A Technical Sophie's Choice, Plus A Recruiter Tell-All

Monthly Musings

Asking "Why?" may be the singular most important question in app development. It makes us pause — something that more founders should do ?? — and think before acting. Asking why gives us the chance to make smarter decisions as you'll see in this month's roundup.

- Thoughtfully, the Codesmith team

Eyes On The Industry

• Twitter continues to flail. Bluesky launches a limited release. Save us, Jack!
• Snapchat introduced an AI friend for some reason.
• Buzzfeed News shuts down. Pulitzers, schmulitzers.
• Wordpress says bye-bye to Share-On-Twitter API

Build It

Custom Website vs. Wix - It's a Sophie's Choice

? Plus, 5 FAQS we get from founders + answers right here ?

Market It

Is A Product Soft Launch Worth My Time?

? And! Avoid these launch traps that trip up entrepreneurs ?

Grow It

A Recruiter Tell-All: Your LinkedIn Needs Help

Special thanks to Kacia Down for sharing her expertise and profile.

With the recent?massive layoffs across tech companies ?like Github, Paypal, Amazon and Twitter, the tech workforce is feeling wary. Ask any IT recruiter and they’ll tell you to stay prepared for the next opportunity. Our own?technical recruiter Kacia Down? agrees that in an uncertain job market, the best thing to do is stay ahead of the game. So she’s sharing her secrets?—?what recruiters look for and how to present your best self to tech companies hiring now. Let’s dive in (using Kacia’s LinkedIn profile examples!).

#1 Set To “Public”

First and foremost, make sure your LinkedIn profile is public (you can do this in account settings). It's key, even if you aren’t actively job searching, to use LinkedIn as a networking tool. Not only can recruiters and hiring managers see if you’re public, but others in your industry can too! It’s a great way to connect and build relationships.

#2 K.I.S.S Your Profile Picture

In focus. Bright lighting. Welcoming appearance. These are key to choosing the right LinkedIn profile picture. You can opt for one that caters to your industry or role, but air on the side of professionalism.

#3 Location, Location, Location

Update your location but don’t pigeonhole yourself. Use the city or metro area nearest to you (and that you’re willing to travel to for work). This saves recruiters' time when they’re looking for candidates in a certain region.

#4 Headline = Elevator Pitch

Your headline is the first thing recruiters see so I suggest including the title or industry that you are in. For example, a software developer with a focus on UI might use?Software Developer | UI Developer. If your title is niche it’s ok to add another phrase to your headline. And keep it succinct?—?3 descriptors or less. Otherwise it’s hard for recruiters to identify your main skillset.

#5 Seal The Deal In Your Description

Next move into the description. You’ll want to include a mini bio about yourself, highlight your passion for work, including your strengths, and even some fun facts! Make sure you add relevant keywords from your industry. Be creative, but don’t be too clever. Make it as easy as possible for recruiters to skim.

#6 Update Work History

Just like a resume, keep your work history current. Use the description boxes to list your top responsibilities in each role. Add relevant stats or awards too. A new feature from LinkedIn includes?Career Break options ?for those who stepped away to care for children or family members. This important tool helps recruiters understand your full work history, including any gap years.

#7 Relevant Education

What you add here depends on your industry experience. If you’re entry level, this section serves as a substitute for work history. Include your major(s) and minor(s), graduating GPA, relevant coursework and any clubs or associations you participated in.

If you’re experienced in the industry, adding your university and major(s) is enough.

#8 Industry-specific Skills

The LinkedIn Skills section lets you add up to 50 skills that others can search through. And you can get endorsements from your peers! Make sure your skills are relevant to your current role and any future roles you want to target. Remove any irrelevant skills.

Pro-tip: Pin your top endorsed skills.

Remember, reciprocity is key. Endorse others & don’t be shy in asking for an endorsement in return.

#9 Have At Least 50 Connections

This shows recruiters that you’re active and well-perceived in your community. It also helps eliminate spam bots or fake accounts. If you’re looking to increase LinkedIn connections, the recipe is simple: be involved.

• Share articles or personal work achievements
• Comment on posts
• Use industry hashtags
• Join discussion groups
• Send Invites to people with a personalized note

People are on LinkedIn to connect so don’t be afraid to get out there.

#10 Recommendations

A must, must, must for any LinkedIn profile is recommendations. Recommendations show recruiters that peers respect and trust you. They show that the skills you promise can be proved. So make a list and follow this polite, direct prompt.

Tell your connection you’d appreciate a recommendation and that you would be happy to do the same for them. It’s helpful to have a timeframe, project, or experience to add.

"Hi Joe, I would appreciate it if you could write a recommendation for me on the XYZ project we worked together on and highlight my XYZ skills. I’d be more than happy to do the same for you! Thank you so much!"

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for monthly industry news from The Appreneur. Questions? DM us at Codesmith or [email protected].