openings and institutions: Begin by identifying the institutions and academic programs where you would like to work. Look for job openings that match your qualifications and interests, and make a list of potential opportunities.
   
2. Prepare your application materials: Most colleges and universities will require you to submit a cover letter, a resume or CV, and a teaching statement as part of your application. You may also need to provide transcripts, letters of recommendation, and writing samples.
   
3. Submit your application: Follow the application instructions for each job opening you are interested in. Be sure to include all required materials and follow any formatting guidelines.
   
4. Participate in the interview process: If your application is selected for further consideration, you may be invited to participate in an interview with the hiring committee. This may be an in-person interview, a phone interview, or a video interview.
   
5. Wait for a decision: After the interview process is complete, the hiring committee will review all the candidates and make a final decision. If you are offered the job, you will typically be given a timeline for accepting or declining the offer.
   

Keeping it real here, I hear this from many of my clients, lol. They hate them, and I can understand that…they’re an astoundingly ineffective way to identify good applicants. Now, for many companies and industries overwhelmed by tons of applicants, they can be a painful necessity to weed out a lot of people and speed up the hiring process.

But here’s a little secret I share with my coaching clients that will give you a big ‘ol sigh of relief – Online Job Postings make up less than 20% of the available jobs in the market! Say what?!!!
Yes, 80%+ of jobs out there are not on Monster, Indeed, or any other job search engine.  

​“SO WHERE ARE THEY, COACH?” you might ask!  Many places – here are just a few places you can find jobs, and quick strategies for getting them!

• On Company Websites – yes, many companies rely just as much on their own websites to share opportunities as they do on search engines.
  How to find these jobs?
  • I always have my clients use my Company Tracking Sheet to create a list of jobs that they’ve found available AND companies they’d love to work for!  That way we can use our investigative and networking skills to find opportunities they might have never seen.
  • Then we go to their sites, and their LinkedIn pages to find opportunities we can target.  
    
    
• In Internal Processing – Companies work slow, so in many cases they’ve budgeted (put a salary aside) for new positions but haven’t posted them. This process can take months for some companies as they update the job description, go back and forth on approvals and budget reviews…blah, blah, blah…the red tape internally can be a hot mess! But you can take advantage of this!
  How to get to these jobs?
  • Networking is often the best approach, either through LinkedIn or in-person through someone you know at the company.
  • Connect with someone in the company that you know, or that’s at least a friend of a friend.
  • Contact them and ask them out for coffee to just learn more about what they do at the company, what the culture is like, etc.
  • Then, bring along a copy of your resume and cover letter, just in case they’re willing to pass it along to the hiring manager of the team/department you’re interested in. 
    
    
• In the Heads of Hiring Managers – managers have to create or deliver on annual plans for growth, competitiveness, or improvement of the product or customer experience. They have tons of ideas that they can’t put into practice if they don’t have someone on the team with the expertise or experience to do them.

How to get these jobs?

• The goal is to get in front of the hiring manager so you can sell yourself and your ideas for some improvement or revenue building project for them, the target company. This isn’t as complicated as it sounds. 1. Do the steps above of using networking to get a meeting with the manager. 2. Research projects you’ve done in the past that could be applied by the target company, or go on their website and find their newsletter, media, news, or public relations (PR) page…and read up on goals, projects, or plans they have that you could play a role in assuring their success. Boom, you’ve just made yourself valuable!  
  
  

• On Intranets – Yes, many companies have staff-only websites called Intranets that they use to offer the new job openings to their own staff, or…if they know someone that might be interested, to share the job with.

How to get these jobs?

• Again, network through LinkedIn or through someone you are connected to within the company, then get them to share the job listing with you, then use them to pass your resume along.
  
  

• In your head!  “Huh?” – Yes, I’ve worked with some of my most creative clients to
  1. Create their own ideal position, then
  2. Develop a portfolio based on this position idea, then
  3. Identify companies that definitely need this position on their team, then
  4. Use networking techniques to get in front of managers to pitch their idea. This is very doable, and talk about creating your dream job!!   

