#makeworkworkforyou

[thesecondshiftblog]

The Future of Work

The Majority of the Workforce will be Freelancers in Just Ten Years

A New Study by Upwork and the Freelancers Union Provides a Lens into the Future of Work

Last month, a new study on the future of work by Upwork and the Freelancers Union looked at the growing number of freelancers to see how the gig-economy is growing. The study revealed some interesting statistics about the freelance workforce; we took a deep dive into the results:

·       57.3M people freelance.

·       Only 10% of freelance workers like the name gig-economy – they prefer freelance economy—(we agree!)

·       63% of freelancers think having several sources of income and multiple clients more secure than one – the average freelancer has 4.5 clients a month.

Here’s the who, what, where, when, why and how of the freelance economy:

Who is the driving force behind this rapid change?

“Almost half of working millennials (47%) freelance.” As a result, the common negative perception of freelance as a primary earnings method shifted, with 67% of people agreeing that it’s a stable form of work.

What is likely to keep the freelance economy going?

“Freelancers are more realistic about artificial intelligence’s (AI) impact than non-freelancers.” As a result, they are more likely to seek the training they need to continue to compete in a technologically changing workplace -- “65% of full-time freelancers are updating their skills to ensure that they are marketable as the job market evolves.”

Where are freelancers earning their living?

The majority of the freelance economy isn’t moonlighting; 29% work full-time, 53% work part-time, and only 16% work occasionally for extra income in addition to another traditional job. “Most freelancers started within the last three years,” and freelancers are increasingly choosing to join the freelance economy by choice, which is indicative of a move to towards more creative outlets to earn a living, often not requiring formal education. Freelancers are finding their work through friends and family, professional contacts and social media – personal connections are more powerful then technological ones—(something we hope we are solving!)

When are freelancers working?

“Most freelance weekly: freelancers indicate, on average, having 27 different clients within their last six months of work,” and 52% of freelancers will work for the same clients repeatedly on different projects with most full-time freelancers working 36 hours per week. Among workers who find their projects online, 77% start their projects within a week – 21% start the same day.

Why is freelancing the wave of the future?

“54% of the entire U.S. workforce is not very confident that the work they do today is likely to exist in 20 years,” and both traditional and freelance workers agree. The study goes on to differentiate that freelancers are more aware of how their work is changing due to increased AI and robotics used in the workplace. Ultimately, the data reveals that the changing nature of the freelance workforce makes them more adaptable and is why they are likely to outnumber traditional workers in ten years time. Perhaps more importantly, 77% of workers believe that these same technological improvements are making it easier for them to find freelance work.

How will this impact our economy?

The numbers don’t lie, the freelance economy is good for the U.S.; “freelancers contribute approximately $1.4 trillion to the U.S. economy annually – an increase of almost 30% since last year.” Part of the economic boost comes from freelancer’s preference to purchase their own benefits in the marketplace; 67% agree that “a healthy freelance economy boosts America’s middle class.” A current practice they’re likely to be able to continue because 72% of freelancers are willing to vote across party lines for candidates that support the freelance economy. They’ll be able to have a tangible financial impact on elections as well because 36% earn $75,000 or more – double the percentage that did from 2014. Further to, 66% say they earn more in the freelance economy then they did in a traditional workplace; 75% of them earned more in just their first year, with 37% earning more immediately.

One last interesting fact: “Freelancers skew more male than U.S. workers overall.” Ladies, given all the benefits the freelance economy brings, let’s get out there!

The data proves The Second Shift model and our members know that the findings of the study are true. We are the vanguard of the future of work-- so let’s get more women to join us! Refer 5 new members and you will get a surprise thank you from us! 

[maypoletribe]

Inspiring morning with the women of @thesecond_shift @hatchgal and @lisenstromberg. #strongertogether #makeworkworkforyou (at Hatch Collection)

[thesecondshiftblog]

Every Workingwoman Needs a Wife

A recent study done by Pew Research Center showed that only 14% of civilian working Americans in the U.S. receive paid family leave. Author Lisen Stromberg found in writing her new book Work PAUSE Thrive that the answer may lie in an increase in paternity leave. In an NBC News interview about her book, Stromberg said “if it’s equally a man or a woman who’s likely to be out because the company offers parental leave, then the notion that a person is not committing to their career or that they’re going to be a problem because they’re going to leave is taken off the table.”

