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Dear J.T. & DALE: Where, if anywhere, on your LinkedIn profile should you list that you are currently pursuing employment – i.e., that you’re unemployed? I recently was laid off, and I feel like my contacts would more actively help if they knew my current employment status and knew of an open position for which I would be well suited. – Judy

J.T.: You don’t need to let people know on your profile that you are looking for work; in fact, I would encourage you NOT to do so. Recruiters do keyword searches on profiles in LinkedIn, and it’s been shown that many employers discriminate against the unemployed. Stating it in your headline or summary could make them skip reviewing your profile. So, simply put the end date of your last position in your work history. The fact that you don’t show a “current” employer tells them that you’re looking, but only after they’ve had a chance to see your accomplishments.

DALE: Backing up: You must not assume that your contacts will find you a job. Besides, how often do you think they’re looking at your LinkedIn profile? You’ll have to take it upon yourself to help them help you. Your friends and recent colleagues should be getting a phone call from you, followed by a resum茅. Your most-distant contacts should get an email, and maybe then a phone call, depending on your relationship.

J.T.: Yes, contact people one by one, and tell them what types of opportunities you are looking for and the firms where you are actively pursuing employment. A personalized request for help, coupled with some clear information on what you are looking for, is what they need to help you.

DALE: When you do make contact, if you just throw out the generic “I’m looking for a new job. Please let me know if you hear of anything,” the likely response will be what I think of as The Dirty Ear, where they say, “I’ll keep my ear to the ground,” which puts them, and you, in passive mode. You need to give specific information on your goals and make specific requests. Then keep them updated. Their effort will reflect your effort.

Dear J.T. & Dale: In interviews, I try to keep my emotions in check, as I want to present myself as professional, cool and collected. I don’t want to appear as a cheerleader or a lunatic. But I feel like my body language gives away my sadness, disappointment, etc. In other words, I’m holding back positive feedback and letting negativity show. Do you think this is real or just my imagination running amok?
– Sean

J.T.: Why hide the enthusiasm? A recent study of hiring managers showed that they look for five traits: professionalism, high energy, confidence, self-awareness and curiosity. Your effort to keep your enthusiasm in check could easily mean that you are failing to convey the vital traits for getting hired.

DALE: Perhaps Sean is concerned about seeming manic or hyperactive, or maybe just phony. So, what does positive, professional energy look like? One answer comes from the advice a young relative of mine heard at a manners class. You sit up straight, of course, but the class taught him that his chest should be the distance of one fist from the table and his spine one fist from the back of the chair. In an interview, you may be at a desk, not a table, but what the front-and-back measure does is make you lean in ever so slightly. Perfect. Then you keep your hand gestures in the square created by your torso. If you want role models, pay attention to the announcers on ESPN – they’re lively, without being scarily overactive.

J.T.: But I worry, Sean, that if you are too concerned about holding back your emotions, you’ll be robotic and unnatural.

DALE: That’s a good reason to do at least three mock interviews with friends.

J.T.: Yes, practice till you don’t have to think about fists or torso squares. Then let your enthusiasm show. Let them see how much you want the job and that you are ready to use your energy to exceed their expectations.

Dear J.T. & Dale: I have and MBA but I only have a 15 years experience in teaching. I find it difficult getting a new job with this certificate. Did I make a wrong choice? What do I do to better off? – K.V.

DALE: Usually we clean up the grammar and typos in the letters we receive in order to avoid confusing our readers. However, this time we let them stand because I wanted to address the language issue. Your approach to English is unconventional, K.V., probably because it’s not your native tongue. That’s one reason why I would particularly enjoy talking with you – unusual constructions and word choices make me think, often revealing new insights. And I’m sure there are plenty of people like me. However, that said, let’s think about hiring managers who are looking for someone with an MBA. They’re hiring because they need high-level help, and that includes swift and easy communication. Also, hiring managers usually want the new hire to represent the company with customers or suppliers. Along comes someone with eccentric English. Hiring managers may see that as a big advantage if they have customers with corresponding language backgrounds, but if not, they will regard it as extra work … for them. They’ll picture having to rewrite your memos or edit your emails. You need to work on your language skills so they don’t have to. This need not be an expensive undertaking. If you do not have a friend or relative in a position to help, the country is full of unemployed or underemployed English majors. They can rewrite your resum茅 and cover letters, then do mock interviews with you. You have to get to the point where an employer could trust you to be clear and accurate when communicating with suppliers and customers. At that point, your background and language go from a negative to a positive.

J.T.: Now, language aside, it is challenging to get a job in a new field without experience, even with a new degree. Most employers would rather you have a “working education” than a new diploma. That’s why I would suggest that you seek a part-time internship or temporary assignment as a way to break into the field. If you can’t get either, consider offering your talents pro bono. Meanwhile, be sure to network with those in your new field. If they see you consistently working to join their professional ranks, they will be impressed. Eventually, they will get to know you and trust you enough to refer you in.

Workplace consultant and career coach J.T. O’Donnell has coached, trained and mentored employees and managers on a wide variety of career-related subjects since 1994. Her book, “CAREEREALISM: The Smart Approach to A Satisfying Career” is available at JTODonnell.com.
Management guru Dale Dauten has written six books and is an authority on innovation in the workplace. His latest book, “Great Employees Only: How Gifted Bossess Hire & Dehire Their Way to Success” is available at Dauten.com. 漏2012 King Features Syndicate.