How to Say "I Do" to a LinkedIn Invitation

We live in a click-happy world. We easily click "Yes" to accept an online money transfer, click "No" to deny a bad date request; then we move on to the next pressing detail of the day. But there's one time when the quick click of the "Accept" button might not be all you should do to say, "I do."

For a LinkedIn invitation with potential for professional opportunity, send a personal email of acceptance.

Here's how to turn your LinkedIn acceptance into an active connection, unlike so many others lying dormant on your LinkedIn contact list.

1. Click Accept in the email invitation to you.

2. Write notes about the person. Go to your LinkedIn Contacts page and find the person's name in your list of contacts. Click on "View & edit details" to bring up a window of your new contact's information. Scroll down and click "Add contact notes" next to the "Contact Notes" heading, which opens a text box. Write notes about how you know this person, what important connections you and he share, ideas for how you might interact with him. and any other points that strike you as relevant. This note section is private -- you are the only one who can read it -- so be liberal with your descriptions and ideas.

3. Check out the person's profile to see how he presents himself. You're bound to learn something factual and get a sense of his personality. On his profile, notice your "Contact Notes" box, containing your comments. Don't worry, no one but you can see this box. While on his profile page, make more notes if you like.

4. Get his direct email and write an email of acceptance. Your email should be short and to the point. You might include an idea for a next step such as sharing thoughts on a common topic, asking if you may quote him in your next blog post, or inviting him to join a LinkedIn group you belong to. Here are some sample acceptance emails to give you the idea:

Example #1:
Hello Susan,
Thank you for sending me a LinkedIn invitation. After reading your blog posts all these years, I feel I already know you. I look forward to sharing an occasional comment or message on a topic we're both concerned about: job search in this recession.
Best,
Sarah

Example #2:
Hello Susan,
I see that you just started following me on Twitter; I immediately became one of your followers. Between our new LinkedIn and Twitter connections, we're going to learn more about our shared advocacy for resume training for the underemployed.
Thank you!
Peter

Example #3:
Hi Susan,
Thanks for sending the LI invitation. Hopefully this will give us an easy way to stay up to date on each other's activities. If I can lend a hand with your job search webinars, let me know.
Best,
Tina

Example #4:
Hello Susan,
I appreciate your inviting me to join your LinkedIn network. I have accepted. Please let me know if you'd like to participate in my job search group. Your voice on resume writing will be welcomed.
See you in the jobs LI groups!
Fred

Writing an email acceptance isn't as quick as clicking a button for an online money transfer or rejecting a bad date request, but it's a relatively small investment of time that could pay off in big network dividends.

Here's what Job Search expert Patricia Frame says about how she accepts LinkedIn invitations:

I rarely accept invitations from those who use the standard email format (except for a few old friends). But when I do accept an invite, I often ask the person if there is something specific I can do to help them. I think this helps personalize the response and it can deepen the relationship that already exists.

Some folks take me up on my offer immediately, others don't. But I get comments about how nice it was of me to offer.

More on LinkedIn etiquette:
Your LinkedIn Profile *STATUS BAR* – Tips for Job Seekers by Brenda Bernstein
LinkedIn Recommendations – Give One Today by Jason Alba
2 Lazy LinkedIn Invitations That Can Burn Bridges by Susan Ireland

Break into the Healthcare Field... Even If You're Not a Brain Surgeon

Healthcare is one of the strongest career fields; and it has a constant need for many types of professionals -- not just healthcare providers. If you're not already in the healthcare field, consider using these tips to break into medical, pharmaceutical, or other healthcare sales.



In this video, Medical Sales Recruiter Peggy McKee tells how to get your foot in the door, even if you don't have a sales or medical background. Here's a quick peek at what Peggy explains:

1. How to write your resume:
Include keywords.
State a clear job objective.
List your technical degree, if you have one.

2. The value of a preceptorship (aka job shadowing)

3. Online and in-person networking tips
Ask your network for introductions.
Say specifically what you want them to do.
Use email (not the phone) to stay in touch with your network.

