GUEST: JASON ALBA
TOPIC: HIS BOOK about LinkedIn
AT 12:30: TALKSOURCING. Featuring Maureen Sharib, The Dominatrix of Telephone Sourcing and the star of her video Pam Simon.
Introduction: Professional Arrogance
Thank you, Jim Stroud, for that great introduction. Yes, I'm back! Hi, everybody it's me, The Recruiting Animal, with you again. For another action packed hour of The Recruiting Animal Show.
If you're here for the telephone sourcing show and you don't want to listen to me, come back at 12.30. Maureen Sharib and Pam Simon will be here at that time.
But right now, it's my turn, my turn to speak and today I want to talk about professional arrogance. That's right, professional arrogance. I'm mad and here's why.
The other day, I went to the doctor with an older relative who's been complaining about feeling dizzy and losing weight. The doctor says, weight loss and dizziness are symptoms of depression. This guy's depressed he said and he needs an anti-depressant.
I said, I'm not so sure about that. So he said, "Are YOU a doctor!" I said, "No, I'm not a doctor but I know the patient pretty well". But here's what I should have said:
I should have asked him this. Do you ever read the newspaper, doctor? Because in Toronto, they've been filled constantly with the story of Charles Smith. He's a doctor, a pathologist, who sent a guy to prison for killing his niece. Now, 12 years later, it turns out that she died of natural causes. Whaddya know.
So, now, 20 of his other cases are being investigated as well. And let me tell you, they are rough. Parents were charged with murdering their children because of this doctor.
And just yesterday, there was another big scandal on the front pages. General practitioners -- doctors -- are peforming cosmetic surgery in clinics outside of hospitals and some of them are butchering their patients. Or killing them. Nice, isn't it?
And here's one more example, closer to home for me. An older cousin of mine started falling down so the doctor put him on Alzheimers medicine for a year until somebody figured out that he has Parkinsons Disease.
My point? Some people shouldn't be so arrogant about their jobs. They have to recognize their limits. But what does that have to do with you? My audience? Jam-packed with recruiters?
Well, it's hard to believe but some recruiters have been known to be arrogant, too. They think that when it comes to their candidates, they always know what's right. And why? Well, they might have a good handle on the job market. Maybe. But, they also have a conflict of interest, as well. They get paid for putting someone in a job. So if the candidate resists he's just got to be wrong, doesn't he? Or you don't get paid. You know what I'm saying?
Of course not all recruiters do it. And certainly none of you, listening to MY show. But I'll bet it happens. So I'm going to encourage all of you to watch out Don't be someone who says to some inquisitive candidate, "Are YOU a recruiter!?" Because he might say, "No I'm not. But I know something about my business, too, . you, ass***e."
Now, I wouldn't normally say the word rectum on this show. Really, it's a business show and I have be dignified. But there's a special reason I'm willing to say it today. My guest is none other than Jason Alba of JibberJobber.com. He's written a book about LinkedIn for job hunters. And he's wildly excited by the fact that Robert Sutton, the "no asshole" guy, has written a fantastic review for his book. And this guy Sutton is a Harvard professor so I can't argue with him what's right and wrong, can I?
So that's what we're going to be talking about today when Jason Alba, the author, is interviewed by me, The Recruiting Animal, on The Recruiting Animal Show.
Welcoming Jason
Animal: Jason Alba, are you there?
Alba: Hi Animal.
Animal: Great to have you back. Now we don't have a lot of time today so I'm just going to get right down to the tough questions. Is that okay with you?
Alba: Sure
Animal: Now, one more thing, Jason, before we start. You might have prepared a lot of standard lines for the media. Hack lines full of business verbiage. You can just chuck 'em. Please. They're not for this show. You're not talking to media hacks here, Jason. You're talking to real people who can talk back if they don't like what you say. You know what I'm saying?
Alba: It's jam-packed with recruiters.
Animal: Exactly. Good. Now the book is called "I'm on LinkedIn, Now What" And the website is imonlinkedinnowwhat.com
Alba: Also, linkedinhelp.com
Writing A Book
Animal: Now, Jason, you write on your blog: "My wife comes downstairs with a big smile, hiding something behind her back." My first thought was, "It's a knife". A butcher's knife to be exact. What did you think?
Alba:
Animal: Is a book good for a marriage? Does it make Jessica love you more or does it make her think all he ever thinks about is that book?
Alba:
Animal: Now, let me ask you this? Imagine Robert Sutton sends you a new book he's written
and you don't like it. I know you think he's terrific and that could never happen but, hypothetically, let's just say you didn't think it was good. Would you write a good review because he gave one to you? Now I'm not here to embarrass you. So you don't have to answer if the question makes you uncomfortable. Or you can say "No I would never do that" and I would believe you.
Alba:
Animal: Now Jason, I've heard that writing a book like this will not make you a ton of money
but that you can use it to boost some other aspect of your career. Is that right?
Alba:
Description of LinkedIn
Animal: Now, Jason, everyone listening to this show knows what LinkedIn is. But just in case some ignoramous wanders in, I'm going to do quick intro. Linkedin is a site on which anyone can post her professional profile. It's free and recruiters search it when they are looking for candidates.
Now, once you're on Linkedin, you can request a formal linking of your profile to those of your personal contacts. And if they accept, you get access to their networks as well as to the people who are directly connected to you. But you can only connect indirectly to people who are up to three degrees away from you.
So I can connect to Jason, his friend, and his friend's friend but no further. And, if I search LinkedIn looking for an IT Manager, I can only get results on people who are within 3 degrees. And, if a recruiter is looking for me, she can only find me if I'm within 3 degrees of her. So the smart thing to do is to connect directly to as many people as possible to make it easy for you to find other people and for them to find you.
Is that okay with you Jason?
Alba:
Animal: I think I owe that information to Shally Elvis Steckerl so I would like to give a hat tip to him.
Customized Invitations
Animal: Now, Jason, you say that it makes a big difference if someone sends you a customized invitation to link to him and I'm here to tell you that you're wrong wrong wrong.
I couldn't care less what people tell me. All I want to do is expand the reach of my database so I'm happy to link to anyone I can. Because when you link to someone you get access to their network as well.
In fact, if they send me some wordy introduction I say "Oh no, what does this guy want me to do?"
Animal: Now, you say Shally is very cool. How come? What's cool about him?
Alba:
Animal: I'd also like to give a nod to Dave Mendoza of six degrees from Dave. He's a Linkedin evangelist as well and always willing to help everyone understand linked in.
LICM
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