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As a recruiter the majority of my daily activities are linked to LinkedIn in some way or another. 

It’s our primary method of marketing our business and also a driving force behind a lot of our sourcing for profiles, advertising roles and connecting with new businesses in the region. 

I know the platform inside and out, and we, as a business, are huge investors in the back-end of the LinkedIn CRM for what we do. 

A result of this is that we know what works better than most. Probably more importantly, we also know what doesn’t work. 

We are big believers in utilising the platform for personal branding and encourage everyone to do the same - it can have a strong impact on your job search. 

The key component that most people overlook is that you can’t fake authenticity. In a world of increased automation and AI, the benchmark for being authentic is surprisingly low. 

Capitalising on other peoples reliance on these tools to stand out can be extremely helpful in setting yourself apart on the job market.

1. Ditch the Cold Outreach

I receive a variation of the same message on Linkedin hundreds of times a day. 

There’s a plug-in to the LinkedIn platform where you can reach out to the hiring manager associated with a Job Advert and send them a pre-built boilerplate message. 

It’s actually not too bad a template (there are a few variations) and it might pass in isolation. 

However, when you are the recipient of the same message hundreds of times a day, it quickly becomes quite frustrating. 

My brain is hardwired to see those messages as spam now. I’m sure other hiring managers also feel the same.

That you’re going one step beyond the Easy Apply function is great news and a step in the right direction. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot by doing what everyone else is doing with little to no success. 

Be authentic. Stand out. Personalise your message and watch the reply rate skyrocket.

2. Personal Branding 

Posting regularly on LinkedIn is not enough to build a personal brand, it has to be authentic. That’s not something you can fake. 

I’d be 100x more likely to engage with someone that was putting out thoughtful and genuine LinkedIn content twice a week vs someone that was posting blatantly Chat GPT posts every single day. 

(They’re incredibly easy to spot btw no matter how much you dress them up)

For some of these junior-mid level roles, a hiring manager would struggle to superficially find much difference between two profiles that have applied. 

Truthfully, at that level it’s unlikely that the client needs a unicorn profile in the same way they might for a C-level position. 

They want someone that can do the job effectively and in a market like Dubai where options are so plentiful, personal branding is a good way to differentiate yourself from the other profiles which on the face of it might not appear too dissimilar from yours. 

3. Don’t overuse AI

I think it’s becoming widely accepted that the best way to use AI is as a tool to do the heavy-lifting in your day-day, not as the replacement for any originality or thought. 

I can’t put into words how obvious it is when someone uses Chat GPT to write a post. The tone of voice is identical and it always has the emoji-led bullet points in the middle. 

It might increase your presence but it won’t increase your personal brand as it’s ultimately not personal. 

You can use it effectively to brainstorm content ideas and prompt ideas but as a copywriter it falls incredibly short. 

I love engaging with people on LinkedIn that put together content that’s unique to their industry.

It’s educational and insightful. Can you say the same for the same 10 variations of a Chat GPT post? 

Job of the Week. 

Sales Manager - Events - Abu Dhabi

MCG is partnered with a leading Events Agency in Abu Dhabi who are looking for a Sales Manager to join their team. 

The role requires someone who has previously worked in a sales environment within the events space and has previous experience of selling into the luxury travel space - preferably hotels.

It requires an immediate starter and the role is for an initial 6 month contract with a view to extending. 

Please reach out to me on LinkedIn and I will be happy to chat if your profile matches the requirements.

FAQ’s

Looking for your next role in the GCC? Here’s some tips:

• Are you looking to build a strong network? Click here.

• The Cover Letter is dead. Here’s its replacement. Click here.

• Why you should go all in on LinkedIn. Click here.

• How to nail your next interview. Click here.

• Do not do these three things on your CV. Click here.

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If you’re interested in seeing more from MCG Talent and what we’re up to, please check out our company LinkedIn here or connect with me here for regular posts on life in the GCC.