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Make sure you have your general CV that covers your education and any work experience you might have.
You can also put extra-curricular activities here too!

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What are the key skills identified in the job adverts you found?
Try to identify general work skills and then specific technical skills.
Can you find some skills that the job adverts all have in common?

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What industry or commercial field would you like to work in?
Do you have an exact career you'd like to do, or are you open to different types?

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Look at the key skills you identified from the Job adverts and then look at your own CV. What are the key skills that you will need to develop over the next few years in order to get your ideal job?
Think about 3 SMART goals you could create in order to help guide your development over the next year, or even couple of years!

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What type of jobs can you find related to your ideal profession or field?
Where can you find some of these job adverts? Look through the guide below to help you with finding specific jobs...

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What else can you think of that you find interesting about your ideal field of work?
What other motivations or considerations do you think will help people get a better understanding of your 'vision' for your career?

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What inspired you to choose your degree?
What is your motivation to study and work in this area?

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The difference between 'hard/soft' skills

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The difference between 'hard/soft' skills

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Source:  Ling, M. (2018) The Balance, https://www.thebalancecareers.com/hard-skills-vs-soft-skills-2063780, Accessed: 08/01/19

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Getting a new job is about more than just your past experience. Most employers are looking for people with the right types of skills to make them a fit for the job.

Learn more about the types of skills employers are looking for.

Soft Skills and Hard Skills

When applying for a new job, there are some skills and qualities employers seek in all their employees, regardless of the position.

These are called " soft skills," and they include the interpersonal skills and attributes you need to succeed in the workplace. They are also commonly referred to as professional skills, those that maintain a healthy workplace environment. Examples of soft skills include flexibility, determination, and critical thinking.

In addition to soft skills, there are other, more tangible skills that most projects require. These are called hard skills or technical skills. They are the specific knowledge and abilities required to do the job. Examples of hard skills include computer coding, equipment operation, and painting.

You'll need both soft and hard skills for any job. It's important to show employers that you have the combination of hybrid skills they need when you're applying and interviewing for jobs.

Top Skills Employers Look For

In order to get your application noticed, be sure to incorporate in your resume and cover letter the skills you have that are required for the position. Highlight your most relevant skills during job interviews by being able to provide real-life examples.

While this list is not exhaustive, these are some of the top skills employers say are most important when recruiting and hiring employees.

Analytical Skills

Employees need to be able to confront a problem, think it through, and decisively apply solutions. These are known as "analytical skills." The level of analytical skills required will vary, depending on the job and the industry. Closely aligned with analytical skills, employees are expected to organize, plan, and prioritize effectively.

Communication Skills

The ability to communicate effectively-both verbally and in writing-is both essential and rare. Those with strong communication skills are in high demand, regardless of the job or industry. You need to be able to communicate successfully with employees, managers, and customers in-person, online, in writing, and/or over the phone.

Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal skills, also known as "people skills," are the skills you use to interact and engage with others. Many are hired quickly based purely on their ability to connect with people. Interpersonal skills can sometimes trump the other skills employers are seeking, so be sure yours are up to par.

Your interpersonal skills will be evaluated during job interviews, so be sure you prepare for the interview. You can develop the emotional intelligence and self-awareness you need to connect with a hiring team.

Leadership Skills

When companies hire for leadership roles, they seek employees that can successfully interact with employees, colleagues, and customers. Even if you're not applying for management jobs, leadership is a valuable skill to bring to the employer. Many companies prefer to promote from within, so they're often looking for strong leadership qualities, even when hiring for entry-level positions.

Positive Attitude

Attitude may not be everything, but it's extremely valuable. Employers want employees who are positive even in stressful and challenging circumstances. Positivity shows your level of resilience. Employers want to hire applicants with a "can-do" attitude who are flexible, dedicated, and willing to contribute extra effort to get the job done in the face of challenges.

Regardless of the job, employers want to hire people who are team players-people who are cooperative and work well with others. They don't want employees who are difficult to work with. When you are interviewing, be sure to share examples of how you worked well on a team. Your level of teamwork indicates your ability to collaborate effectively with a wide variety of people.

Technical Skills

The technical skills you need will vary, of course, depending on the job. However, most positions require at least some technical skills, including experience using industry software, completing higher-level education (such as college degrees or vocational certifications), or being experienced at highly specific tasks.

Other Important Job Skills Today

Scan any of the job postings online, and you'll probably notice a trend: Technological skills are vitally important.

These days, technology shapes the world we live in. That's why many employers want the people they hire to come already equipped with certain technological skills.

