After one Link Humans created by [url=http://www.juicetdp.com”>Recruitment Juice. This time it’s about how recruiters (or anyone in fact) can connect with new people on LinkedIn by using the group feature.
-Connect with people who are completely outside of your network by joinning the same groups they are in.
-Send direct messages or direct invitations to connect with those individals.
-Remember though, that the facility to contact users through groups is switch on by default. However, if an individual has had a lot of spam contact, he can switch this off at any given time.
One of LinkedIn’s true hidden gems is the free resume building service launched last year, which I have just been testing out. At first I thought it would be very basic and not all that useful. I was wrong.
The resume builder was developed by LinkedIn labs, meaning it’s an experimental tool but still developed in-house by the LinkedIn team. We can safely say that there is a need for a resume builder function on LinkedIn and I assume this is the Beta testing of it before they integrate it fully on LinkedIn proper.
How does the resume creator work?
Very simple. First off make sure you are logged in to LinkedIn. Then click on to the LinkedIn resume tool and sign in with your LinkedIn passport. The next thing you know you’ll have an auto-generated CV which mirrors all the information on your LinkedIn profile. This obviously means that the better that’s been filled in, the better the CV.
How do you edit your resume?
There are eleven different templates that you can play around with to suit your industry, seniority and purpose of the resume. Just like with your LinkedIn profile, you can shuffle the sections of your resume around and even hide the ones you think are irrelevant to your new resume.
The one thing you cannot do in the resume builder tool is to change specific details like job titles, dates and so on – this is done on your regular LinkedIn profile and updated automagically to your resume or CV.
Benefits of using the resume builder
As we all know it’s a bit tricky to keep your LinkedIn profile and resume completely synched. On top of that, it’s a slog to have to update stuff in two places. You can easily change the template, style and decide exactly what goes up on the resume as opposed to the LinkedIn profile.
You can choose to share the resume straight from the application or you can set it to private. Finally, you can download your new CV as a PDF and email or print.
Is this the kiss of death for resume writers?
I don’t think so, whilst the LinkedIn resume creator does churn out pretty good looking resumes it doesn’t customize them at all. A resume writer’s main role in my opinion is to write excellent copy and lay things out in a compelling fashion for your target audience. LinkedIn’s new tool does provide the average job seeker with a nice template resume but this has never been the be all and end all when there is any competition for a particular vacancy.
Final thought
LinkedIn know that their platform is the place to be for all things career and professional networking. By giving the world this free resume and CV feature, they ensure that everyone that uses the resume builder will keep their LinkedIn profile up-to-date and perfectly crafted for success.
Have you tried the tool yet? Please let me know your feedback!
In June 2008, a company named Forrester Consulting conducted a commissioned study on behalf of Cisco named “Closing the IT Network Skills”.
The study highlighted that managers looking to hire employees should take a three phase approach.
Firstly, they should focus on roles, rather than titles. Job titles can be varied between organisations, such as Analyst, Administrator, Technician and so on. Roles are generally universal and don’t tend to vary as much despite the size, location or industry that the company belongs to.
Secondly, assess the skills gap. By taking a good look at what is required within the business and how these roles have/are changing, a more specific, targeted approach can be taken to close the skills gap between roles in the ever-changing network environment.
Lastly, to ensure that the relevant and required skills are maintained, organizations should provide training and certification. Having a Cisco certification sometimes highlights on paper that you have passed an examination in the skills being sought after.
Cisco examinations are constantly changing and pose real-world scenario troubleshooting tasks that prove a candidates hands-on focused skills in addition to their theoretical knowledge. You have probably heard the phrase about paper certification proves little but with Cisco requiring a number of practical hands-on exercises as opposed to multiple-choice questions, candidates really must know what they are doing which in turn provides the employer with the reassurance that those skills are valid. Add to this that the certification also expires at regular intervals, recertification validates a candidates skills for existing and emerging technologies.
The survey showed:
A dedicated Wireless networking role has been implemented by 36% of the global companies surveyed. This figure was expected to increase to 66% over the following 5 year period.
At the time of the survey, only 46% of those companies had a dedicated Security role within their business. That number was expected to increase to 80% within the following 5 years.
In addition, only 40% of those companies had a dedicated Voice specialist, whereas 69% of those IT managers expected to see this number over the same period.
Cisco introduced the certification programs Cisco CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, and CCNA Wireless that will meet these challenges. These are role-based, technology specific certifications that provide current and future networking professionals with a learning path for career advancement.
CCNA Wireless
The CCNA Wireless certification validates the candidate’s skills in the configuration, implementation, and support of wireless LANs, specifically those networks using Cisco equipment. Students are prepared for them to configure, monitor and troubleshoot basic tasks of a Cisco WLAN in small to medium-sized business (SMB) and enterprise networks. Once candidates complete the certification, employers will be able to validate that their staff have the skills needed for basic wireless networking on a Cisco WLAN in SMB and enterprise networks.
CCNA Security
The CCNA Security certification meets the needs of IT professionals who are responsible for network security. It confirms an individual’s skills for job roles such as network security specialists, security administrators, and network security support engineers. This certification validates skills including installation, troubleshooting, and monitoring of network devices to maintain integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data and devices, and develops competency in the technologies that Cisco uses in its security structure.
CCNA Voice
The CCNA Voice certification validates skills in VoIP technologies such as IP PBX, IP telephony, handset, call control, and voicemail solutions. Candidates also get exposure to the Cisco Unified Communications architecture and design covering mobility, presence, and TelePresence applications.
Cisco ran a contest on LinkedIn between 9-14 May 2011 for contestants to provide feedback on “How Cisco Certifications Help My Career”. The results were posted on the Cisco website at the Cisco Learning Network. Head over to here and see the results for yourself.
Scott Stephenson is a Principle Technologist at QA- leading providers of Cisco Certification and training courses ,where he is responsible for authoring courses and instructing on the Windows OS, Networking Infrastructure, Active Directory, Exchange, Security, Virtualization and Cisco technologies. After serving in H.M forces for 15 years specialising in telecommunications and Electronic Warfare; Scott became certified in Cisco, CompTIA, and CI r and began working as a Microsoft Vendor Contractor and MD of his own business before joining QA in 2005.
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