“A librarian looked at my profile and said it was good” he admitted to me, this job seeker in a tough market.

Really? I have some ideas…

I just spent 24+ zoom minutes with you and gave more than a dozen ideas to make the LinkedIn profile stand out, but I guess so can a teacher or a professional writer. Or a PR expert. Or…

But I ask you: Can that librarian speak to the ever-changing world of LinkedIn? Now over 100 changes in less than 7 months’ time?

(And please understand, I respect librarians, but wish they brought in experts on topics, globally available by zoom, no matter how remote the library is, for these types of assignments.)

The acid test: Have you looked at that librarian’s LinkedIn profile? Are they an expert with day-to-day feet on the ground in LinkedIn land? Do they tell why they do what they do on their LinkedIn profile?

But, but, ahem…

1) The librarian missed advising you to fix the fact that you have not had a new recommendation in 6 years.

2) And your banner was a non-descript freebie graphic from LinkedIn. Did you know a banner is a central visual clue to your profile reader to stay or leave?

Not much making you stand out in these 2 misses.

But then a third strike: Mismatched formats and resume-y sections.

I rest my case.

Snarky me, I just cannot believe the things I am come across sometimes!

It is not an easy-fix or a hack, that assignment to tell why you, to complement your resume. You may need help. Is the person who resets your eyeglass prescription qualified and experienced, or a multi-industry generalist?

Find an expert.

To be amazing-er.

The zoom conversation partner’s LinkedIn profile was not.

Now he is a little less pedestrian, the easy changes made, his amazing-er-ness clearer in view, still with much to do, but benefitting from my lens.