Landing Your Next Job, Courtesy of LinkedIn

In today's economy many students are concerned about landing a job after they have graduated. Hopefully, you have created a LinkedIn profile, after reading previous posts about the benefits of having a profile. Have you ever thought that LinkedIn could be a potential place to land your next job? LinkedIn is becoming a more popular place to find a job. It is also a place to connect with top business professionals.

Mashable has published an article about some essentials to landing a job on LinkedIn. There are 13 essential tips you should consider when it comes to your profile.

Complete your profile 100%. It is not unusual for an potential employer r headline to run a Google search for your first and last name. More often then not, a LinkedIn profile with be one of the top five results. Make sure your profile is complete and accurate.

Add a compelling headline. You want your profile to stand out from the other possible candidates. Your headline is the first thing that will be seen by a hiring manager, therefore, create a compelling headline that will set you apart. Make sure your headline is clear and concise. You are telling people who you are and what you do.

Add all past and current work positions. It's important to include your past and current work experience.  The hiring manager could have hired another individual from the same company you have listed in your work experience. 

Give and receive recommendations. The more people that can vouch for you, the better. The best way to receive recommendations is to give them first. Take the time to right recommendations for people you know, trust, and like. The more you give, the more you receive. 

Connect with everyone. Some say that you should only connect with others you know. Then what become of networking? The point of networking is to connect with others and then those connections grow into new connections. Therefore, connect, connect, connect!

Be concise in your message. Provide a preview for people so they know what is coming next. Get them facts about yourself, like the skills you possess and inject your personality into your profile. Make sure to add honors or awards that you have received. Provide information so other can connect with you.

Stay active. Nothing is worse than letting a potential employer see your profile stagnant. Each time you take action on your profile, it shows up on the home page of everyone you are connected to. This creates a chain reaction by allowing your picture and name to be seen by all your connections, possibly causing them to keep you in mind if a job opening becomes available.

Join niche groups. Groups are a great way to find a job boards with new jobs being added on a regular basis. As a member you are given an advantage because you are able to send messages to almost everyone without upgrading your account.

Create a group. Why not create a group instead of just being a member? Being a creator of a group has its perks. You are able to send messages once a week to all your members, and you're perceived as a leader or decision maker.

Add your honors and awards. Adding your honors and awards is just another way to add to your profile. Employers want to hire winners and those who like to excel.

Answer questions. You an add an 'Answers' widget on the right-hand side of your LinkedIn home page with the industry topic you know most about. When a question pops up answer it! Provide as much information as possible. Really give your two cents when answering the question.

Import your blog and Twitter feeds. There are many ways to add to your profile. Social networking is becoming more popular, why not link your Twitter account or blog?

Connect with others. When you help two people without asking for anything in return, you leave a lasting impression on all involved. This will help amplify your own job prospects, as people will be more likely to help you achieve your goals in the future.

To read the complete article click here.

Need Help Sprucing Up Your Resume?

When it comes to creating your resume put some thought into the actual design of it. You do not want your resume to end up in the "unqualified" pile just because the design and layout of your resume is not aesthetically pleasing. 

Especially in the interior design industry you have more creative freedom. Employers receive tons of resumes. Therefore, it is crucial to have your resume stand out. Create a resume that causes a potential employer to stop and thoroughly read through your resume. A good resume is the first step to getting a call back for an interview.

This image has been floating around the internet. Take the time to read through it. It is very beneficial. 

Source Colorado Technical University

Dressing for an Interview

It's the night before your big interview and the question your mind is "what do I wear?" With unemployment rates being at an all-time high, first impressions are more important than ever before. Your goal of the interview is to get the job. Therefore you should dress the part.

An outfit can help or hurt your chances of being successful. In the first few seconds of meeting your interviewer, their brain will be trying to make the hiring decision based on the only information they have; the way you look. Can they imagine you doing the job? Can you fit in with the company's culture?

How does your outfit impact you? Can you picture yourself doing the job your are interviewing for? You picked the clothes you're wearing, so you MUST confident and physically comfortable! It's your time to show them what you are made of!

Times have changed when it comes to dressing for an interview. Having a pop of color in your interview attire is becoming more acceptable. However, if you do chose to have color in your outfit make sure it isn't too "loud." If your outfit is distracting it could be harmful to your chances of landing your dream job.

Here a few things to consider when dressing for an interview.

Dress conservatively: do not show too much skin or leg

Do not OVER accessorize: stick with simple, classic pieces of jewelry

Keep your make-up and perfume light: you do not want to knock out your interviewer

Keep your suits and separates neutral in color

Wear a jacket or blazer: it adds some extra polish to you outfit

There are many good resources to help you dress for success. If you would like more tips on how to dress for your next upcoming interview click here.

Happy job searching and interviewing!

Let's Talk Cover Letters

Cover letters where a topic of conversation on Linkedin Today. The first line of the article is great, "it's never too early to make a bad impression."

Normally the first thing a potential employer sees is a cover letter when reviewing a job applicant. A cover letter is your first chance to make an impression when applying for a job. If proper care isn't taken to proofread and correct all mistakes in your cover letter then I could be your first chance to make a bad impression. Here are some common mistakes that are made when it comes to cover letters:

NOT WRITING ENOUGH: Normally writing too much is a common mistake. However, writing too little can be just as damaging.

PERSONAL STORIES: It isn't bad to give a little history about yourself, however, it's best to save those stories for the interview.

SOMEONE ELSE'S WORDS: Employers receive an influx of cover letters from job seekers that have obviously used the same template. The line must be drawn when it come to using other's words on your own cover letter.

ARROGANCE: "It's one thing to promote yourself favorably in a cover letter, but watch that it doesn't degenerate into overt bragging."

JOKES: Breaking the ice isn't a bad thing. However, having jokes in your cover letter may not be the best idea. It is usually a "turn-off" to potential employers. 

Cover letters are very important when you are in the market for a new career. Once the letter has been sent out there is not an "oops" button to take everything back. Therefore, make sure to proofread your cover letter before you send it out. Remember, "it's never too early to make a bad impression."

To read more about other mistakes made on cover letters click here.

Welcome Students

Retail Design Institute is pleased to announce the nextGEN Student Chapter! The chapter consists of many different schools in Architecture, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Fashion Design, Visual Merchandising and so much more. We strive to connect students with professionals, students and faculties dedicated in the Retail Design world.  

Please meet our current student members for nextGEN!

There are still positions available so feel free to contact us @ nextgen.retaildesigninstitute@gmail.com

We are planning a few events really soon so stay tune as we announce! Keep designing!