About the Editor

Peter Nguyen is a bilingual copywriter (French/English), knowledge management specialist, and serial entrepreneur. He won two literary awards (short story & essay), graduated from McGill University in marketing (B2B specialization) and has been working as Feature Editor for an English-language community newspaper since 1992, where he interviews beautiful and talented Asian women selected as Cover Girls (it's a tough job, but somebody has to do it!). Details at www.prolificprofiler.blogspot.com.

Need help in writing your LinkedIn profile? I can help! My passion is to make you look REALLY good on paper, so that decision-makers will be excited about meeting you and possibly offer you responsible, fulfilling and, of course, lucrative jobs! Write to me at omnidigitalbrain@yahoo.com!

Tip: Read The 8th Habit, by Stephen Covey

In his book, Covey writes that there are 4 key elements that make up the ideal career where you find your true voice:

1. Your talent (what you do better than most people)
2. Your passion (what you feel passionate about)
3. The world's needs (what people want and are willing to pay for)
4. Your conscience (what you believe to be the right thing to do)

You can play around with these concepts and see how much applies to your career.

For example, a person who has TALENT but no PASSION will be stuck in his/her career.

A person has PASSION but no TALENT is incompetent.

A person who has both TALENT and PASSION, but doesn't understand the world's needs (or doesn't care about them) will be unemployed. Many artists or freelancers may be in this situation.

A person who has the first 3 ingredients, but not the last one -- CONSCIENCE -- will eventually regret it. For example, a pornographer skilled in Web technologies, may be "passionate" and understand the needs of lonely men, but he won't likely have a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Better to focus and specialize

If you give people reasons to doubt your focus or your commitment to ONE field or, in this case, to one executive function, then you open the door to confusion.

Briefly describe your previous jobs

Unfortunately, people cannot read your mind. Which is why it's important to write a brief description of your previous jobs. If you're too busy, then write just ONE sentence. Example: "I was responsible for (doing such and such)."

Just listing your previous positions without descriing them, sends a very negative impression. People might think you're the kind of person who doesn't focus on details and doesn't execute tasks properly.

Better not write anything than write something that shows unprofessionalism or an I-don't-care attitude.

Not sure about his expertise exactly!

It's okay if you're not sure what you REALLY want to specialize in, but at least, state one specialty or thing you do for which you can credibly claim authority.

Nobody wants to hire a "general" consultant, because the best consultants are those who not only can work with the client to conceive a feasible plan, but can also help the client actually implement that plan.

Tip: to make more connections, generously share your expertise

Many people might think that they should only connect to friends and people they know well.

Actually, there's a phenomenon called "the strength of weak ties" where researchers in social networking have discovered that it is the people who are loosely connected to you, who can help you most.

This is because the people you know well, usually have access to more or less the same opportunities or connections that you do.

But the acquaintances and "loose" connections, on the other hand, work and socialize in circles of contacts that you can rarely access, hence they can help you more.

So how can you multiply those loose connections? Offer your expertise and invite people to ask you questions about your professional knowledge.

Specifically list your areas of expertise on your LinkedIn profile, and explicitly welcome queries from people. Don't just list your previous jobs, it might mean very little to readers.

For example, I would include a URL on my LinkedIn profile, which leads people to my blog, where I list all the areas where I'm knowledgeable or expert.

Really good prose

Writing copy is easy

I often tell clients that "the easiest part of copywriting is writing the copy."

In other words, what is really hard is the research and self-analysis to discover exactly WHAT you want to say. What is the key message that readers should get, upon reading your profile?

Once you have determined that key message, then you can work on crafting the best formulation so that people REMEMBER YOU.

Not having a career objective or job target may make it difficult for him to find a job.

The industries are so varied that the reader wonders what exactly the person specializes in

This summary is too difficult to read

Question: Should I hire a copywriter to write my profile?

Yes.

It would cost you around $100.

Why save $100 when a badly written profile may cause you to lose $30,000 - $70,000 (a professional's salary)?

Don't forget: the people who read your profile (your first-degree connections) are the people most likely to help you. But if you ruin the first impression they have of you, then you cannot really expect them to refer you or forward opportunities to you.

Copywriter with 8 years of experience in consumer marketing, specializing in direct marketing materials.

I fictitiously rewrote his profile to make it more specific. What is not specific, does not sell!

Show your work!

Strangely enough, this copywriter is too busy to write his own profile!

It's important to show your work! Make sure you create a blog or website from which people can easily download samples of your work (logo, report, plan, procedure, quality assurance manual, textbook, project management plan, brochure, methodology, etc.).

Question: Should my profile be specific or general?

It depends on what you want. If you are 100% clear about the position you want, in a particular industry or type of company (small or big, consulting or corporate, etc.), then BE SPECIFIC.

If you are undergoing a career change, then be general and only stress your core competencies (e.g. leadership, project management, self-motivation, etc.) without mentioning skills that are too specific (Oracle database, direct marketing, etc.).

Too disorganized! The fact that he's a writer makes it worse...

No comment (it's my profile, so I cannot really be objective!)

Sums up how LinkedIn requests should be!

Ambitious careerists eventually have to become Chief Relationship Officers (methinks)

"aggressive company builder and market entry strategist" is very specific, hence very good.

Very good and concise summary. A pleasure to read!

Not specific enough. After 25 years, one would expect a more powerful summary involving leadership or stellar track record.

Just too confusing and erratic.

This profile is okay.

Too many "specialties" (most of which are NOT really specialties)

The first word, after his name, has a typo!

Lots of experience but no unity or pattern. This person is not sure where his/her career is going.

This person is just TOO loyal to the company. She should instead promote herself. LinkedIn is NOT for companies, but for people.

Excellent!

No summary and no career objective

Too detailed. Job description should have only 3-4 lines, focusing on KEY responsibilities, not tasks.

Has solid credentials, but his summary is clumsily formulated. Also a case of fractured (not integrated) positioning.