The stigma in the workplace is real, but it isn’t the only problem.

If you’ll allow a brief personal digression: I asked my own mom, a workingwoman of the 80’s, “how did you do it all?” She replied effortlessly “every workingwoman needs a wife.” (Full disclaimer my parents shared childcare duties equally – something that was radical for the time.) I thought my mother’s words were wrong, but after thinking about it I know she’s absolutely but not for the reasons we initially think of.

As Stromberg explained, and is sadly widely accepted, workingwomen are seen as uncommitted, because of their personal investment in childcare; yet, women without children still feel the stigma of the notion that women aren’t focused at work. It’s not just children that imply a lack of focus - it’s everyday life.

Workingwomen, with and without children, feel an innate responsibility to ensure everything both at home and at work goes smoothly, that everything and everyone is taken care of. From consoling a co-worker over a bad breakup, to ensuring your team has their own personal lives, to replacing the paper in the copier when it runs low so our co-workers won’t have it run out in the middle of a project – we worry about everything. If we can’t stop the worry, how do we at least equalize it?

Today, more and more men are choosing to be stay at home dads, more and more partners are taking on the housework. Yes, that’s progress, but not in the way we should be thinking about it. The one issue we haven’t cracked is the worrying.

Here are some tips to stop our restless minds:

Before winding down for the evening, make a list of everything that needs to be addressed the next day. It’s all there for you to handle in the morning and you won’t need to worry about forgetting something. Bonus: if you’re a bit more organized you can set up a weekly calendar of tasks for the next week on Fridays for worry-free weekends.

Create a shared calendar and task list for everyone in your family and/or in your workplace. You can see where everyone is whenever you want and you don’t need to worry about anyone.

Set email reminders ahead of time. Do you have a colleague who always forgets to submit their expense reports on time? Set a reoccurring reminder email that will automatically send.

What do you worry about? What are your thoughts on sharing this intangible burden with your partner? How do you tackle your everyday worry-free? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.  

{written by Second Shift member & copywriter Chelsea Connor}

[thesecondshiftblog]

For Gig Workers, Some Advice from the Heart

Three years ago my partner Gina and I hit on an idea to build a marketplace connecting women with deep expertise to companies looking to fulfill project-based work. We had no formal background in recruiting or business development—I am a former journalist and Gina comes from marketing—and neither of us had any tech experience at all, but we knew we had a great idea and we had enough confidence to take the risk that it could work.

There have been many, many days since then that we have questioned why we ever thought that we could do this. There were moments when we wondered if anyone would take us seriously. But ultimately we decided from the start to live by the motto, “Fake it ‘til you make it” and it has served us well.

So much has changed since then—we now run a tech company for gig workers! When we started I thought sending someone an invite to a meeting meant a handwritten note. Back then, I couldn’t tell you Lean from Agile. What Gina and I did have was the courage of our convictions and the comfort in knowing we had a good idea and could figure out the rest.

This idea of having the guts to go after your dreams is the same for us as it is for the women in our network. In our case, our product is our expert talent pool. Our members, however, have to sell themselves, and we know that’s not easy. As anyone who works entrepreneurially will tell you, getting good work is not as easy as hanging a shingle on LinkedIn and getting business cards printed. You must think like a salesperson and consistently look to sell your best product—you—at the right place, and at the right price.

Not everyone is good at this game, but there are ways to get better at it, starting with the ground rule that nobody can do it better than you. Here are my tips to help gig workers and entrepreneurs increase their presence, apologize less, and win more business.

Get Out There!

Nobody is going to find you if you are not out there making yourself known. Go to networking events in your area. Join Facebook groups for your industry. Use LinkedIn as an inexpensive way to connect with peers and ex-colleagues. Let anyone and everyone know that you are available and interested.

Be Strong!

Women often feel diminished when they step off their career path. It is hard to go from the corner office to working on your laptop at Starbucks. Never apologize or excuse the choices you make in your life. Instead, own them and sell the experience as a positive point of differentiation.

Stay Positive!