If you lack technological skills within your industry, it's a good time to brush up on the following:

Social Media Skills

If you're working in a specific field that involves communication, you'll likely need to sharpen your social media skills. That doesn't just mean learning how to use the platforms, though. You should also know how to use social media sites effectively, and employers may ask you to demonstrate that you are a "power user" of a particular social media channel. Learning how to get your message across on social media can help make you an attractive candidate.

Computer Skills

Having at least some computer skills is a given in almost any job out there. Most jobs now require some computer literacy, whether using Word, Excel, or even more advanced software. If there's specific software that a company is using, you'll probably get trained on it, such as content management systems (CMSs) or specific data entry tools. If you are not experienced in all the software programs highlighted in the job posting, it would be helpful to demonstrate to the employer your ability to learn new software quickly.

Problem-Solving Skills

These may seem a little like analytical or interpersonal skills, but problem-solving is often considered a separate skill. You may have to deal with problems that require a quick response and resolution. Being able to think on your feet and solve problems at a moment's notice is an important quality many employers are looking for.

Showcase Your Skills

To be sure you are showing your top skills during your job search, make a list of the skills and qualities that best reflect your background. Incorporate them into your resume and cover letters.

Think of real-life examples where you applied these skills to achieve success on the job, in the classroom, or in volunteer work. Share these examples with your interviewer so they know exactly how much of an asset you will be when you're hired.

Identifying your best skills, finding jobs that need people with these skills, and highlighting your experience in those areas can help match you to the right career.

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Getting a new job is about more than just your past experience. Most employers are looking for people with the right types of skills to make them a fit for the job. Learn more about the types of skills employers are looking for.

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Remember to double-check that you have all the mandatory elements required for your career vision board from the assignment brief by completing the checklist below...

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Remember to double-check that you have all the mandatory elements required for your career vision board from the assignment brief by completing the checklist below...

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Frankfurt School of Finance & Management

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10 Killer Digital Marketing Skills to Master

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Key points:
* join marketing groups to network

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KoMarketing: B2B Search, Social, & Content Marketing

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Last summer I wrote about the importance LinkedIn can be for executing B2B SEO link building. Success derives from the amount of trust and authenticity one conveys when actively networking. And the first place to start is through your LinkedIn profile.

While I detailed several key LinkedIn profile elements that help convey trust, the objective of this post is to provide even more examples through exemplary LinkedIn user profiles found online.

Why LinkedIn Again?

As illustrated in the 2015 B2B Content Marketing report, put out by the Content Marketing Institute and MarketingProfs, 94% of B2B content marketers are using LinkedIn to distribute their content. And in Holger Schulze's 2014 B2B Content Marketing Trends Report, LinkedIn tops the list as the most effective social media platform for delivering content.

Finally, according to IHS GlobalSpec's annual survey of technical professionals and their use of social media, 74% of technical professionals surveyed have LinkedIn profiles. While the vast majority of those surveyed are not actively participating in discussions or sales-specific initiatives, a large percentage (69%) are looking for contacts and nearly half (47%) read product and industry news.

Bottom-line - if you're building a B2B online marketing program or looking to further develop your network in the B2B space, LinkedIn is one of the first places to focus on and explore.

Elements of a LinkedIn Profile to Consider

As detailed in my previous post, I outlined several aspects of a LinkedIn profile that aid in establishing trust and credibility. Here is that list in summary:

A Professional Profile Photo (Headshot)

A Concise, Impactful Profile Headline

A Well Written / Developed Summary

A Well Constructed List of Professional Experience

A Well Developed Skills & Endorsements

Recommendations from Customers, Peers & Colleagues

Involvement in Select LinkedIn Groups

Education Background

Highlighted Projects

Publications / Written Works

As I reviewed profiles examples for inclusion in this post, consideration in part was based on this list of LinkedIn profile elements and creativity in execution. Sure the list of examples is subjective but the goal is to provide a range of ideas which in turn can be applied, as applicable, to your own initiatives.

10 Exemplary LinkedIn Profiles

As you consider LinkedIn profile development as a component of your B2B online marketing program, here are ten LinkedIn profiles to reference, with highlights and key takeaways as to why they stand out.

Brittney's profile hits all of the fundamentals, leading with published content and a concise, bullet list of summary information. A few key highlights:

Bulleted summary and experience information, highlighting key responsibilities and success stories

Complete information across experience, education, and other key professional details

Volunteer experience, interests, and active participation following groups, organizations, and influencers.

From Brittney:

I am currently the marketing manager at an embedded computer networking company that largely focuses on the Internet of Things space. I make sure to keep my LinkedIn profile as up-to-date and complete as I can with job descriptions, volunteer experiences, groups, endorsements, etc.

