I’ll Scratch Your Back, if You’ll Scratch Mine

When you’re having a bad day, one of the best things you can do to improve your mood is to help someone else. It gets you out of your own head.

When you’re searching for a job, it can often feel like you’re alone and constantly asking for help from others.

• You may be asking friends and family to proofread your resume or cover letter (my poor parents and brother are EXTREMELY experienced at this thanks to my frequent requests over the years).

• You’re asking others to let you know if they hear about a job openings.

• When you apply, you may ask someone to put in a good word for you within the company/organization.

This constant asking can get exhausting and demoralizing, but LinkedIn has a tool that can help!

Might I recommend…

In LinkedIn, you can both receive and give recommendations, and it’s the second option I’m focusing on.

I’ve got specific instructions on my blog on how to give someone a recommendation on a computer vs mobile device and HOW to make it a high quality recommendation.

But here’s the top five reasons WHY I think it valuable.

1. It is a chance to make someone else’s day. Research has shown that random acts of kindness have an even greater impact on our mood than kindness we expect. Even the U.S. Surgeon General suggests that writing LinkedIn recommendations is a great idea! You never know what someone else is dealing with, so if you can in some way make their lives better, why not do it?

2. You can only do this for your first-degree connections. Use this to inspire you to connect with more of your current/former colleagues or collaborators.

3. When someone sees your recommendation, they may begin to pay more attention to you on the platform or may even reach out to check in on you. This provides a great opportunity to update them on your job search.

4. I know that when I receive a recommendation, I am much more likely to reciprocate with a recommendation for that person, vs simply getting a recommendation request from them. It’s that whole idea of “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine.”

5. You have control. Each person gets to decide whether or not to make a recommendation visible on their profile. If you don’t like what the person wrote or they shared information you’re not ready for the whole world to know, you don’t have to post it on your page (or you can at least wait to post it).

Here’s the key: accountability

Block off 10 minutes every week to spend on this for the next month. Add it as an item on your to do list. And most important, tell someone you’re doing this and ask them to check in to make sure it happened. If you want me to be that person, message me on LinkedIn and I’m happy to help!

Be one of the helpers that Mr. Rogers says to look for during difficult times.

Sprint with Me!

If you’d like further support and accountability in your efforts to boost your LinkedIn game, sign up for my FREE upcoming LinkedIn Sprint for Job Seekers! Think of me as your personal coach. I’m someone who will challenge you to do more than you think you can, but who offers support and extends grace throughout the process.

For job seekers who are not ready to tell the world that they’re searching for a new job, I will be designing a more incognito version of the sprint to maximize the impact for you. There’s no need to put the “Open to Work” sign up if you don’t want to.

The sprint runs November 8 through 18 (with a 3-day break for the weekend and Veteran's Day). We'll kick off with a short Zoom meeting on November 7 (don't worry, it will be recorded and shared if you can't attend live).

Sign up for more information.

PS: To keep myself and other fans of the arts entertained (remember, I am a Renaissance Woman after all), look for a reference to at least one song lyric or quote from a movie, TV show, play or musical. Message me on LinkedIn if you find it and you win…a virtual shout out in the next newsletter!

Do you find my newsletter valuable? Please share it. And I’d love it if you’d buy me an oat milk cappuccino.

Hi! I’m Sara Kobilka, owner of Renaissance Woman Consulting.

I am a Renaissance Woman and part of my wide-ranging background includes time as a TV meteorologist/reporter, non-profit leader, higher education program coordinator, and now, business owner. During each leg of this journey, I gained new skills that I was able take with me in my next step. Now, I work remotely with clients to help them confidently tell their story and navigate the transition to their next step on their career journey.

Take the Next Step

• Follow me on LinkedIn where I actively cross-pollinate impactful ideas across industries and disciplines (and regularly share job opportunities I come across)

• Check out my one-on-one career coaching program or join a cohort of job seekers for small group coaching

• Sign up to be the first to know when I offer my workshops: Using LinkedIn to be a Powerhouse Networker and How TV News Pros Can Land a Remote Job.