Adaptability.
My friends, we are without a doubt living through unprecedented times. Just as the dust of evacuation is beginning to settle, the gravity of this situation is becoming clear.
There is a lot of fear and uncertainty in the job market.
But I argue, this is exactly the environment that Peace Corps Volunteers thrive in.
Remember, every Peace Corps Volunteer chose to uproot their lives and move to a foreign country understanding that it would not be a vacation.
How many of us lived without reliable electricity? How about water?
How many of us changed our diet and our style. How many of us saw our bodies change, our sense of humor warp, and our sense of self develop?
The Peace Corps mentality is an adaptable one. And adaptability will help get us through this tough time.
But!
This adaptability and gumption doesn’t count for much if we don’t present it to the employment world and start getting our knowledge and experience out there.
So, over the next three articles we’ll be helping you showcase your capabilities and personality.
First, we need to create your LinkedIn Profile. Then we’ll learn how to grow a diverse and useful Professional Network. Finally, we’ll begin to navigate the Job Market while exploring the opportunities of noncompetitive eligibility status.
Let’s get started.
6 Actionable Steps
Step 1: Go to your LinkedIn account or create a new one.
Step 2: Make an honest assessment of your social media ‘profile pictures’. For LinkedIn, you want your picture to have the essential basics - good lighting and a welcoming facial expression. Make sure that no one else is in your profile picture and make sure that there is eye contact with the camera.
Step 3: Write a clear but eye catching ‘headline’. This will go right underneath your name and will be the second thing anyone will read in your profile.
Do your best to avoid the cliche phrases such as “Skilled professional looking for xyz opportunities”.
Think of your LinkedIn profile more as a professional Facebook and less as a rigid online resumé.
Express yourself in your headline.
Invite others to see that you value yourself as a professional and that you have independent aspirations that transcend simply looking for X role at Y organization.
Step 4: Be open and personal in your ‘About’ biography section. Introduce yourself to your visitors and give them an areal view of who you are, what you’ve done, and where you are going.
Although at times it may not feel like it, what you accomplished during your service as a Peace Corps Volunteer is romantic and inspiring to those who have not had the opportunity.
Each Peace Corps Volunteer has a unique story that can showcase their ability to overcome challenges, lead teams, and evaluate projects. Share a line or two of yours and persuade your visitor to continue reviewing your profile and experience.
Step 5: Your work experience section can mirror your resumé as much as you’d like. If you have a specific industry or position in mind, find other profiles in that field and use the vocabulary that they use. Recruiters that rely on LinkedIn use boolean searches full of keywords that come directly from job descriptions - use as many as you can but avoid making it obvious.
Step 6: Look at the URL. If it doesn’t say (linkedin.com/in/*your name*/), look for the Edit public profile & URL tab at the upper left side of your page. It’s incredibly easy to change and it is an overlooked detail.
Final Thoughts
Networking was key during our service. No project got off the ground without community leaders, local businesses, and gossiping neighbors being contacted and informed.
Looking for a job isn’t much different.
LinkedIn is going to be an incredible tool for you to connect with other Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, NGOs, and mentors.
It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it should be up to date. Take a moment to open your calendar and set a 30 minute window to update or create your profile. It is a meaningful first step and will get you in the right headspace for the next chapter.
For a more detailed breakdown of how to create a great LinkedIn profile, this article from themuse was well done.
Email us if you have any questions or would like some feedback on your profile!
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