How often do recruiters contact you on LinkedIn? If the answer is, “Not enough,” your problem might be a lackluster LinkedIn Summary. Many users neglect their LinkedIn Summary or cut and paste sections of their resume in that field. If you’ve never given much thought to this part of your profile, now’s your chance to fix the problem and get some recruiters’ attention.
In this week’s roundup, we look at expert advice on using your LinkedIn Summary to convey your personal brand, plus back-to-school books for grownups and why the real leader of the Peanuts gang isn’t Charlie Brown.
Meg Guiseppi at LinkedIn: How to Write a Dazzling LinkedIn Summary
“Even though plenty of evidence is stacked against it, a great percentage of the profiles I see have non-existent or severely anemic Summary sections,” writes Guiseppi at LinkedIn. “These job seekers are neglecting a golden opportunity to tell their personal brand story.”
Guiseppi explains how this section can be used as a biography and an opportunity to show off hard and soft skills. She lists a few questions to get you started on a Summary that sells.
Anne Bogel at Modern Mrs. Darcy: 15 Books for New Routines and Fresh Starts
“Whether or not you’re a student, or the parent of one, September is a time for new routines and fresh starts,” Bogel writes. “(I love that some people even call it ‘the new January.’) These books are fun, (mostly) short, and packed with the practical tips and motivation you need to get your life in order for fall.”
Selections include What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast and Daily Rituals: How Artists Work, among others.
David Kahn at TalentCulture: Confidence, Conceit, and Narcissism: Who Is the Real Leader In Peanuts?
“When you think of the Peanuts’ gang, who is the leader?” Kahn asks. “If your initial answer is Charlie Brown, I respectfully disagree. Charlie may be at the center of almost all the stories, but he is constantly stepped on, disrespected, and ignored. He lacks confidence and cannot even muster a simple ‘hello’ to the red-haired girl he’s been infatuated with since 1961.”
So who is the real leader of the Peanuts gang? Snoopy, Linus, Peppermint Patty? Kahn’s answer might raise hackles for those who prefer their leaders likable and nurturing, but you’ll be hard-pressed to argue with his logic. Plus, you might reconsider some of your assumptions about what you’d prefer in a boss.
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