The first thing that stands out when you view John's profile is the cover photo. I like how John utilizing the group photograph to capture attention and arguably speak towards the importance of teamwork. Additional elements of the profile for example:

Incorporation of third party references, breaking up text with visual highlights, and LinkedIn recommendations within the majority of his listings for experience and positions.

Rounding out the profile with a comprehensive list of volunteer initiatives, honors and awards, and skills and endorsements from others.

From John:

I use LinkedIn daily and receive thousands a views a year. I have my full bio, videos, and podcasts on there and leverage the groups I am in.

As with all of the other examples, Anthony Gioeli's profile covers all of the fundamentals, including a cover photos and published LinkedIn contributions. Additional highlights:

A concise summary with third party contributions incorporated.

Experience well summarized with bulleted information and recommendations where applicable.

It also looks like Anthony organizes skills and endorsements to prioritize those more important to current professional endeavors.

From Anthony:

My profile has been useful in promoting a book I recently released on international business expansion. The profile has enabled me to highlight my expertise in order to build credibility as an author. It has been extremely effective in positioning me for speaking engagements.

I like how Xand puts her contact information front and center in her profile and (as she indicates below) makes it easy to network with her through multiple means. Additional highlights:

1st person experience summaries with bulleted information and supporting recommendations and references.

Outlined publications and project work.

Rounding out the profile with a comprehensive list of volunteer initiatives, certifications, and third party interests.

From Xand:

Since I have a fairly short professional career, I knew I had to think about how I presented myself online. I broke my role down into chunks, instead of simply listing just my title, and took the time necessary to list out my projects and publications worked on. Also, once I've peaked their interest, I've provided easy ways of contacting me with my online calendar tool Calendly.

Melissa's profile emphasizes her current publication and its interesting to see how she's prioritized LinkedIn profile assets to support and emphasize applicable supporting information. Additional highlights and best practices:

The use of bullet points (stars) to make for easy scanning

Removing the endorsements which are not relevant

Personalizing website links instead of the generic "company."

From Melissa:

My profile has developed over time. I love that we can now reorder the sequence of sections allowing us to highlight our strengths. Viewing your profile as a prospective client would is the best tool for determining content, flow, and information to include.

As Bryan indicates below, he uses subtle ways to make his profile standout, but the key takeaway for any B2B marketer is that his information is complete, concise, and well organized.

Where this profile stands out is [that I] joined relevant groups and even created my own, all of which are directed towards the digital marketing profession. The skills section of my profile is complete and filled with endorsements, but what takes it to the next level are skills which show character and add a little fun to the profile (see: coffee, breathing, drums). Finally, one of the most overlooked sections of LinkedIn, the projects portion, is filled out.

The first thing that stood out for me was Alan's cover image, which includes both branding for the organization he represents and a subtle call-to-action highlighting resources and content marketing assets. Here are couple other key takeaways to consider:

It might be unintentional but Alan's third party references, specifically the featured images, stand out against the supporting information very well. I've considered this factor when deciding what third party articles I've wanted to place in my experience and summary sections as well.

Clear and concise information with bulleted lists, recommendations, and (as indicated previously) third party references.

From Alan:

A little over 6 months ago I wanted a change in career and move from design / product to a marketing role. So I optimized my LinkedIn profile to highlight marketing experience and sent out a single update to the network I had built up over the years announcing I was looking for a new job. Within the week I had 4 interviews with impressive companies from all around the world. I ended up taking a director of marketing role at the great B2B company nd have been loving it ever since. Side note: Linkedin approached me and asked if my profile could be used in some PR.

Tim's profile is another good example of a LinkedIn profile covering all critical elements. A few key takeaways include:

Recognized and respected third party publication references leading Tim's summary section and key experience.

Recommendations, project work, and honors and awards supporting key experience.

A comprehensive list of publications, projects, and honors & awards.

I showcase articles I've had published in TechCrunch and the Wall St. Journal. But what's more interesting, that helps my profile standout, is that I have created a video resume that sits prominently at the top of my profile. It showcases my work as a founder of a charity, organizing events with leading professional sports organizations, and my global work travels to places like India. Professional job coaches and universities have shared my resume as a leading example for their clients/ students. I have almost 10,000 connections and I am the CEO of a Charity and a Director of Marketing at an Enterprise Software Company.

As detailed below, it was interesting to read how Ty leveraged LinkedIn functionality to reshape his career and emphasize skills and achievements that would lead him to new opportunities. As with other profiles in this article, Ty has complete and concise summary and experience information, backed with third party publication references, project work, and recommendations.

