How to stand out on LinkedIn without writing a thing!

by K B , updated on March 22, 2023

So you know how a picture paints 1000 words?

Of course you do. I can see your eyes roll now.

But do you know how this idea can help you with getting your next great job?

Ha Ha.

Gotcha there!

Here’s the BIG thing.

If we see something we believe it to be true. So, on LinkedIn you can use your LinkedIn banner/background picture to help a recruiter picture you in the role you desire.

And BA DA BING BA DA BOOM.

That new job may happen faster than you think.

Without you slaving over a hot mess of words.

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I can explain recruiter ghosting in JUST 10 seconds.

by K B , updated on March 16, 2023

I’d love to get a dollar for every message I received from my clients like this.

Not because I want them to experience pain, but because I’d put it into making the Straight to Shortlist Challenge even more awesome than it already is.

KB’s client: “I called the recruiter and they encouraged me to send my CV, said I looked like a great fit.”

KB: TICK.

KB’s client: “The recruiter sent me to an interview, then told me the client loved me.”

KB: OH WOW, TICK. TICK.

KB’s client: “EXCITED!!!! I’m on a winner here. I had a second/third/fourth/ fifth interview, then the recruiter told me they’d get back to me. I’m their preferred candidate.”

KB: YOU ARE CERTAINLY ROCKING THIS….TICK. TICK. TICK.

KB’s client: “Ummm. It’s been 3 weeks now and I’ve left several messages, should I call again?”

KB: CROSS.

THEY’RE RUDE AND THERE IS NO POINT.

HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENED IN 10 SECONDS OR LESS…. [click to continue…]

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What’s REALLY stopping you from achieving what you want to do?

It’s SO easy to think you need to all your ducks in a row before you launch yourself into your job search.

OR if you WAIT, WAIT, WAIT and think about things differently, they’ll simply get better where you are.

I speak from experience here. I’ve been in some awful headspaces at various times of my life, where I have tried to think my way out of a terrible situation.

And no surprises here, but guess what? [click to continue…]

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I am a job search coach and a careers writer.

I’ve been in this space for many years now – and if you read this blog – you’ll find hundreds of practical tips to help you find your next great job.

But from this time now – you’ll find fewer “how to” posts and tips from me.

I want to dig into something I now firmly believe is far more important than me parroting advice like “how to write a great resume”.

I want to talk about the emotions you can feel, and the things you may believe about yourself while you look for a job or are trying to change your career.

Heard the term “job search depression” before?

It’s a very real thing.

Check out this post on reddit about how other people experience depression on their job search and know what happens to you when you look for a job can be triggering, particularly if you have suffered in the past.

I want to unpack some of the beliefs you may have while you look for a job – and give some insight as to why you can feel deeply depressed or triggered. Breaking through these unhelpful but sticky beliefs is one of the reasons I created the Straight to Shortlist Challenge a few years back.

So why talk now on this now?

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Be yourself. Those who don’t mind will love you for it.

by K B , updated on September 16, 2022

To the very end, and even in hospital to the nurses, I mostly called my Dad, Dougie.

That was what many of our family and friends called him, usually with a smile – as they knew him, liked him and remembered things about him – and because he was very much his own person.

Dougie knew what he liked, and when and how he liked it.

And if it ever had ever occurred to him that his preferences may have seemed a bit strange to others, it did not seem to bother him.

I thought I’d share a few quirks of Dougie’s that make me smile – and stand out the most in my memory.

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Quiet Quitting? Should you do it?

by K B , updated on August 29, 2022

So you’re feeling undervalued, underwhelmed, underpaid and under-excited at work?

Should you quietly quit, though?

The idea of quiet quitting has taken off like wildfire.

If you don’t know the term, you’ll still have an ah ha moment when you know the symptoms.

via GIPHY

You clock watch.

You do just enough – but no more.

You zone out on zoom calls.

You don’t ever answer an email after hours.

You’ve checked in. But you’re also checked out.

But should you?

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