Kansas City Freelance Writer Liz Craig

Mortician: “That man who was *hanged* for murder sure wasn’t *hung*.”

Know the difference between a man being executed by hanging and his being well-endowed, if you know what I mean. And I know that you do.

Here’s a great article about how to keep them awake, involved and interested.

Thanks to Doug Richards, Social Business Evangelist, for these ideas.

Here’s a conundrum for job-seekers: Employers are looking for employees who stand out from the crowd, yet also fit in to their crowd very nicely. So how do you stand out AND fit in? Your LInkedIn profile can help. Because LinkedIn is where employers, HR people and recruiters look for new employees.

Are you just one of thousands of faceless souls tramping the well-worn paths to certain companies in search of a job? You need to stand out to get employers’ and recruiters’ attention. And you need to have the skills most employers are looking for these days.

So what skills are those employers looking for? Yes, some technical proficiency may be on the list, such as familiarity with Excel, Word and other programs. But the skills most sought-after don’t have to do with hardware, they’re “you-ware” skills. In your LinkedIn profile, highlight experiences that illustrate these:

• Tech trainability – Ability to learn new things. You may have to learn a new database management system or company routine. Are you flexible and teachable?

• Ability to multitask – Just common sense. When companies downsize, one person may have to juggle two or three different jobs. Are you the kind of person who can keep all of those balls in the air?

• Lifelong learner - Once you’re out of college for a few years, the type of degree you have doesn’t matter much, unless it’s specifically aimed toward the job you’re seeking. But professional certifications in a relevant field can separate you from the herd. Like Microsoft certification, for instance, for an IT job.

• Low maintenance – No manager wants to babysit employees. In your LinkedIn profile, indicate that you do your job without excessive hand-holding. Demonstrate how you figured out how to solve problems on your own and were able to implement the solution.

• Cultural fit – Know what’s more important than knowing how to do the specific job you’re looking for? Cultural fit. The ability to play and work nicely with other employees in the company. Do you share their values, speak their language, match their energy level? If you do, employers will train you. Address your values and style of interaction in your profile to let recruiters and HR people know who you are, so they can imagine how you would fit.

More info for job-seekers to come. Stay tuned.

Most advertising agencies are honest and trustworthy. But there are some whose attitude is, “Rules? We don’t need no stinkin’ rules!”

Read this article and you’ll see the seamy side of ad agencies. See, there are many reasons you ought to hire freelancers (like me!) instead of agencies. We can do all the same things agencies do, but without charging you for the Italian leather couches and blown-glass chandeliers. And without cheating.

You can hire one freelancer — either a designer or a writer — or a team to get your project done. Call me for writing projects or referrals to professional designers, project managers and media planning freelancers I can recommend.