I retired from the Navy in 2011 and started out with a typical Navy profile that was filled with Navy Jargon and items that people really didn't care about. I read your article and a couple of other articles and created the LinkedIn Profile that I currently have. I have started to see more and more traffic and people looking at the profile and believe that I have created something very professional that includes endorsements and recommendations from a variety of people. It was important for me to create a great profile because I recently started Chief's Touch Consulting and people want to see my experiences quickly...I am starting to see nearly 30% of traffic to my website...from LinkedIn.

Last but not least, Abbi Whitaker's profile represents one final example B2B marketers can review for completing a thorough and well developed LinkedIn profile. I particularly like how she lists out and provides a small amount of detail in association to third party publications, project work, and volunteer experience.

I use the "articles written/published tab" to highlight recent expert positioning and also use the presentation tab to upload presentations I have worked on or been part of.

What do all of these profiles have in common? In specific context, hopefully not too much :-). When it pertains to best practices, here are four key takeaways:

Good profile photos and cover / background images where applicable.

Clear concise summary and experience information, often backed with third party resources and references.

Well outlined and detailed supporting elements, including publications, project work, skills and endorsements, volunteer work.

Thorough integration of LinkedIn networking opportunities such as group participation and following third party influencers and organizations.

Additional Notes and References

Need more information? This discussion in Quora provides more examples and opinion on what makes a good LinkedIn profile. In addition, here are some other third party resources and examples for building out various aspects of LinkedIn profile information.
Profile Photos Cover Photos LinkedIn Summaries General Resources for Building Your LinkedIn Profile
Finally, here is a set of slides which contain a brief synopsis highlighting the wider range of the relevant fields to consider in a LinkedIn profile. That deck can be accessed here:

Hopefully these resources and examples will aid in your continued efforts to build out a successful LinkedIn initiative. I would love to read your feedback and perspective via comments below.

A sincere "Thank You!" goes out to all of the individuals who provided profiles to list as examples!

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10 Examples of Highly Impactful LinkedIn Profiles

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The objective of this post is to illustrate, through 10 key examples, highly effective LinkedIn profile creation and key takeaways and highlights for B2B marketers.

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A wide range of digital marketing jobs for internationals in the Netherlands - advertisements all in English for top companies, such as Adidas and Booking.com

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Use our regional search and find the best matching job

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Find the Right Words to Land the Right Job

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It's that time of year again. People are thinking about exploring new opportunities and updating their LinkedIn profiles to help land a new job that's right for them. When it comes to perfecting your profile, the words you choose are a vitally important factor in helping you get you noticed by recruiters.

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Key points:
* "opportunity to be exposed to a professional environment"

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Similar to the website above -

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This quote reflects the power of the internet in the modern age and how it has transformed the face of marketing from the traditional to the digital.
- 53% of the world's population can access the internet on a mobile device
- 42% can access the internet in general

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- In high demand for brands and business
- Currently a gap in digital skills - 150,000 estimated digital jobs available by 2020

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As this is a vision board you need to use visuals to represent all of the information here. Try to think of how you can represent your motivations or key skills using visuals. Remember that you will be able to explain your ideas to the audience during the short presentation in Week 8.

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AFTER completing the career vision board checklist to ensure she had all the necessary elements, Justine B produced her final version of her career vision board...

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AFTER completing the career vision board checklist to ensure she had all the necessary elements, Justine B produced her final version of her career vision board...

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Try using pencil and scrap paper to plan the layout of your career vision board BEFORE you glue anything down so that you can easily edit it before you decide on your final version.

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In week 7 you will be presenting your career vision board to your teacher and classmates. However, in week 4 we will be holding workshops to help you prepare for this. Remember to manage your time effectively as you will not only need to find and print the images yourself but also obtain the supplies you will need in order to complete this (e.g. large poster paper, coloured pens, pencils, rubbers, tape, white-tack, glue, scissors, etc.)

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In week 7 you will be presenting your career vision board to your teacher and classmates. However, in week 4 we will be holding workshops to help you prepare for this. Remember to manage your time effectively as you will not only need to find and print the images yourself but also obtain the supplies you will need in order to complete this (e.g. large poster paper, coloured pens, pencils, rubbers, tape, white-tack, glue, scissors, etc.)

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Key points:
Avoid listing generic, over-generalised skills such as 'computer skills' and be more specific about the type of software and programs you are skilled in, e.g. Microsoft Office, Analytics and Data Visualisation.

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Not sure which skills to include on your resume-and which to leave off? Including relevant skills helps to strengthen your candidacy.

However, some skills don't belong on your resume, and including them could actually hurt your chances of getting chosen for an interview. Be selective and specific when choosing which skills to highlight.

They also don't want to know about all the things you can do which have nothing to do with the job for which you're applying.

