Is your LinkedIn profile part of your Email Signature?

One of the easiest way to spread the word about YOU, is to make sure your LinkedIn profile is part of the signature on each of your emails.

On your LinkedIn profile, there is a Public Profile that includes a URL which you can copy and include in your signature along with your:

• Name
• Email Address
• Cell Phone and Home Phone Numbers

As we've said elsewhere, you never know who might have a lead on a job.  And, a major portion of the jobs are never advertised.  So, you need to get your name and background in front of as many people as possible.   And, that includes family, friends, acquaintances and even people you've only emailed in the past.

Don't forget to re-set your URL at LinkedIn!

Before you use the default URL that LinkedIn provides automatically, you should customize it with your name.

First, you've probably never thought of yourself as a "BRAND!" But, you need to start thinking about that.

You on GOOGLE?

Have you ever "Googled" yourself to find out what a prospective employer will see if they "Google" you?

TIP: If you haven't done it recently, do it right now! Click HERE!

You find anything interesting?  One of the things you probably found was every other person with your name. And, you might have been surprised to see that there is a scoundrel or two out there with your name or your nickname. You need to be aware of this in case it comes up.

EVEN MORE CRITICAL - YOUR PAGES

You probably also found your Facebook or MySpace page and your Twitter account.  They are part of the public record on you. Whether or not you like it, prospective employers will GOOGLE you and find out what they can.

How embarrassed will you be when a prospective employer sees what you've written on your Facebook or MySpace pages or when they see what you are Twittering?

Are there comments about that party you had? Or, about how much you had to drink last Friday night?

Also, how embarrassed will you be when they see what your friends have written?

TIP: Do what you can to fix the content of your Facebook & MySpace accounts by eliminating anything that will cause embarrassment.  And, be careful about what you TWEET!   Remember, all of this is PUBLIC information.

Manage your brand with Google's help.

This short video provides some tips on a simple way to find out what, if anything, is being said about you on the Internet.  You can use Google for more than doing searches.

Crucial to the success of your Job Search......

One of the parts of a successful Job Search that is absolutely CRUCIAL to your success is your ability to introduce yourself quickly to someone you've just met.

You have 30 seconds (yes - that's right - roughly the duration of an elevator ride in some buildings) to convey some VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION to someone you've just met.  Some people refer to this as your "elevator speech."  But, it is really one of the first critical components in your job search.  Other people refer to this as your "30 Second Commercial."

In your commercial you need to include:

1. You Name
2. Your most recent job
3. Your major responsibilities - or, a simple definition of your career or profession
4. An accomplishment you are proud of from your most recent job
5. The main reason you left your most recent job - e.g., downsizing due to the economy
6. What you want to do next

This sounds like a lot to cover within 30 seconds.  But, it can be done.  But, you have to develop a script.  Don't rely on your memory.  Write it down.  And, practice, practice, practice. You should literally try it on your family and friends.  They'll give you feedback.

As you work with the script, you will get more comfortable with it.  And, you will figure out how it flows best.

And, just in case you didn't catch it the first time, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.  The more comfortable you are with it, the easier it is for you to get your message across.