Personal branding creates a lasting impression. Once you have a clear vision of how you want to be perceived online and off, a digital media kit can be a handy resource where you can easily keep and access information for your web site pages, social media profiles, video, audio, and Power Point presentations.
How and why to create a personal brand:
Smart ways to invite people YOU DON'T KNOW to connect on LinkedIn
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| Connect with many people to expand your network into hiring companies. |
But did you know you can easily add a message to reflect your personality and convey why you want to connect?
Customizing your invitations can greatly increase the chance that recipients will accept your invitation.
Although LinkedIn recommends that you only send invitations to people you know well, many more people who you don’t know are open to connect with you if you explain who you are and why you want to connect.
Adding a message to be more personal and informative can improve the response rate to your invitations and build a relationship with new connections.
Customize your message like I have done below by highlighting the default text, deleting it and replacing it with your own message.
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| Example of customized invitation |
Customized invitation message
Modify your message to show recipients why you want to connect. Examples:
- "I read your blog regularly and love your advice.” (Bloggers never tire of such messages!)
- “You may recall that I met you at the networking event. I was the person who was very impressed with your business card.”
- “I see you also worked at XYZ Corp. I’d like to invite you to connect.”
- “I see that you're also an alum of the University of Missouri. Go Tigers!” Similarly, send messages to your particular school … “I see you were a 1995 Business School grad, too. I bet we had Econ 101 together. Let's connect.” Also invite people from your fraternity or sorority even from a different college saying something like, “I see you are a Kappa Kappa Gamma from ABC University. I was one at the University of XYZ.”
- “I’ve enjoyed reading your comments on the [GROUP NAME] discussion board. We share a lot of the same perspectives.”
- “I know we have not yet met, but my friend Joe Blow talks so highly of you, I wanted to invite you to connect to introduce myself.”
- “I heard you speak at __ event and was so inspired by your message.”
- “I’ve seen you in the XYZ Co. Cafeteria, but have not yet had the opportunity to introduce myself.”
- "I'm a fellow St. Louisan and notice that we have 34 mutual connections so I thought I would invite you to connect in case our knowing each other might be mutually beneficial."
Connection considerations
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| Open networkers are typically open to accepting all invitations |
- People (like my friend Robert Shindell) who include the word “LION” or their number of connections after their name are called LinkedIn Open Networkers. Open networkers will accept all invitations … so by all means go ahead and invite them to connect, but for best results, still modify your message to let them know why you want to connect with them.
LinkedIn open networking
- Did you know that you can send InMessages to anyone in the same LinkedIn group? That means if you belong to a LinkedIn group with 20,000 people, you can send a well crafted connection invitation to anyone (or everyone) in the group to greatly expand your network.
- You cannot include a link or attachment in an invitation to connect.
- Recruiters or hiring managers may be resistant to accepting connections from job seekers … they fear you will use the connection to pester them about job openings. Rather than asking them to connect, invite people to connect who can influence the hiring decision at your target companies.
- Accept invitations! In all the time I’ve been on LinkedIn, I have accepted invitations from all who have asked and have had on a few problems with spam or inappropriate contact. So don’t resist connection requests; each connection expands your network which can help you learn about the right people within target companies.
- Not everyone will accept your invitation, often because they don't really use LinkedIn. Don't get discouraged; keep on inviting others to connect.
- You can only customize an invitation if you ask the person to connect from their profile.
- If you don't want to connect with someone, simply click “Ignore”.
- Invite me to connect … and practice customizing your invitation while you are at it! I will accept and then you can ask my questions or let me know how I can help you.
Customize your connection invitations starting now to reflect your personality and purpose. Doing so can help you land a job ... or a better one! -- Kathy
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Look to WiserU
WiserU provides LinkedIn training and services and career training and services for individuals and organizations that can transform your future or grow your business. Visit WiserU.com to learn more.
Look to WiserU
WiserU provides LinkedIn training and services and career training and services for individuals and organizations that can transform your future or grow your business. Visit WiserU.com to learn more.
- Businesses arrange for WiserU to maximize their use of LinkedIn for sales, marketing, and fundraising through training and services. Learn more
- The unemployed and miserably employed hire WiserU for career training, coaching, interview preparation, and LinkedIn profile and resume creation services. Learn more at wiseru.com/services/
- Subscribe to WiserUTips.com for weekly LinkedIn and career tips!
Should you take the job offer or wait? 13 questions to know for sure
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| Should you take the job? |
It’s not an easy question to answer because the right decision depends entirely on your situation, but there are questions to ask yourself to help you make the right choice.
13 questions to ask before accepting the job
- Do you know in your heart that you will hate the job? If so, run, don’t walk away. If on the other hand, you are you just mildly worried about aspects of the position, be open to the offer or negotiate to make it more to your liking.
- Are your family members supportive of you taking the position? Why or why not? Don’t rush into a new job without carefully considering their concerns.
- Will it provide adequate income and benefits? If not, can you or other family members supplement your income with other income to make ends meet? If you are in desperate financial straits answering whether it pays enough may be a moot point if you need to earn money now no matter what.
- Are you qualified? If you are too under- or overqualified, you could be frustrated or bored.
- Are the company’s expectations for the position determined and attainable? If not, you may find yourself in the unfortunate position of never meeting their demands.
- Do you expect to enjoy or dread your duties? It's a lo-o-o-ng day when you dread your job.
- Is the commute bearable? Or is it in an area where you want to work?
- Will the schedule work for your lifestyle and family?
- Are you a good fit for the company? Are you willing to drink the “company Kool-Aid”?
- Will the work environment be right for you? Will you be comfortable in your work space? Are the facilities acceptable? Is the location safe? Are you OK with the dress code?
- Will the people aspect of the place be right for you? Do you have a good feeling about working with your boss and coworkers? Are you comfortable with the expected work pace?
- Does there appear to be a future for you at the company? Is there a clear career path? Is the company well run and growing ... or is it in serious trouble?
- Do you feel called to take the position? Sometimes you can feel like a position is meant to be despite your concerns. If you have that feeling, you might be willing to look beyond expected challenges.
You may not be able to answer positively to each question because no company or position is perfect, but you should be able to answer most questions positively … or perhaps the job is not the right one for you.
Share your comments!
What other questions should people ask themselves before they consider taking a job? Share your ideas!
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Look to WiserU
WiserU provides LinkedIn training and services and career training and services for individuals and organizations that can transform your future or grow your business. Visit WiserU.com to learn more.
Look to WiserU
WiserU provides LinkedIn training and services and career training and services for individuals and organizations that can transform your future or grow your business. Visit WiserU.com to learn more.
- Businesses arrange for WiserU to maximize their use of LinkedIn for sales, marketing, and fundraising through training and services. Learn more
- The unemployed and miserably employed hire WiserU for career training, coaching, interview preparation, and LinkedIn profile and resume creation services. Learn more at wiseru.com/services/
- Subscribe to WiserUTips.com for weekly LinkedIn and career tips!
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