Stories are just another avenue to build personal connections and to promote yourself. As a job seeker, it gives you additional visibility. It also may allow you to share more about the personal side of yourself.

Make sure that when you look for a job, you think through before you apply or network with others, what are the "must-haves" for you. The "must-haves" will help you to be proactive and know the types of firms you want to target, but it will also keep you from being swept off your feet by an opportunity that is too good to be true.

Q: What is your best productivity tip? I work full time and have limited time for my job search, but I always seem to get distracted. Any suggestions?

You know you need to work on your job search. You have been laid off and need to pay your bills. Or you hate your job and know that you need to find someplace better. Yet, sometimes you are just not motivated to make that phone call to a networking contact or research that potential employer. You wake up with good intentions but get distracted by the latest news, your child's needs, or just wanting to do something else.

The social part of being on a social media platform is interacting with others. Since LinkedIn is geared toward business, it is an excellent place to find people who can help with your job search or work in companies where you would like to find a position. Building a robust network can allow you to find job opportunities and build relationships with decision-makers.

The first thing you should do on LinkedIn is to fill out your profile information. You want to maximize the opportunity within the profile to tell your story. You want the information you provide to emphasize your experience, skills, and accomplishments.

What value do you bring to an employer is a crucial question to ask yourself. When you do this (and you need to do this for each employer since your value may be different), you will write a targeted resume that addresses that employers' needs. If you have not been getting interviews, it may be because your resume is not reflective of the value you bring to this employer.

I have been out of work since March due to the pandemic. It is now several months later, and I am no closer to getting a job. I seem to be unfocused with my job search. At first, I was gung-ho to find work, but I am now finding myself spending less and less time on my job search. Do you have any suggestions?

You have been thinking about leaving your job for a while. It no longer seems like a good fit. You are not happy and have been dreaming of something else. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. You see so many people out of work and really struggling. Yet, you remain unhappy with your work. What should you do?