The Cost of Omitting Your LinkedIn from Your Resume

Here are some potential disadvantages of not including a LinkedIn profile link in your resume:

• Missed opportunities for connections. Hiring managers may want to view your full LinkedIn profile for more details on your background and connections. Not providing a link makes this more difficult.
• Lack of verification. A LinkedIn profile can provide validation of your resume details like job titles, companies, and education. Excluding it raises questions on accuracy.
• No sense of your personal brand. Without a LinkedIn link, recruiters don't get a feel for how you present yourself professionally online.
• Fewer touches for engagement. The link provides another way for recruiters to follow-up and connect with you if interested.
• Appearance of having something to hide. Some may wonder why you would not include your LinkedIn unless you are uncomfortable sharing it.
• Missed SEO value. Having LinkedIn in your resume helps boost your search visibility for recruiters.

Overall, declining to link your LinkedIn profile misses out on showcasing more about yourself in a professional digital space. Unless you have concerns about privacy, the benefits tend to outweigh any disadvantages for most job seekers.

Stand Out on LinkedIn: Tips for an Eye-Catching Profile Photo and Banner

Having a professional photo for your LinkedIn profile as a job seeker in Canada is highly recommended. Here are a few thoughts on its importance and suggestions for your photo and banner:

• Profile photos add a human touch that makes you more memorable and approachable to connections. Not having one can look suspiciously blank.
• Your photo background should be simple and neutral. The focus should be on you looking approachable, confident and professional.
• Business formal attire is best. Avoid selfies, group shots, or anything too casual.
• For your banner, include a background relevant to your industry. A tech professional could showcase coding, devices, or abstract technology visuals.
• Add your name, headline and logo if you have one. Make sure text stands out clearly against the background.
• Include calls-to-action inviting visitors to connect or contact you. This helps lead them to engage.
• Showcase awards, testimonials or stats that demonstrate your capabilities and achievements.
• Change up your banner seasonally or with major career updates to keep your profile looking fresh.

Having a strong photo and banner optimizes your LinkedIn presence. It reinforces your personal brand and expertise visually for new connections. Regularly update and refine these elements as you grow your career. Leverage them to maximize engagement and opportunities.

Achievements in a resume

A tech professional can enhance their resume by showcasing various numeric achievements. Here are some categories and examples:

1. **Project Impact**:

   - **Cost Reduction**: Amount or percentage of cost saved due to optimizations or solutions.

   - **Revenue Increase**: Contribution to revenue growth through new features or efficiencies.

   - **User Growth**: Number of new users or percentage growth due to a project or initiative.

2. **Performance Improvements**:

   - **Speed Enhancements**: Quantifiable increase in software or system speed.

   - **Efficiency Gains**: Reduction in resource usage, like memory or power.

3. **Scale and Capacity**:

   - **Infrastructure Expansion**: Handling X number of transactions per second or managing data of Y terabytes.

   - **User Support**: Number of users supported or scale of deployment.

4. **Code and Development**:

   - **Code Contributions**: Number of commits, pull requests, or lines of code contributed to projects.

   - **Bugs and Issues**: Number of bugs identified and resolved.

5. **Learning and Certifications**:

   - **Courses Completed**: Number of relevant courses or certifications completed.

   - **Skills Acquired**: Number of new technologies or tools learned.

6. **Team and Leadership**:

   - **Team Size**: Managing or leading a team of X members.

   - **Projects Led**: Number of projects or teams led successfully.

7. **Awards and Recognition**:

   - **Competitions Won**: Rank or position in coding or technology competitions.

   - **Grants or Scholarships**: Amount of any grants or scholarships awarded.

8. **Publications and Contributions**:

   - **Papers Published**: Number of research papers or articles published.

   - **Open Source Projects**: Contributions to open-source projects, quantified by pull requests, features added, or users of your project.

Quantifying achievements provides concrete evidence of your impact and skills, making your resume stand out. Tailor these to your experience and the specific role you're applying for to best showcase your strengths.

 

Career Success Plan: Job Seeker in Canada (2024)

1. Self-Assessment

• Identify skills
• Determine interests
• Evaluate values
• Understand personality traits
• #SelfAwareness

2. Market Research

• Research job market trends
• Identify growth sectors
• Understand job requirements
• Study company profiles
• #MarketInsight

3. Career Planning

• Set career goals
• Develop a career strategy
• Plan for skills development
• #CareerStrategy

4. Resume and Cover Letter

• Update resume
• Customize cover letter
• Proofread for errors
• #ResumePreparation

5. Networking

• Attend networking events
• Connect online
• Engage in informational interviews
• #Networking

6. Job Application

• Apply for jobs
• Tailor applications to each job
• Follow up on applications
• #JobApplication

7. Interview Preparation

• Research company
• Practice common interview questions
• Plan interview outfit
• #InterviewReady

8. Post-Interview

• Send thank you note
• Reflect on interview performance
• Follow up if no response
• #PostInterview

9. Job Offer Evaluation

• Evaluate job offer
• Negotiate salary
• Make decision
• #JobOffer

10. Continuous Learning

• Pursue professional development opportunities
• Update skills and knowledge
• Stay informed about industry trends
• #ContinuousLearning

Remember to always adapt your plan as necessary, and not to be discouraged by challenges or setbacks. Your journey to success may have twists and turns, but with determination and the right strategy, you can achieve your career goals. Good luck!