Resume Storyteller with Virginia Franco

3 LinkedIn Tools to Help You Show Up More in Search 

LinkedIn and its LinkedIn Recruiter solution are both platforms used by hiring professionals to search for qualified candidates. With the rise of AI and the fact that there are close to 800M users on the platform, the platform has become increasingly algorithm-driven as a way to “whittle down” search. 

Keywords (in this case Key Skills) are a critical factor in how LinkedIn’s algorithm ranks candidates. In plain speak, this means to increase your visibility, profile optimization is more important than ever and is a bit part of my LinkedIn writing service.

In this week’s podcast, I walk through 3 of my favorite tools for helping ensure my client’s profile are search-optimized. 

Be sure to check out my April 2023 blog post that contains step-by-step screenshots designed to help you use these 3 tools. 

With summer around the corner, it felt like a great time to reflect on my career journey and path to accidental entrepreneurship -- and hopefully provide some solace, comfort and inspiration for those struggling with what feels like a non-linear path. 

In this week’s podcast, I walk through my career job-by-job . . .  how I got it, what worked and what didn’t, and strategies for explaining it all during job search. 

4 TAKEAWAYS:

− Careers can be twisty and turny and that’s OK. 

− Don’t be afraid to make bold asks. They can say no but might say yes.

− It’s OK to take a job that meets a short-term goal. 

− Strive for roles that work in the moment, recognizing that as your life evolves so might your jobs.

ABOUT DAWN:

Dawn is an Author, TEDx Speaker and LinkedIn Learning Instructor who talks about Career Moblity, the Talent Marketplace, Reskilling & Rebranding and more. 

For 6 years, she hosted the live weekly call-in show "Dr. Dawn on Careers" on SIRIUSXM's Business Radio (132) where she interviewed talent experts and company leaders around the world to broadcast the latest market/talent trends and career insights to a live national audience. 

She is also a regular contributor to Forbes.com’s leadership channel and a Director of Talent Management at KPMG. 

Her book “Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers and Seize Success” combines her experience as a Career Coach, Licensed Psychologist, and Corporate Recruiter to give career switchers the strategies to break through obstacles and land the job they want.

LEARN MORE: 

About Colleen

Beginning with her career as an engineer, then production manager and pricing analyst for 2 Fortune 50 companies (Procter & Gamble and FedEx), it’s safe to state that Colleen is an expert in career pivots. 

Colleen launched her writing business in 2006 and has served a wide range of corporate clients including The Motley Fool and Investopedia. 

She has written and reviewed thousands of resumes during her work as a resume writer and MBA Admissions Consultant for Carnegie Mellon University.

Our Chat

We discussed the pitfalls and challenges faced by “older workers” – which now spans 3 generations (Baby Boomers, Gen Xers and even older Millennials)! 

Colleen shared several tips and best practices to help these job seekers maintain their confidence, position themselves optimally for targeted roles and advance in their search.

LEARN MORE:

LinkedIn Profile | Colleen Paulson Consulting

David is a career coach and has been involved in the resilience field for over 30 years. A 3X career changer himself, he is the Founder of Soul Satisfying work. 

His diverse background includes work in the addictions field as a counselor, and he is passionate about physical fitness, healthy nutrition and the application of wisdom traditions and mindfulness practices in today’s complex world. 

He has presented at conferences and association meetings throughout North America and Australia and is the author of 100+ articles and book chapters on individual and organizational performance.  

OUR CHAT

We discussed the importance of not going it alone, techniques to shift mindset, and how changes to our physical state can impact our mental state, strengthen our resilience and improve job search ROI!

LEARN MORE:

LinkedIn Profile 

Soul Satisfying Work

[email protected]

5 Rs for Resiliency – first podcast with David and Virginia 

OUR CHAT 

Nicole pulled back the curtain to discuss her process for finding and vetting candidates. 

We discussed how she uses Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) plays, online and niche job boards, what she looks, red flags and much more.  

She also shared insights on navigating ghosting and staying top of mind. 

ABOUT NICOLE

Nicole Reyes has spent more than 20 years in the Department of Energy industry as a technical recruiter – where she recruits engineers and scientists with active security clearances. 

