LinkedIn Can Work for You!

By Larry French

This series has explored how you can establish yourself a LinkedIn Profile. It’s also featured brief articles on the various features LinkedIn offers you as tools in your own job search strategy. All of us who are job seekers can benefit in some way through the offerings LinkedIn has. If you’re serious in your job search, LinkedIn can be one of your most effective tools to get a specific job.

As I’ve stated in previous articles, I had to come to the realization that my work search methods from 20-years ago weren’t working in our current market place. I began looking at LinkedIn as a tool to get myself back into the job market. Thanks to LinkedIn, I now have a job. My personal journey to success may be different from the one you take. All of us are individuals. We each have specific needs, dreams, and goals that vary. The one thing we have in common is the need to succeed in what ever course we’re pursuing in the job market. Using LinkedIn you too can make it.

Thank You for Your Service

Cover from FALL 2011 USAA Magazine

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of those servicemen and women coming home. We all owe you for the sacrifice you gave in your service. Now that you’re home and rejoining the job market you too may want to take a look at LinkedIn.

The use of Keywords and wording in resumes and job descriptions may pose an initial challenge to transitioning military personnel. Don’t let the jargon discourage you. All of us have had to look at everything in a different perspective in these times. It’s not really all that daunting a task cross-referencing your skills. USAA magazine had an extremely helpful article in their 2011 Fall edition for transitioning servicemen and women, http://usaamagazine.com/fall2011/ . The article, On The Job Front provided pages for you to De-Jargon Your Resume, showing how tasks and jobs in the military can be translated into civilian application. For example, if you worked in reconnaissance that could be translated to data collection, survey, and analysis experience.

Adapt for Success

If you’re just getting started in your search to get back into the work force you’ve got lots of resources to help you. Check out the CBE and PRO-NET. Go to the CBE One-Stop Employment Division website at http://www.onestops.com/newindex.asp and check out their resources, such as the Job Seekers and Customized Services tabs. Schedule an appointment to meet with one of the staff to discuss your job search strategy and begin re-inventing yourself.

Larry French is a novelist, speaker, editorial writer, and content provider of Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, and Mathematics curriculum. He is now seeking a publisher for his first novel, Time Will Tell, The Awakening which blends his love of history and science and is set during the American Civil War. http://www.linkedin.com/pub/larry-french/12/213/534