This might sting a little.
Now I say this as someone who is pretty darn transparent on social media… I’m far from the example anyone should be following! That said – I am a recruiter, and I read profiles for a living (along with some other stuff 😉 ) So what is an active job seeker to do? Now this is not your profile – we have another video about that you can check out HERE. We’re talking about posts, comments, and engagement.
Get ready for some very loving truth bombs…
Truth Bomb #1 – Your posts are incredibly vague
You’ve seen them – “don’t ignore my post!” or “I need a job!” Well, yes. I believe those things are true. Unfortunately a lot of those posts don’t say much else. They often lack context or a clear call to action – so what’s a reader to do? Unfortunately a lot of readers will make comments like “you got this!” or the dreaded “commenting for reach!” but seriously…. does that actually get you anywhere?
Truth Bomb #2 – your post is about YOU, not how you solve THEIR problem
This one sucks. I want you to think about this though – there’s a difference between “I need” and “I can do”. One is self-serving, the other is value adding to the audience. The reality is a stranger on the internet doesn’t care if you’re about to be homeless. YOU care, hence your content asking for help. The readers of your content? Not so much. They have their own wishes/needs/agenda, and if you speak to that, you’re way ahead of your competition. Instead of “I need a job” try “I am excited to land my next role where I can provide X by doing Y” or something to that effect.
Truth Bomb #3 – you need a talent shaped box
Another tough one – so many folks are hesitant to get too specific. If I post about how great of a recruiter I am, and that I’m really good at sourcing engineers, no one will consider me for a marketing gig! Well… that may be true… but are you QUALIFIED for a marketing gig? It’s absolutely ok to consider a career change – and your content should speak to that. The reality is the more targeted and specific your pitch is, the more likely it’ll get noticed by the right people!
The goal is to create a mental picture of how you can solve someone’s problem. Companies hire people to DO things. Buy, sell, build, consult, influence, direct, manager, manufacture… you name it. Show you can do that thing, and watch your engagement go up.
Check out the video HERE.
I love the candor. I am not and never have been a recruiter. These are great points that hold true in much broader terms.
Vague communication is an issue in any area of life I can think of. I think it’s a natural challenge that we have to actively work to address on an ongoing basis because when you’re speaking you know what you want to say, what you mean, all possible context, etc. When I say natural I do not mean acceptable. It causes so many issues in all areas of life that ignoring it would be downright irresponsible. And when you’re intentionally vague, you’re generally being selfish because you’re not giving people the information they need to look out for their own interests or even respond appropriately. And if people can’t look out for their own interests, why should they help with yours? Communication should be with the intent of creating win wins, everyone is getting something they need. Society was built on reciprocity.
Point two ties perfectly into point one, if you frame your message in a selfish way, it implies you’ve only considered yourself. If you’re only considering yourself, you’re more likely to waste my time if I try to assist. And framing it to be about what you can do for them takes advantage of the natural urge for people to prioritize solving their own problems higher than those of others.
The last point is just as valid but doesn’t have quite the same broader applicability outside of that already made around specificity. It does still have it, just not quite as powerful. Whatever type of communication you’re crafting should be audience specific. If you’re looking for a job/career and your audience is recruiters, clearly they like a talent box. Crafting your message to the liking of your audience has value to them. It’s more efficient for them to ingest and work with. It also shows respect, appreciation, and attention to detail. All of which makes it more likely you receive more useful responses. Which means, it has value to you as well. The theme across these points is to focus on those you’re communicating to and with rather than yourself.