Her experience also includes recruiting for Department of Defense contracts. 

Passionate about recruiting – she considers it a calling – Nicole regularly shares insights on the complexities of job search, interviewing and recruiters on LinkedIn. 

LEARN MORE: 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nsreyestechrecruiter

OUR CHAT

Discussion Highlights: 

• The strong similarities between job search and sales processes. 
• How your attitude and emotional state can make or break a job search.
• 3 questions to ask yourself when figuring out your next best move. 
• Messaging is everything! It informs what you say to others during outreach, interviews, and in your resume and LinkedIn profile. 

 . . . and much more. 

ABOUT BOB

Bob Goodwin is the Founder and President of Career Club, a unique service that uses proven sales and marketing methods to help clients land a career that matters to them.  

The inspiration for Career Club was born from his experience leading client engagements for global brands like Coca-Cola, Samsung and P&G – where he saw the opportunity to blend marketing principles with sales technology to conduct effective job search campaigns. 

LEARN MORE: 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bobgoodwincareerclub
Website: career.club

Email: [email protected]

Podcast: Career Club LinkedIn Live

OUR CHAT

Lisa and Adam broke down: 

• Core differences between service on nonprofit, startup and public boards.
• Key messaging to include in board marketing collateral (hint: it’s different than what you share as a job seeker on your resume)
• The skills you must possess to serve on a public board. 
• Who and how to network to identify board opportunities. 

ABOUT LISA

As a Senior Partner with JamesDruryPartners, Lisa’s experience includes decades of performing board director search assignments, corporate governance consulting projects and support to Private Equity Clients. Sectors of expertise include consumer goods, healthcare products and industrial manufacturing. 

ABOUT ADAM

As Head Writer & Editor for JamesDruryPartners, Adam is a certified resume writer and career branding expert who has written career marketing collateral for America’s premier business leaders and Fortune 500 C-level executives. 

He shares his expertise with universities, nonprofits and business associations – and serves on the Board of Directors for The National Resumes Writers Association. 

ABOUT JAMESDRURYPARTNERS

JamesDruryPartners is one of America’s foremost board advisory services firms with clients that span industry and range in size from $100M to $260B in revenue. 

They’ve advised the boards of major corporations regarding governance policy, director evaluation, best practices and CEO succession, and introduced qualified candidates for IPOs and spinouts, to replace retiring directors and reinvigorate legacy boards. 

LEARN MORE: 

Website: www.jdrurypartners.com

JamesDruryPartners LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/james-drury-partners

Adam Zajac LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adamzajac

Lisa Ward LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/catladychicago

OUR CHAT

Cassie shared the ins and outs of her job search – including big wins and lessons learned – that helped her make a major career transition within 5 months and then recover from a setback in a matter of days.  

ABOUT CASSIE

Cassie began her career as a corporate trainer, then made her first career transition in 2007 when she earned her Master of Education and pivoted into teaching. 

After 15 years of teaching high school English, publishing yearbooks and sponsoring every type of student club that you can imagine, she decided to make another big career change. 

In May 2022, she resigned from her teaching position and pivoted for the second time. Today she is a Customer Success Manager at boodleAI. 

LEARN MORE: 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cassiepiggott

OUR CHAT

As a Brazilian immigrant who has been in the U.S. for 10+ years, Ana and I discussed: 

• Mindset adjustments to overcome language barriers
• Effective methods to understand the U.S. job market.
• Strategies to glean intel in a new industry.
• The importance of setting boundaries when striving to make a name for yourself as a newcomer to Corporate America. 

 . . . and much more.

ABOUT ANA

As the Founder of Digital Butterfly Communications, Ana helps achievers say YES to themselves, to set boundaries and find healthy work environments. 

She spent more than 10 years working for small organizations and Fortune 500 companies where, as an HR and career professional, she reviewed hundreds of resumes. 

Today Ana teaches successful career strategies to her clients and provides resume and LinkedIn reviews as she motivates and empowers professionals to seek change. 

Ana has been featured in Time Magazine, LinkedIn News, and more. 

LEARN MORE: 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anagoehner
Website: anagoehner.com

YouTube Channel