Alexandra Chang’s article at Wired.com is spot on!

If you care a whit about your career not only do you have to be on LinkedIn, you should have a detailed profile with your job history. It should look like your resume. Taking advantage of LinkedIn features like Skills can also make you more searchable to recruiters. And of course, build out your network with people you know.

It’s no longer optional, a nice add-on, or a drag-your-feet-gotta-do-it. Whether you are in a job search or simply being smart about managing your career, it is absolutely essential to create and maintain a strong, complete, well-written, clearly focused profile on LinkedIn.

Better yet, delve into the capabilities of LinkedIn. It can (easily) help you find connections to people who can be incredibly influential in your career. You can find and connect to:

• University alumni
• Corporate alumni
• Friends-of-friends
• Affinity group members
• CEOs of mid-sized companies … or whatever your specific target is

It’s been said before, and paraphrased in this article: If you’re not on LinkedIn, you don’t exist. Better to embrace it, use it to its fullest, and reap the rewards rather than trying to resist the inevitable.

Yes, I’m talking Springsteen here!

I love how Deborah Jacobs in her blog post has interpreted the life and career of Bruce Springsteen into lessons we can all use – even if we have not one ounce of musical talent.

Underneath it all, I think – and I’m speaking as a longtime Springsteen fan – is the message “be true to yourself.” Know who you are, pursue your goals and dreams with passion and dedication, and respect your friends, family, and supporters.

And don’t be afraid to let your hair down on occasion. (See you soon at Fenway, Bruce!)

What’s different about looking for a job in the summer? In many respects, nothing is different – you still need a clear message, an overall strategy, and a structured plan to move your career to the next level. But it’s not just the summer heat that slows things down. Vacations and long weekends can cause hiring to stall because critical decision-makers are out of the office and remaining staff can be overloaded with higher priorities.

So whether you’re in the midst of a heat wave or – in the Southern Hemisphere – planning ahead for your summertime search, these tips will keep you moving forward in spite of the weather.

1.  Understand Timelines and Processes. At the conclusion of every meeting and every interview, reiterate your understanding of when the next steps will take place. For example:

• Networking Meeting: “So, John, I’ll look for your email next week with your contacts at XYZ Corp. If I don’t hear from you by Friday, shall I give you a nudge?”
• Interview: “My understanding, then, is that you hope to complete the first round of interviews by the 15^th. I’m very interested in the position and certainly hope to have the opportunity to speak with the rest of the interview team. May I contact you on the 16^th if I haven’t heard anything?”
• Recruiter Contact: “I understand that your meeting with the hiring company is on Monday and that you’ll be presenting your slate of candidates. Should I call you on Tuesday to discuss the next steps?”

By using this approach, you’ll appear organized and professional and you’ll avoid the dilemma of when and how often you should follow up.

2.  Don’t Let the Heat Slow You Down. Even if you can’t get meetings with (vacationing) hiring authorities, that doesn’t mean you should slack off on your job search until the fall. You can identify target companies, do company and industry research, work on your interview stories, polish your resume/CV, enrich your online image, master a new skill or technology (e.g., become an expert on Google+ or start a LinkedIn group), write and publish a white paper or authoritative book review, update your references, organize your network contacts, and so much more.

3.  Strike While the Weather is Hot. Sure, some people are on vacation, but everyone is not. As you uncover leads and opportunities, act quickly. Suggest an immediate meeting, respond quickly to all calls and emails, and position yourself as the solution to a business problem.  Sometimes simply being available will give you an advantage over other candidates.

4.  Combine Business with Pleasure. If you yourself are vacationing, try to set up meetings in that area to expand your network and keep your search moving forward. And stay on top of email and voicemail messages while you’re vacationing. If your job search is a top priority (as it should be), don’t plan on being out of touch for extended periods.

5.  Enjoy the Summer! Yes, your job search is important, but so is your family and your overall health and well-being. Those of us who live in cold climates must cherish our amazing but short summers! Don’t become so stressed during your job search that you can’t enjoy activities with friends and family. Get outside, have fun, and be refreshed.

I live in the Boston area, where summer is short but oh-so-sweet. Yes, people everywhere are taking time off from work. But business does not grind to a halt, and you can find and seize opportunities during the vacation season.

Job search is an unpleasant task! So when you get hired, you are thankful to stop all of those unpleasant activities (networking, crafting your marketing messages, following up on leads, establishing your visibility and credibility online, identifying and researching companies and opportunities, and on and on and on) and get on with the business of doing your new job.

Yet by keeping up with those various activities, you will be much better positioned when the next transition comes (and it WILL come).

Marc Cenedella of TheLadders.com wrote an excellent blog post titled “What If You Got Fired Today?” He outlines some not-too-difficult things you can do every day, every week, every month, and every year that will keep you in the loop with your contacts and visible in your company and industry.

Yes, it’s human nature to avoid the unpleasant. But with just a bit of self-discipline, we can do some not-too-horrible things that will make a difficult task much lighter later on. Why not give it a try?

Could you be the next Scott Thompson – fired for lying on your resume?

Few people hold such high-visibility jobs as Thompson, until recently the CEO of Yahoo. So you might not think a little white lie – a stretching of the truth – will matter on your resume. You might think no one will notice or no one will check. You know you can do the job – so what’s the harm?