 
Alright…I hope you see now that there are tons of opportunities out there besides the dreaded online job search listings. The common theme with all of these though is to be creative and hustle, think outside the box, connect with internal staff, and get a meeting to sell yourself. J
Hope this serves you, and if you need any walkthrough assistance with any of this, I’m here for you.
Your coach, always.
​
Coach Baez

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1. Comparing and doubting yourself – Stop worrying about others, and focus on developing your best offerings – Yes, you are good enough and qualified for more positions than you’d expect
2. Sharing your life history – Your resume is a marketing piece, not a biography – its sole purpose is to get you an interview
3. Thinking too small – Think big picture when presenting your skills and abilities
4. Putting your needs first - In the interview, it’s about their needs, not yours – show that you understand their needs and how you can deliver on them
5. Only applying online – If you’re only applying online, you’re search strategy is seriously flawed – 80% of jobs are acquired through a referral or contact, so make it easy for hiring managers by getting a referral from someone they trust
6. Networking only when you need to – Networking out of desperation is disingenuous, and they’ll see that. Think ABN – Always Be Networking, for the long-term benefits of staying informed in your field/industry and for helping others, which can trigger reciprocal support when you need it
7. Not following up – hiring managers are overwhelmed, but you can help them by standing out with respectful follow-up and enthusiasm for the opportunity

I had a client recently tell me she was having a bad day, and to please excuse her attitude. As a coach, I know never to let that or any issue go without at least addressing it to identify some improvement opportunities. 

Especially in this case, because she is far from alone. We all have bad days, of course, but in the US the frequency is rising and the causes of bad days are multiplying as well. 

Excuses or reasons include not getting enough sleep, work stress, issues at home with family, the kids, money issues, disatisfaction with life, a favorite sports team losing, your boss...there's no shortage of "reasons" for bad days. 

But how can we turn these situations around so they don't leave us defeated and ineffective? 

One idea that many successful people have employed is to make a Happy List. Ok, they might not call it that, and for many it's a mental list more than a written one - but the concept is the same and simple - a Happy List is a list of things, places, actions, activities that bring you Joy and can turn your mood around almost instantly. 

What would you put on your Happy List?
Keep it simple and make sure it's quickly doable in most any situation.  

• Going to the Gym for a good workout
• Reading a positive and empowering book 
• Watching or listening to something positive and motivating 
• Talking a walk outside in the fresh air, or to a park, or to a nearby lake or beach 
• Making a Gratitude list of all the good things in your life
• Planning a lunch or drink meetup with a good, cheerful friend 

Other ideas? Leave a comment and share how you turn your day around after a negative situation! 

​Coach Baez

I was recently asked by a coaching client - "What books should I be reading to be more successful?"

Of course, there are hundreds of great books and I can recommend many that would be valuable to have as a knowledge base.... but books alone aren't the answer. In fact, for many, books and other content such as websites, blogs, YouTube videos, etc...often become an addiction and escape from what really matters - taking action. 

Yes, we're back to that. But it's a very important topic and realization many have to make. 

The real value of books
Books are only as valuable as the knowledge you take from them to propel you to take the next action. The should be seen as a means to an end, that being the achievement of whatever goal or milestone they are trying to achieve. 

Books are neither good nor bad...they're just simply a step in the info to wisdom path we must consciously make sure we're on. 

What do I mean? 
Think of it this way. Our goal as professionals and human beings on this planet is to live with purpose. That purpose can be most anything that elevates us and in the process helps others. 
Books provide lots of information we can use toward that end, be it financial rewards, healthier living, or even spiritual enlightenment.
When you read books you should see them as information that must be processed in your mind and turned into knowledge that is actionable. Knowledge that is acted upon becomes experience. Experience over time becomes wisdom. This is the learning process and path you should follow if you're goal is to achieve anything worthy in life. 

INFORMATION --> KNOWLEDGE --> EXPERIENCE --> WISDOM

INFORMATION acquired toward a purpose becomes KNOWLEDGE, which when acted upon become EXPERIENCE, and over time experiences accumulate into WISDOM.

So what's the problem with reading?
Reading for the sake of gathering loads of information can become a crutch and an excuse to not act or apply your learning. For many, it's a form of procrastination. If this is you, you need to stop reading for the sake of reading and start being very selective about it and what you want to get from it. 