The person who screens your resume cares about the value you can offer the company, and that means being a good fit for the job requirements the company lists in its help-wanted ad.

Skills to Keep Off Your Resume

Skills You Don't Have: This may seem obvious, but many people fluff up their skills or put skills on their resume that they don't have. A CareerBuilder survey reports that more than three-quarters of human resources managers (75%) have caught a lie on a resume.﻿﻿

If you don't have any of the skills the employer is seeking, reconsider applying for the job.

Imagine the awkwardness and embarrassment of getting grilled about your qualifications during a job interview, and not being able to respond because you don't actually know enough to give a solid answer to the question.

Even if you're a quick learner, you may not have a good grasp of what you need to know if, by some chance, you do get the job. If an employer hires you and finds out you can't do the work, you could get fired.

Obsolete Skills: If you are, or were, a pro at working with outdated software or technology such as MS-DOS, Lotus 1-2-3, or Vista, for example, don't put it on your resume. If you know how to backup files onto a floppy disk, keep that skill to yourself.

Many technologies have become obsolete, and knowing how to use them isn't an asset other than in rare circumstances.﻿﻿ In fact, it might make your knowledge seem very outdated, and the employer might think you're a tech dinosaur.

Skills That Aren't Relevant to the Job: Leave off any skills you have that are not related in any way to the job. If you are applying to a number of very different jobs, consider creating a unique resume for each job type. This will help you avoid including skills that are not relevant to a position.

General and Overused Skill Words: LinkedIn published a list of buzzwords that people overuse in their profiles.﻿﻿ Some of these words don't belong on your resume either. Before you use them, consider if there's another, more specific term that would better describe your abilities. Here's a sample of some words on LinkedIn's list of overutilized words:

Be careful not only with the skills you list but also with how you word those skills and weave them into your listed experience. This list of 30 words that will make or break your resume can spark some ideas.

Skills That Everyone Should Have Already: Some of the overused buzzwords listed above are skills or traits that employers already expect job applicants to have as a minimum requirement.

Employers expect that you'll be focused, have some experience (unless you're applying for an entry-level position), and will do an excellent job if they hire you. You don't need to spell out these basic assumptions on your resume for the employer.

On a similar note, don't list things like Microsoft Word, email, or web searching. Employers have an expectation that everyone knows the basics required for almost every office job in today's workplace.

Revise Your Resume to Highlight Your Skills

While there are skills you should avoid putting on your resume, there are a number of skills you should include.

Focus on the skills that show why you're qualified for the jobs you're seeking. You can include your top skills in a separate "Skills" section and work them into the job descriptions you write for the positions you've held. You can also incorporate them into your resume's summary statement, if you have one.

In particular, tailor the skill words you include to match the requirements of the job.

Take the Time to Decode the Job Ad: How can you tell what the employer wants in a perfect applicant for the job? You can pick up a lot from the job posting, and it would help to also invest some time researching the job and the company to learn more details.

Here's what to look for when you're reviewing the job ad, including how to evaluate the job title, qualifications, requirements, responsibilities, and required experience.

Make a Match: Now that you've learned what the employer wants, match your qualifications to the job. Make a list of the skills in the job posting in one column. List the skills and experience you have that make you a contender for the job in the second column. In your resume, include the skills that are the closest match to what the employer is seeking.

The skill words you include will act as keywords to help your resume get selected by the ATS (applicant tracking system) the employer uses to screen applications. If you're a match for the position, your qualifications and skill set show the hiring manager that you're a viable candidate for the role.

Be Specific: Don't list general skills, especially if you're applying for a tech role. For example, avoid saying you have "computer skills," and instead include the programming languages, hardware, software, apps, and other skills you possess that qualify you for the job. If you have certifications, be specific when you list those. For example, list QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor, AWS Certification, SQL, iOS, or Java.

You can also categorize your skills into subcategories to be more specific. For example, if you might have a subsection that lists the languages you speak, and another subsection that lists your specific computer skills. Of course, only include subsections of skills that are relevant to the job.

Tailor Your Resume to the Job: Job postings may seem similar, but every employer has a different set of requirements. Even when the job looks the same, each employer may be seeking something different. Take a few minutes to tweak your resume, so it matches the position you're after.

Key Takeaways

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Skills to Include (and Not to Include) on a Resume

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Not sure which skills to include on your resume-and which to leave off? Including relevant skills helps to strengthen your candidacy. However, some skills don't belong on your resume, and including them could actually hurt your chances of getting chosen for an interview. Be selective and specific when choosing which skills to highlight.

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Click here for other samples of the CVB!

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Click here for other samples of the CVB!