Well, for one thing, it’s a lie. For another, it’s the beginning of a slippery slope. First you lie on the resume, then that lie gets repeated in a company bio and becomes permanently attached to your name. The more widespread, the easier it is to check, and the more likely it will be spotted by someone who knows it for a lie. The risk is not worth the potential reward – and it’s the wrong thing to do.

Most people who think about lying on resumes are, in my opinion, insecure about their credentials. They are sure their “issue” – whatever it is (lack of a degree, lack of a specific degree, a gap in employment, a lower-level job title) – will make it impossible for them to get the job they really want. They want to be competitive against other candidates who – they are certain! – have all the right stuff.

My advice: Focus on what you DO have, not what you don’t. Emphasize your successes and be able to tell a compelling story about your challenges and accomplishments. Be confident in your value!

And find ways to make that “issue” less obvious on your resume. (Hint: Hire a professional resume writer!)

No, you can’t make yourself qualified for jobs for which you don’t have the required credentials. But the key issue is not the credential, it’s the mindset and confidence. Did Scott Thompson really think a degree in computer science from 25 or 30 years ago made him more qualified to lead a technology company than simply having an accounting degree? Chances are, no. But when he first perpetrated that lie, he believed that he needed it to land the job he wanted. It was all downhill – down the slippery slope – from there.

It can be a scary world for anyone who longs for the “good old days” of stable, long-term employment, and job seekers who are 50+ may fear age discrimination, especially in a tight employment market.

But cheer up! Preparation and common sense will help you avoid the pitfalls associated with age issues.

• First, adjust your attitude. If you believe you’re being discriminated against, you’ll be looking for every possible sign that it might be happening. And you’ll be blaming others rather than taking responsibility for managing your career.
• Second, recognize that talented executives are always in demand – regardless of age. Show potential employers that you have the talent, experience, and expertise to accomplish important goals. They’re much more interested in that than in how old you are.
• Third, don’t make things worse by looking “old.” As I wrote in an earlier post, you do look your age – and that’s OK! You don’t need to look like a twenty- or thirty-something. But make sure your physical appearance, wardrobe, energy level, and enthusiasm say “high-performing executive,” not “senior citizen ready for retirement.”

In my Bluesteps webinar this week I’ll be sharing lots more ideas for career management at 50+. Join me!

Most people’s Facebook profiles offer glimpses into the meaningful and mundane in their lives – family photos, likes and dislikes, conversations with friends. Others, of course, reveal inappropriate content that might demonstrate immaturity, questionable choices, or even illegal activity such as underage drinking.

But even if your profile is benign, do you want your employer checking it out?

According to an Associated Press story, some employers routinely ask for a potential employee’s Facebook password or request that a candidate log in during the job interview. Under pressure and really wanting to land the job, many people won’t refuse even if they’re uncomfortable.

If you’re prepared for the question, you can practice your response beforehand. But be willing to walk away from the opportunity if you won’t comply – at least until regulations or lawsuits resolve whether this is a legal request!

In a survey of senior executives, “respondents rated ‘leading and maintaining talent in challenging economic conditions’ as a key career-related concern for 2012,” according to BlueSteps president Peter Felix.

Who would think there’s a talent shortage given the state of the economy and high unemployment rates! Yet it’s something we keep hearing about – the need to find the right person with the right capabilities to lead through challenging times.

The lessons for executive job seekers:

• Understand your value. What do you do really well? Make sure you communicate that unique value in your resume, LinkedIn profile, networking messages, interviews, etc.
• Be confident. Companies need you, companies want you, companies will pay you well for your ability to make them thrive.
• Be specific. If you have a certain area of expertise or deep experience in a specific industry, position yourself as a specialist, not a generalist. It’s easier to rise to the top in a small field, where you’re not one of thousands with more general skills and knowledge.

Like many, I was saddened by the death of Steve Jobs last week and have been immersing myself in all the tributes that are pouring forth. I’ve been a Mac devotee since 1986 and in addition to my latest MacBook have a full array of Apple toys and tools (iPad, iPhone, iPod …).

It’s interesting,  among all the love and praise, that Steve is also remembered as being a tough taskmaster, a harsh critic, and a perfectionist. Most notably, he had a vision and the passion, drive, and energy that it takes to do something different.

What will you be remembered for?

Key takeaways from the National Resume Writers’ Conference I attended last week in lovely Portland, Maine:

• The resume is just the beginning. We talked a lot about resumes – but just as much about LinkedIn profiles, online visibility and social networking, personal branding, and ways to beat the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that are used by just about every employer.
• It’s never too late to learn. I enjoyed seeing how some very talented colleagues gather information from clients and write powerful executive resumes. And yes, this old dog learned a few new tricks!
• Shorter, tighter, crisper, sharper … This is my new mantra. I need constantly to strive to say more with less, cut the clutter, and get to the heart of the matter.
• Industry rejuvenation. It was great to meet so many up-and-comers in our industry! I’ve been around “forever” and known many of my colleagues for 10, 15, or 20 years. It’s lovely to have those long-time relationships, of course, but I was jazzed by seeing the energetic newcomers.

Now, back to work …