Day 20: LinkedIn Cold Messages

Let's talk about the power of LinkedIn for a minute. It is the largest single online professional network that I know of. And everyone on the other side of the profile is human too. Just. Like. You.

LinkedIn can help you do some amazing things. That's why you are on here. To achieve amazing results for yourself and your future. To help out wonderful people. To learn from people inside and outside your industry.

So how are you not using this tool fully to make a fantastic First Impression? There are four areas to examine today and add to your backlog if they need improvement.

1. Your Banner
2. Your Profile
3. Your Posts
4. Your Network

Briefly, your Banner should be unique to you and sell you as an individual. Mine's all decked out for Pride Month since I am happy to be part of the "Alphabet Mafia" as a friend deemed it.* Your profile should stand like an online resume -- preferably for the top position title you are going for.**

Your posts should be an insight into who you are and what you bring. I am posting a lot about this newsletter. I am very much who I am in the newsletter and it is focused on my field and how it intersects with what I am doing - a job hunt. Apparently, that may mean I am full of tricks until someone in the LinkedIn group hears my pleas for footnotes.***

There's great information out there right now on banners and profiles, and if you have an interest in covering those again let me know. I want to talk about the last point...Your Network.

I think it goes without saying if you're not participating in #socialsaturday you should be by now! This is a great way to start off growing your network with other professionals in your field. Jonathan Lee has a great post on some notes. Just click his name with the link.

But what about during the week? When you're messaging on LinkedIn, it can feel awkward. Real awkward. Here are some quick dos and don'ts filtered through #Agile principles apply.

Agile Principles and Cold IM on LinkedIn:

1. Individual and interactions over processes and tools. Don't send a template out to everyone. Focus on interacting with the individual on the other end not sending out templates to accomplish messaging 100 people. 10 good conversations are better than 100 sent messages. Research the person. Did you like their last post? Say so! Also, don't ever use the pre-filled template. ****
2. Working software over comprehensive documentation. Welp. Not exactly software per se, but don't go lengthy. Get yourself into the message and get a conversation going OVER trying to cram as much information in the IM as possible. An IM is working when there is a back and forth. You're the whole goal is to get that back and forth and get it to the point where you feel like you are talking naturally. Why? You'll shine better.
3. Customer collaboration over contract negotiation. People don't like to be sold to even if it is you that is being sold, they do like to chat though! Talk about their last post, a post idea you had that intersects with their field. One of the great things about LinkedIn is that it connects interesting people together. Say that! Collaborate. You may end up with a fantastic piece of content that you can then tag them on.
4. Responding to change over following the plan. I've started cold IMs with the intent to ask to be looked at for that job and realized halfway through that the higher value was the person, not the job. Reframe your perspective. Perhaps that HR person has had a really, really good day and wants to brag about landing the position you were interested in. Celebrate with them! There may be another job down the line or they may have someone they can recommend to you. Either way, being compassionate and genuine at that moment is going to mean they view you as a value-added connection, and you get to know them a bit better too, which is a value add for you.

See you Saturday!

Bexs

*Alphabet Mafia = LGBTQIA+ and any other letters that want to be part of it.

**Focus breathes results. See Day 5 on my Job Search Charter topic.

*** LinkedIn -- Let me know the name of the developer who ends up making that a feature and I will buy them dinner. I am not even joking.

****Seriously. Just don't. I sent one to just reference it and boy-oh-boy is it cringe-worthy.

Job Search Like a Project Manager Series:

1. Session Zero, Day 1: Getting going with User Stories (check comments!)
2. Session Zero, Day 2: Tracking the User Stories and Getting Main Values
3. Session Zero, Day 3: Plan for Life Event Interruptions
4. Session Zero, Day 4: Get a List of Companies You are Already Connected To
5. Session Zero, Day 5: Job Search Charter
6. Planning Week, Day 6: ... Dreaded Resumes
7. Planning Week, Day 7: Company Shortlist
8. Planning Week, Day 8: Agile Job Search
9. Planning Week, Day 9: Recap, Claps, and Sprint
10. Sprint 1, Day 10: Backlog and Sprint Planning
11. Sprint 1, Day 11: Daily Scrum
12. Sprint 1, Day 12: Backlog Grooming
13. Sprint 1, Day 13: Interview or Networking Opportunity?
14. Sprint 1, Day 14: Sprint Review
15. Sprint 1, Day 15: Sprint Retrospective (Weekend Bonus Edition)
16. Sprint 2, Day 16: First Impressions Focus (Resume)
17. Sprint 2, Day 17: Who are You in the Interview
18. Sprint 2, Day 18: Interview Question Resource
19. Sprint 2, Day 19: Job Searches and SWOT