{"id":825,"date":"2019-04-18T10:00:11","date_gmt":"2019-04-18T17:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hiringourheroes.org\/5-konmari-inspired-tips-to-help-your-linkedin-profile-spark-joy-for-yourself-and-job-recruiters\/"},"modified":"2023-10-16T17:20:15","modified_gmt":"2023-10-16T21:20:15","slug":"5-konmari-inspired-tips-to-help-your-linkedin-profile-spark-joy-for-yourself-and-job-recruiters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hiringourheroes.org\/stories\/5-konmari-inspired-tips-to-help-your-linkedin-profile-spark-joy-for-yourself-and-job-recruiters\/","title":{"rendered":"5 KonMari-Inspired Tips to Help Your LinkedIn Profile Spark Joy for Yourself and Job Recruiters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Between Marie Kondo\u2019s best-selling book and her popular Netflix series, it seems like everyone is tidying up their closets and asking themselves \u201cdoes this spark joy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What about our LinkedIn profiles? Can they spark joy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is there a way to take Marie Kondo\u2019s strategies for decluttering and apply them to LinkedIn? Can KonMari-inspired tips make your online professional identity shine in the eyes of a job recruiter combing through the clutter of job candidates?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are five KonMari-inspired lessons to help your LinkedIn profile spark joy for yourself and job recruiters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Remove the Clutter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your headline and summary are the first two things that job recruiters see when they review your LinkedIn profile. In less than 30 seconds, they decide if you, the job candidate, spark joy for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost all employers, including Booz Allen, use LinkedIn to find employees and post opportunities. Period,\u201d said Laura Schmiegel, a lead associate for Military Programs at Booz Allen Hamilton. \u201cYou should approach LinkedIn the same way you would approach a resume. Consider what employers you would like to attract and tailor your profile to anticipate their needs<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your summary is your digital elevator pitch<\/a> \u2013 be clear about who you are, what you\u2019ve done, and what you want to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This summary, written in first person, is your targeted approach for getting the job that you want or networking with a person who may be able to connect you with a position in your chosen field. Your summary language needs to be precise, so avoid using generic terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remove military language clutter from your LinkedIn profile. \u201cJob recruiters, unless they served in the Army, do not know what a first sergeant is or what they do on a daily basis,\u201d said Gary Soldato, Director of Sports and Entertainment Expos at Hiring Our Heroes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid using the words \u201ctransitioning veteran\u201d and \u201cseeking new opportunities\u201d in your headline; replace your military rank or rate with manager or supervisor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An easy way to translate your military skills to the civilian vernacular is to incorporate terms used by job recruiters, explained LinkedIn’s Head of Military and Veterans Programs Sarah Roberts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Grab three or fourth job descriptions that you are interested in and that you think you are qualified for and use that to help your LinkedIn profile,” Roberts said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having trouble translating your military experience? Register for a free LinkedIn workshop<\/a> offered by Hiring Our Heroes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. A Gray Profile Box Does Not Spark Joy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAny gray area on LinkedIn is a bad thing,\u201d Soldato told a group of military job seekers at a Hiring Our Heroes LinkedIn workshop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be really thoughtful about the profile picture and the background photo that you use in your LinkedIn profile, Roberts said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“If you’re transitioning from the military, you should think about not using a military photo and using a photo of you in your civilian clothes,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no excuse for not having a professional head shot \u2013 Hiring Our Heroes provides free head shots for AMPLIFY career intensives<\/a> and Career Summits<\/a> participants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Follow Companies That Spark Joy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The next step is to research and connect with potential employers. Do you have a list of targeted companies that you would like to work for? If you don\u2019t, you risk wasting your time and energy applying for positions at companies that aren\u2019t a good match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you find companies that are a good match? Search the U.S. Chamber of Commerce\u2019s directory<\/a> to find your local Chamber of Commerce and then visit your chamber’s directory of local companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you want to work for an employer that values the experiences that veterans and military spouses bring to their organizations? Browse the list of our employment partners<\/a> and connect with these companies on LinkedIn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you follow these companies on LinkedIn, you’ll be able to see your connections at this company, new hires, promotions, jobs postings, related companies, and company statistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roberts recommends that you make a habit of regularly using LinkedIn, even if you aren’t looking for a job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Engagement is key,” she said. “I highly recommend engaging, liking, commenting, and posting on LinkedIn to stay connected with your network.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Apply for Jobs that Spark Joy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you find a job listing with your targeted company, it\u2019s tempting to immediately fire off your resume to the job recruiter. But please, follow Kondo\u2019s advice on visualization before emailing your cover letter and resume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask yourself these three questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n