It may take a while to close a deal or get your career back to where you left off.  Those are the facts. Being on your own is demanding and unpredictable. Get used to it, and realize that what you are getting in terms of life balance more than makes up for the uncertainty.

Tread Water!

Let’s face reality. If you’ve been out of the workforce for some time, you can’t cherry-pick your way through projects. Just because you were a high-level strategist does not mean that you can get gig work at that level. You may have to lower your expectations and take what’s out there to keep your resume and skills fresh and sharp. Sometimes you take work to just keep working.

Brush Up!

It is easier than ever to take classes online and learn a new skill or keep your existing skills fresh. There are You Tube videos for everything—for example, Gina built our first website after watching tutorials.

With all these resources, it’s truly possible to create a working life that incorporates flexibility, freedom and meaningful work. Just remember to always think of yourself as a valuable product, stay positive, and be adaptive enough to close deals.

And when the going gets tough, don’t let the negative voices in your head win. Be like Gina and me—just put on a smile, look strong and confident, and then become a master of quickly learning what you need to know!

 - Jenny Galluzzo

[thesecondshiftblog]

Well here is some good news for women—a New York Post article shouts out women in their 40s and 50s who face both age and sex discrimination when they are at the most capable point in their careers! One of our core values is to be a grown up and there is a reason why...

“The truth is midlife women, with all that experience under their belts, who have ridden the rapids of family life and juggled duty and caring, make the most terrific employees. As one senior woman in financial services told me: “Of course I can handle difficult clients. I’m the mother of 15-year-old twins for heaven’s sake. I can handle anything!”

Thats why we are here to provide opportunities for this group of women— because they’ve earned it.

[thesecondshiftblog]

Professional Ghosting by Second Shift Member Reena Factor

I must admit that I’ve been out of the dating game for a long time. However, I do surf the internet and I’ve heard of the term “ghosting.”

It’s not a new concept but it’s a relatively new term in the dating world. It means that the person you’ve been dating or talking to has cut off all communications with you – no calls, texts, emails, Facebook messages, Twitter updates – you get the point. The emergence of dating apps and the ability to meet someone virtually without ever actually meeting them IRL, have given birth to this phenomenon.

As other aspects of our culture develop virtually they to start to include ghosting as a regular practice. Perhaps nothing is as similar to dating as searching for employment.

Twenty or thirty years ago a person joined a company and that was where they stayed for the majority if not the entirety of their career. However, millennials have completely overhauled that notion. In today’s job market a person has an average of four jobs by the time they’re 32. That means that throughout a person’s career they’ll have applied to hundreds, if not thousands of jobs.

I left my full-time job in advertising after giving birth to my twins in January 2015. They were three months premature. Due to their prematurity, and my near positivity that these would be my only children, my husband and I decided I should stay home to raise them. Eight months later I had an opportunity to go back to work on a freelance basis and that put me back in the job-hunting market.

I decided to apply to join The Second Shift to open up job opportunities after having seen first-hand how companies that take the time to post a job then go silent, sometimes for weeks, sometimes indefinitely. It can be maddening!

Although rejection can feel like a lonely space, when I came across the Fast Company article entitled, “How To Avoid Being Professionally Ghosted,” I was encouraged to find out that I wasn’t the only one. Again, like in dating, not moving forward with a candidate is not a new phenomenon, but as the article demonstrates it has become much more prevalent since most employment communication is virtual.

Understandably it’s hard to be the bad guy and hiring managers have to be the bad guy a lot. They have to tell hundreds of people that they’re not qualified or not a good fit for the job. That’s probably why most large companies send a reply email as soon as you apply on their website stating that they’ve received your application and will contact you if your skills and experience match what they’re looking for. This absolves them of the obligation to reply to every candidate that doesn’t make it through to the interview stage.

However, shouldn’t a hiring manager let you know you’re not getting the job after conducting one, two or three rounds of interviews with you? Maybe I’m old fashioned, but doesn’t a girl who’s gone on one, two or three dates with a guy – who seemed really into her – deserve to be told they’re no longer dating?