4. Interview Advice
Research and understand the company.
Answer questions to the interviewer's satisfaction.

If you want to try your hand at medical, pharmaceutical, or other healthcare sales, check out Peggy McKee's many videos. Also see these related posts:

MBA in Healthcare, What to Do With It
Find a Mentor for Your Medical Sales Career
MyMedicalSalesJobs (job board)

The Best Job Interview Preparation: The Behavioral Resume

With all the buzz about behavioral job interviews these days, it makes sense to create a behavioral resume. What the heck's a behavioral resume? It's a resume designed to prompt the interviewer to ask the behavioral interview questions that will highlight your strongest qualifications.

Behavioral interviews are filled with questions that ask you to tell stories about times when you:

• Proved yourself effective at a particular skill
• Demonstrated a valuable character trait
• Accomplished a relevant project
• Championed a noteworthy cause
• Positively hit the bottom line

For lists of common behavioral interview questions and answers, read:
Complete List of Behavioral Interview Questions by Alex Rudloff
and
Behavioral Interview Questions by JobInterviewQuestions.org

What's the idea behind behavioral job interviews? By learning about your past experiences (through your stories of specific times and places), the interviewer will deduce that you'll do a repeat performance for your next employer. If your stories fit the bill, you become a high value-proposition candidate. Sounds good... if you're asked the right interview questions -- ones that give you a chance to tell the stories that spell out your value proposition.

That's where the behavioral resume comes in. Think of your resume as an interview script, or at least a prompter from which the interviewer will ask his behavioral interview questions. With this in mind, write bullet point teasers on your resume about success stories you want to talk about in the interview.

Here's how to write and use your behavioral resume:

1. Make a list of all the behavioral questions you want the interviewer to ask you -- ones that demonstrate your particular strengths for the job you're applying for.
2. Write statements on your resume that point to experiences that answer those behavioral questions. Don't tell the whole story, just the theme of the experience and the quantifiable results from your success. Leave the juicy details for your interview.
3. Practise how you'll answer each of the behavioral questions on your list, using the statements on your resume as a springboard to launch into your brief story of success. Inject your story with quantifiable details and mentions of your relevant professional qualifications.
4. Bring your resume to the interview, just in case the interviewer would like a hardcopy version. If he has your resume in hand, he's more likely to ask those interview questions you've practised.

In short, use your resume to facilitate behavioral interview questions and answers that show a thread of success running from your past into your future! Actually, that's what all resumes should do but I'm calling it a behavioral resume to underscore this winning resume tip.

For more on behavioral interviewing:

Behavioral Interview: Why Are Employers Using Behavioral Job Interviews Now?
Answering Interview Questions
Behavioral Interviewing Strategies for Job-Seekers

You're Fired! Now What?

Whether it comes from Donald Trump or your local nonprofit boss, the words "You're fired!" hurt like a big ol' sucker punch! When the pain of job termination eases, you'll probably need to hit the job search trail.

Before you can start looking for a job, you need to decide if you want to:

• Stay in the same occupation; or
• Try your hand at something different

In either case, here are some ideas to get your job search going:

• Spread the word in your personal and professional networks that you're looking for a new job in your most recent occupation or let them know about your desire to make a career change. Networking is one of your best tools for getting your foot in the door for a job interview.
• Update your resume. Use a chronological resume format if you're staying in your former line of work; or use a combination resume format if you're making a career change. By the way, there's no need to mention that you got fired when listing your last job on your resume.
• Get plugged into online blogs and social networks where you can get and stay current with your occupation's job market.
• Read newspapers and relevant trade journals regularly to keep up on industry trends and see what jobs are posted.
• Get out of the house. Instead of trying to conduct your job search entirely at the computer, network in person, research the job market at the library, go to career fairs, attend in-person job support groups, and hang out with colleagues.
• Prepare for job interviews, including how you'll answer the inevitable question, "Why did you leave your last job?"

There is life after job termination and you're going to prove it! Take one day at a time, one step at a time, and you're bound to land a new job.

For more help on moving on with your job search after getting fired, check out these posts:

The Pink Slip Blues
Surprise Job Termination
Wrongful Termination
Terminated and Moving On
Creating a Fresh Start for Your Work Life