Confession Time!
I’ve only read the Resume of one @Ideba employee ever! And if you can guess who it is first time, I’ll send you a @Starbucks card.
As is widely recognized, the majority of people get a job through peer referrals, networking and other personal introductions. Soft skills are often key, along with first impressions, and good communication skills.
In a recent conversation with friend and colleague @jamesrice, we came to realize that a LinkedIn profile is now way more important than a Resume. Here are three of the many reasons why:
- Its in the public domain, meaning the info is more likely to be truthful and credible
- You can showcase online references of your work on sites like SlideShare and YouTube, along with other digital assets
- It’s a great vehicle to highlight your passions and interests including philanthropic efforts, causes you are passionate about; and athletic achievements to name but a few
Your LinkedIn profile is in essence a living Resume, that can be used to highlight strengths and key points of differentiation (e.g. marathon runners who want to promote endurance and perseverance as qualities of their personality). It can also be used to highlight ambition for teenagers that have taken on multiple Summer internships during vacation time to help get work valuable work experience. Which begs the question “at what age should you create a LinkedIn profile”… to which I would answer “as soon as you have something valuable and meaningful to share”.
I’d welcome hearing your thoughts on this topic, and if you feel there are other things that are important to share on your profile; to help potential others get a sense of your skills, achievements, and the value you would bring to connecting. Thanks in advance for sharing.