[thesecondshiftblog]

CFO Kemp’s #WomInspired Role Model

I spent most of my career in Finance, specifically in Investment Banking and Financial Advisory.  As we all know, female mentors and role models in the finance sector are not common given that the vast majority of senior management in Finance are not in fact female!  However, I have worked for some great women in my career. Randy taught me how to fake a home cooked dinner for your future in-laws (bring your own pots to your local Italian joint and get them to cook a meal in your pots - warm it all up in your own kitchen - voila!).  Kim taught me how to handle difficult situations with kindness and empathy.  Nancy taught me about grace under pressure and never to apologize.   

However, I want to address my inspiration for joining the Second Shift - mission driven entrepreneurs.  I spent a number of years working with companies in Education Technology - a sector where many brilliant entrepreneurs are building businesses that make money AND improve the lives of millions of students and families. 

Entrepreneurs are building companies around the world that support women, students, food availability, environmental initiatives, clean water, healthcare and many other critical needs - it is truly inspirational. These businesses share a common thread - passionate entrepreneurs with a vision of how to build a profitable business by improving the world, and harnessing technology to achieve their vision.  I wanted to have an opportunity to do something similar - work hard, build a successful business, and make the world a better place.  Most importantly, I want to be a role model for my own daughter and show her that you can build a company where doing well is equally important as doing good.

Cheers!

[thesecondshiftblog]

Refinery 29 + The Second Shift

Thinking of making a career transition? Our co-founder Jenny Galluzzo outlines 3 essential steps to set yourself up for success and #makeworkworforyou!  

1. Be Open

2. Be Confident

3. Break the Rules 

Read the article here!

[thesecondshiftblog]

HEY LA!!!

[thesecondshiftblog]

All about YOU!

Recently some of you, our amazing Second Shift members, took part in a survey about YOU! What are you looking for? How do you currently work? How do you interact with our platform? The results are very interesting and give us insights and direction as we grow this community and business.

Here is what we learned:

HOWEVER! This is where things get interesting…

96% have not yet attended a Second Shift event!  This year we have been to Seattle, NY, SF and LA. Look out DC, Chicago and Boston we are coming in late 2018. Please come to a member event-- it’s such a great way to network, meet clients and learn new skills.

So how do you find out about events and other interesting opportunities?? Our blog and social media!!!

Yet....more than half of the survey respondents do not follow us on social media!!! This is seriously disappointing because we work really hard to provide interesting content and behind the scenes intel about jobs and community.

Follow us so that you don’t miss out on exciting opportunities, events, perks, promotions and JOBS!

Click the links below to follow us-- it’s that easy! 

Instagram

Facebook 

Linked In

Twitter

[thesecondshiftblog]

“My point is, you have to have insane confidence in yourself, even if it’s not real. You need to be your own cheerleader now, because there isn’t a room full of people waiting with pom‑poms to tell you, “You did it! We’ve been waiting all this time for you to succeed!” So, I’m giving you permission to root for yourself. And while you’re at it, root for those around you, too. It took me a long time to realize that success isn’t a zero-sum game. “ 

Who doesn’t love Mindy Kaling-- she is a smart and funny feminist and her recent Commencement address at her alma mater Dartmouth College was true to form. Her theme of “why not me?” seems to be the anthem for women in 2018; Women are running for political office in record numbers, starting businesses and working to break all ceilings— this is the time for why not us? So go for it!

[thesecondshiftblog]

For Our Wolf Pack!

Have you listened to Abby Wambach's commencement address to the 2018 graduates of Barnard College? She focuses on her career and how women are socialized from a young age to be grateful for what they get, no matter how hard they worked for it. That lack of confidence and feeling of obsequious gratitude directly influences our careers and results in unequal pay and opportunities for advancement. We see it all the time--senior-level women with deep expertise who sell themselves short because they are grateful for any opportunity to work. Sound familiar?

“Like all little girls, I was taught to be grateful. I was taught to keep my head down, stay on the path, and get my job done. I was freaking Little Red Riding Hood.

You know the fairy tale: It’s just one iteration of the warning stories girls are told the world over. Little Red Riding Hood heads off through the woods and is given strict instructions: Stay on the path. Don’t talk to anybody. Keep your head down hidden underneath your Handmaid’s Tale cape.

And she does… at first. But then she dares to get a little curious and she ventures off the path. That’s of course when she encounters the Big Bad Wolf and all hell breaks loose. The message is clear: Don’t be curious, don’t make trouble, don’t say too much or BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN.....

