I am an observer-status member of a networking group composed of executives in transition. Yes, displaced from corporate roles they used to sit in, now sitting in front of a computer trying, some without much success, to reposition themselves.

But being an observer doesn’t mean I sit quietly. I openly offer my LinkedIn perspective in a conversation to the attendees to reorient their thinking about how to best use this power tool.

Yes, I am like a “color commentator” on a sports show. I watch, listen to others, analyze, add my earned perspective based on now 13+ years in this LinkedIn coaching world I love, and offer my opinions on what to observe, notice, and adjust to appear amazing-er than the competitor.

The competition is intense, often younger / seeking less salary and benefits / more tech savvy, etc. to make them even more attractive to HR managers or recruiters who just want to fill a slot and move on to the next opening.

The job-shop mentality of hiring is impersonalized, statistical, AI-driven, and gut-wrenchingly and rudely non-responsive to an earnest offer to consider the applicant.

You must step out, be more interesting and tell why you. I cannot say that any more clearly. But to do so, you must be in touch with your past making you who you are today, and your future based on your image right now, for the handful of nanoseconds you get to leave that impression.

Have I said it plainly enough?

Blatant request: if you know someone wrestling with this job search dilemma, refer me please. Tell them to invest in themselves and learn LinkedIn life skills they will need throughout their career, not right now while they are idle. I am not inexpensive, but I am effective enough to make a hiring manager fall in “like” with a LinkedIn profile enough to engage the prospective.

The “falling in love” part is up to the ensuing interview process, to which I am not a party.

I just get cupid’s arrows to rain on the reader of your profile…