How I read books
When I read books my aim is simply to get 1-3 nuggets of knowledge that I can apply to my most urgent need or project. I could get that from simply reading the table of contents, or from a single chapter, or through reading the book in it's entirety. This does require clarity about what your goal is and what you want to get out of the book.
So always start with asking yourself -

• "Why am I reading this book?"
• "What goal or task am I trying to accomplish? or
• "What barrier am I trying to get past?"
• "Is this book the best resources to find my answer?" 
  ​and finally - 
• "Am I prepared to apply what I learn by reading this?"

These questions will get you focused on your goal and help you target your reading to only what's essential toward that goal. 

Alright...with all this in mind let me know what you're reading now, what problem you're trying to solve, and how your current read will help you do that. I'll look for your comments below! 

Much success,

Coach Baez 



  

How to know you’re seriously being considered for the job, or not
Although it’s not easy to tell in most cases, even if you think the interview went well, or poorly, there are some indicators you can look out for. Here are just a few:

1. Checking References – this is generally the last step in the hiring process, so if they’re spending the time and energy to check yours, you’re in the final stretch.
2. They extend the interview – if they seem to want to learn more about you, that’s a very good sign you’re a top candidate. Now, this isn’t the same as the interview taking longer because your answers are long winded, or they just didn’t allot enough time given the questions.
3. They introduce you to the hiring manager – if you don’t get to meet your potential manager in the interview process, you’re probably not a top candidate just yet, unless you get a follow-up meeting of course.
4. They offer to show you around and meet the team – this is a very good sign they’re interested, as long as they introduce you to key players. If it’s a basic tour of the office, that might be standard procedure for them.
5. They ask about the competition or your timeline for deciding on a position – if they’re interested they’ll ask this to weigh their competitors and their ability to keep interviewing without losing you as an option.
6. They ask personal questions about your personal life, goals, and hobbies – this is a good sign they’re trying to determine if you’d fit in with their staff and culture, but they’re imagining you as part of their team.
7. A vague or specific date for letting you know – if it’s vague, it’s less likely you’re a top candidate. But if they offer a date and seem concerned, or even ask you when you need to know by, there’s a very good chance you’re in the running.
8. A shorter than expected interview or no follow-up questions – in many cases this is an indication that they don’t think you’re a good fit or that they already have a favorite candidate in mind, and you’re not it.
9. You notice positive body language – lots of agreement, nods, smiles, good eye contact, are all signs that they approve of you and see you as a good candidate.
10. They negotiate – if they’re talking salary and benefits, there’s a good chance you’re being offered the job with the contingency of those options. 

Need help with your job search, resume, or interview preparation? 

In my work with many executives and director level clients, I've learned to walk them through a simple process and way of thinking that helps them keep calm and have a plan of action they can follow. Here are the steps we follow. I hope they serve you! 

• Finding a job is a Job – treat it like a part-time project that you’ve been hired to do, to showcase your research, writing, and personal marketing and sales abilities.
• Targeted Resumes are a must – remember to tailor each resume to the target role/company. That might only require simple asjustments in wording or layout.
• Targeting Your Efforts is Key – it’s better to identify and target 25-30 companies, and follow a simple strategy (such as Intro/Share/Contact) than it will ever be simply apply to any and every job online
• Don’t Wait – Take Action – you can’t wait for them to contact you. Have a timed strategy in place to make your 3-5 impressions, and then schedule them and be consistent.
• Use a Broad Search Strategy – this should include job posting websites, company sites, state and fed employment agencies, and your personal, professional, and online network.
• Brand yourself – align your resume, your LinkedIn profile, online executive Bios, and anything else you’re using during your job search.
• Craft various stories – Situational / Achievement / Results focused stories that sell your experiences, talents, and strengths. Also craft your story of struggle and interest in each target company. 
• Prepare for Interviewing —Company research, job / contact research, exploratory, standard, behavioral & situational interview questions.
• Do your Salary Research – see what the market is paying, not only for your target job but for your unique skills and abilities. The sum might be worth a lot more than it’s parts.
• Get out there and Networking – Traditional networking opportunities, Eventbrite, Meetup, school alumni groups, corporate alumni groups, professional and industry associations.
• Follow Up! – This might be the most important and missed point of all. Start and finish your job search process by following up with potential employers. 

Did this help? Are their any other points of advice you'd recommend? 
Let me know your thoughts in the comments. And if I can be of service to you, contact me at [email protected].