If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing it would be this:“Abby, you were never Little Red Riding Hood; you were always the wolf.”

Love that so much and it just gets better from there. No spoilers here-- it’s worth watching the whole speech for yourself. But, here is one more section that aligns perfectly with our Second Shift ethos. 

“As you go out into the world: Amplify each others’ voices. Demand seats for women, people of color and all marginalized people at every table where decisions are made. Call out each other’s wins and just like we do on the field: claim the success of one woman, as a collective success for all women.

Joy. Success. Power. These are not pies where a bigger slice for her means a smaller slice for you. These are infinite. In any revolution, the way to make something true starts with believing it is. Let’s claim infinite joy, success, and power—together.

Wolf Pack: Her Victory is your Victory. Celebrate it.”

We give the gift of this speech to you. Enjoy it!

 http://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2018/05/21/abby-wambachs-commencement-speech-at-barnard-college-failure-is-fuel

[thesecondshiftblog]

The Power of the ASK!

Last Thursday night a group of powerhouse women gathered at the home of Linnea Roberts to learn about The Second Shift. At Linnea’s art-filled home in Silicon Valley Gina and I presented our business to local female leaders in finance and technology. At the end of the our talk we pointed to note cards and pens laid out on the table and asked each woman to write down the name of one person that they could introduce us to—whether a future member or a contact at a company that could provide jobs for our members. That was our “ask;” gathering the women in the room was the first step, getting them to activate their own networks on our behalf was an invaluable next level of connections.

“I am often struck by the number of women who are afraid to ask for what they want and then qualify by saying “I hate to ask” —it really is okay and my pleasure to help,” says Linnea, a former MD and current diversity advisor at Goldman Sachs. She is an advocate for professional women and an investor in female start-ups, including The Second Shift. She is often asked for favors (like throwing a dinner for her friends and colleagues on our behalf--thank you Linnea) and strongly believes it the power of helping others in any way possible.

Gina and I are frequently asked for an introduction or to give someone advice and we do the same to others—that is the nature of business.  However, meeting for a drink or a coffee without a clearly outlined goal attached is a waste of time for both parties.  This was the topic of a panel on networking at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Under 45 conference that I recently attended. Here are a few takeaways from the panel:

·      Get to the point—don’t waste time with small talk and then save "the ask" for the last 5 minutes.

·      Follow up—if you asked for a favor make sure you update the person who helped you and thank them.

·      Take charge—If someone connects you to another person don’t wait to reach out--take the reins and start the conversation.

·      Be specific—come armed with exactly what you want and don’t be afraid to ask for it.

Both Linnea and the women on the Fortune panel are clear on the point of setting yourself up for success by knowing exactly what you need and being armed with goals attached to your ask. Linnea says, “be as specific as possible. Make it easy for me to follow through for you. Don’t lay all of your problems at my feet and expect me to solve them. Rather, have a few actionable things in mind that would genuinely help and are within the reality of what I can do for you.”

Finally, if you don’t ask, you don’t get—so don’t be afraid to ask! Too often women are worried about being perceived as pushy or inappropriate, but that’s all in the way that you set up THE ASK. Good rules to follow are: be polite and grateful, follow up and if you are uncomfortable, get over it!  Just remember that people want to be of assistance and asking for something concrete helps them to help you. What’s the worst that happens, they say no?

[thesecondshiftblog]

Never Be Afraid to Ask – The Worst They Can Say is No

Until recently, there was a perception that in the freelance economy women were paid equal or even more than their male counterparts. However, three current studies reveal the opposite—that there is in fact a staggering gender pay-gap in the freelance marketplace. The findings of the studies showed anywhere from 19.5% to a 32% disparity between women and men.

If what we long believed isn’t true than what is the cause of these surprising statistics? One theory from a recent article in Fortune cites “the adage that men tend to be more confident in their own capabilities than women and thus are comfortable charging more.”

We can’t help but wonder - do women in fact lack confidence to ask for what they are worth?

