Are you using the LinkedIn #OpenToWork green photo badge on your LinkedIn profile and not getting any results?
Turn it off.
Right now.
Don’t hesitate.
You won’t regret it.
Depending on the industry you are in, your job experience and where your strengths lie, this might happen very often or never at all.
Chances are, that if you are reading this, you fall in the second category, and having the LinkedIn #OpenToWork green photo badge on might be causing you more damage than you actually think.
When was the last time a recruiter reached out to you and offered you an interview in a great place that you’d actually like to work for? How long have you been in the search? How many applications have you submitted and interviews got in return?
If things are feeling uphill, turn it off. If you are looking for a job, and struggling to land job interviews or even get job offers, there is a compelling case to be made as to why you should ditch the LinkedIn #OpenToWork green photo badge as soon as you finish reading this article.
I don’t have concrete proof but I certainly don’t have doubts either. I believe that having the LinkedIn #OpenToWork green photo badge on your LinkedIn profile does more harm than good, and here are my three reasons why:
Are you in demand or supply?
The reason why diamonds are expensive and air is free, is called scarcity, and the truth is: there’s only one of you in this world. You are unique. Only you have your combination of skills, experiences and your story. So, why commoditize yourself like everyone else does? The moment you turn that badge on, is the moment you let the world know that you’re just like everybody else. You want to be in demand, and not necessarily open to any or to all offers. What you want is to make it easy for hiring managers to see your value, not your availability. A better, proactive and more effective way to let people know you are looking for work is to reach out to them directly, have a talk and learn about the problems they have. When the right match happens, provide proof on how you can solve them. Do this in a really targeted way.
Are you being active or passive?
How much are you willing to do in order to land a great job? How bad do you really want it? Strong mental fitness is key when it comes to the job search. The moment you turn that badge on, is the moment where you might fall in the trap of thinking somebody else will do the job for you. Approaching your job search actively (and by this I don’t mean waiting for recruiters to approach you first so you can talk to them, or applying to +100 jobs with LikedIn Easy Apply) will help you push back your limits and uncover your full potential in your next career move. The only way to improve performance is by altering how you perceive effort, and to do this, you need to get out there and talk to real people, instead of machines or systems. It’s not only your professional experience, but also the attitude you bring to your job search which will get you results.
Are you leading by results or availability?
Organisations hire people to solve problems. If you position yourself as a suitable candidate to solve them, chances are you might get invited to get to know each other and eventually, if things go well, you can build trust and showcase a profitable return on investment. Then get an offer and get hired. Organisations don’t hire you because of your availability, or because they are willing to pay for your learning curve experience, nor hire you for your enthusiasm for quick learning, nor you’re good and noble intentions. So instead of leading with your availability, lead with your results instead. So if you jumped to turn the LinkedIn #OpenToWork green photo badge on some time ago and feel a bit hesitant about it’s potential to improve your situation so far, you might want to turn it off and actually go and connect with 100 new people from outside your network that are affiliated with the places you want to work. Get to know them and get them to know you, learn about their problems and provide value. Eventually you’ll like each other, build trust and when they need you, and want you as a future colleague, that’s when you get hired.
It’s OK to let recruiters know you are on the search, but bare that you can do this privately and keep your leverage on your side. Remember, organisations hire you because they trust you can bring the best return on investment and that your contribution to the organisation will most likely be bigger than your salary, not because you are available, like everyone else.
So stay on demand, keep a proactive search, and lead with your results. Because that’s what gets you hired.
To your success!
Mr. Cover Letter
—
Looking for a job is time consuming and frustrating. Mr. Cover Letter has everything you need to clarify your story and value, engage with hiring managers and get shortlisted and land a great job faster.
Actively looking for a job or about to start doing so? Consider taking advantage of my tools, joining a workshop or engaging in coaching. Otherwise, decide to become “one in a million” and sign up for updates.