Linda Vogel, a member of The Second Shift and an expert employment agreement negotiator, thinks the issue is more complex - “there are several issues that women have in common, even at the highest levels, with regard to asking for compensation. I have found over the course of many years of negotiating employment agreements that there seems to be the same narrative thread that repeats itself.” She shared the following advice to close the freelance pay-gap:

Likeability: Women want to be liked; we feel that if we are more aggressive in the “ask” whether it’s for compensation for a freelance job, or for a raise, it will make us unlikeable. Ask for what you require and deserve every time.

Entitlement: Men, generally, feel more entitled and more deserving of greater compensation or of a larger salary; women on the other hand, ask themselves “do I deserve this much?” Rather, what women should be saying is ”YES, I deserve this compensation.”

Advocates: Women are typically not good advocates for themselves. Part of being a good self-promoter is being able to talk about your accomplishments. Many women think of this type of advocacy as unseemly, not in good taste, or out of their comfort zone. They are wrong!

Often pitching freelance jobs can feel like a race to the bottom, but not at The Second Shift. According to co-founder Jenny Galluzzo, “it’s not always the lowest priced pitch that is selected for a project, there are many other factors that go into a client’s decision making: personality, location, and specific expertise being the most common. It’s important to ask for a fair price that realistically covers all potential time and expenses on a project – not just what you think will win the job.”

Women should be never be afraid to ask for what they think they deserve. Ever.

We should feel empowered by our skills and our creativity and ask for a fair price for our work.

We should ask ourselves what someone who is the perfect fit for the job would ask for as payment.

We should, perhaps, even ask a male friend what they might charge.

Ultimately, what’s the worst thing that can happen - you are told no? Turn that negative into a positive and have confidence that you did the right thing for you. In the future that client may come back for another project that’s a better fit.

These studies sparked quite the conversation among the writers of The Second Shift Blog. We’ll be going deeper into the issues and solutions around the gender-pay gap conversation in the coming days. In the meantime, we’d love to hear your reactions and thoughts on this very timely and relevant topic on our Facebook page. 

{by Chelsea Connor}

[thesecondshiftblog]

When the Second Shift Becomes the Third and the Fourth Shift

Recent statistics show that our country is making a clear shift in our definition of work from traditional full-time employment to the “gig-economy.” Members of The Second Shift know firsthand that the new economy of work is positive for women for myriad reasons: new moms looking to re-enter the workplace or take on part-time work, women trying to make ends meet on their own and women looking to explore new creative avenues are going it alone and taking on second, third and fourth shifts by both necessity and choice.

With the new found freedom of flexibility, however, comes a new set of rules to navigate, while we may not be chained to our desks we are now remotely chained to our devices. When work is ever-present, what is the solution?

Here are 3-ways to take back the freedom that technology allows to set boundaries in the new 24/7 “gig-economy”:

Pick one day for you. Compartmentalize - clients assume they can get a hold of you at all hours, however, most understand a day off, especially if you are upfront about your schedule. By blocking off an entire day and telling them ahead of time that you are off-line they can prepare, and you look responsible!

Divide your day. Let clients know what days and hours you are dedicating to their project. To manage the worry that you’re being unresponsive, create a set times during the day when you respond to all emails. While it can be tempting to want to finish a task immediately for a client, sometimes just a confirmation of receipt and a timeline for returning are what a client needs to hear.

Keep a detailed calendar. As the saying goes, “want something done, give it to a busy person.” Anyone balancing multiple jobs knows that the calendar is key. When you follow a strict allotment of time per task and outline that on your calendar you will find that you will likely finish your work much faster. The critical part of this is that the calendar shouldn’t just include work tasks, it should also include all tasks. 

How else do you manage multiple jobs and responsibilities? Share with us on Facebook and be sure to “like” our page to receive all news related to The Second Shift and gig economy.

{by Chelsea Connor}

[thesecondshiftblog]

You in 2000 Characters or Less

LinkedIn is the world's largest professional network with more than 500 million users in over 200 countries and territories worldwide. When you’re looking for work, your LinkedIn profile is a 24/7 information resource for all who are seeking talent. Your summary is the first thing talent seekers will see, so giving it some love is essential, but LinkedIn gives you just 2,000 characters (including spaces) to summarize your unique professional brand.

When I’m helping a client craft their LinkedIn summary, I encourage them to keep three things in mind.

#1 KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

Don’t confuse the summary on your resume with your summary on LinkedIn. When you submit a resume, the intended audience is another person – the person responsible for screening candidates for a particular job that you are interested in. The summary on your resume should therefore be tailored to that position.

Recruiters and hiring managers use LinkedIn to search for talent matching their needs, so when it comes your LinkedIn summary, the goal is to capture attention via a search. Sprinkling your summary with keywords and their variations is therefore of the utmost importance.

#2 WRITE FOR THE JOB YOU WANT, NOT THE ONE YOU HAVE

While it’s important to tell talent seekers what you’ve done, it’s even more important to tell them what you want to do next and why you are qualified to do it. This is especially important if you are looking to change fields or step into a more senior role.

#3 BE AUTHENTIC

Don't be afraid to communicate something personal about yourself. While a recent Forbes article claims that, “as more companies strive for diversity and inclusion, the term ‘culture fit’ is falling out of favor,” companies are still ultimately seeking to identify talent with traits that align with their core values. The only way to demonstrate that fit is to share authentic stories that exemplify your experiences and beliefs.

To see how these points ‘play out in real life’, let’s look at the before and after of a summary I recently worked on. When I met Mike, I learned that he was a seasoned supply chain expert. He had lots of hands-on experience with a wide range of popular technology. He was passionate about implementing new solutions, versus maintaining systems, and was ready to make a move from a company that was shrinking to one that was growing. In his words, he wasn’t afraid of “hard work and big ugly projects” and “was tired of politics and teams that didn’t play well together.” I was ready to hire him myself, but instead I set out to help him craft a profile that summarized everything I heard him say!

Here’s what he started with:

Global IT Manager, Distribution and Logistics Systems

Accomplished IT leader with over 15 years of experience successfully delivering global Supply Chain systems and large-scale implementation projects. Reporting into the Chief Information Officer with a strong dotted line to the Senior Vice President of Distribution and Logistics, currently provide leadership, vision, and direction to implement, support, and improve the company’s suite of distribution and logistics solutions from leading industry vendors including Manhattan Associates, GT Nexus/Tradecard, and SAP. A proven hands-on professional responsible for partnering with the global Supply Chain leadership to deliver against IT needs and objectives

And, here’s what he ended with:

I’m a Global IT Leader with 15+ years of strategic and operational experience delivering and supporting mission critical Supply Chain systems. My expertise includes selecting, architecting, configuring, implementing and integrating Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP), Enterprise Application Integration (EAI), Global Trade Management solutions and Transportation Management Systems (TMS).

I’ve lived and worked on both sides of the pond, and I’m especially passionate about helping high-growth companies implement technology practices that add value to the bottom-line. I’ve never met a company in the Retail, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Third-Party Logistics (3PL), or Direct to Consumer industry that I couldn’t help out of a jam because I’m not afraid to roll up my sleeves, get my hands dirty, and leave things better than I found them.

I’ve worn many hats throughout my career and worked for many supply chain leaders, including Manhattan Associates, JDA, Ernst & Young, and M&M Mars. My experience has taught me that my professional value boils down to the following:

I love making the impossible possible. Big scary projects with tight timelines don’t scare me. I have an ownership attitude, and I am willing to gather the resources required, put the time in, and get the job done.

I don’t care who gets the credit – I just want to make things better for my company and our customers.

I’m the calm one.

I don’t play politics – I enjoy working with a team of passionate professionals who have one another’s back.

I’m the one you call in the middle of the night – because you know I'll answer and do whatever I can do to put out the fire.

I love talking shop. Reach out if you want to know how some of today’s largest companies are managing their supply chains.

The difference is obvious, but a few things to note are all the keywords and searchable terms he layered in, the way he clearly defined what he was looking to do next, and how he demonstrated his values and beliefs about hard work and teamwork.

Mike found a new opportunity quickly upon posting his new summary (a recruiter found him on LinkedIn). He told me recently that he continues to get contacted about interesting positions weekly. While he’s not currently seeking a new job, he’s happy to know his LinkedIn summary continues to work for him. He’s confident that in the event his dream job comes available, it will find its way to him!

What are your LinkedIn tips? We’d love to hear them on The Second Shift Facebook page and be sure to follow our company page on LinkedIn!

{by Noelle Abarelli}