Used Automation

If I had $1 for every time I had to enter my LinkedIn URL...

Today, I decided I'd had enough of opening a new tab to navigate to my own LinkedIn profile, copy the URL, and paste it into the 47585 places required during the course of a job hunt. There had to be an easier way.

There are a two approaches which pop up immediately:
  1. Use the text replace feature (as in the infamous omw -> On my way!).
  2. Write a script and attach it to a keyboard shortcut.

To get around some security/permission issues regarding keystroke (the most commonly recommended script), I opted for a simpler approach - copy the link I wanted to the clipboard and then paste as usual.

As I shared on Twitter, for a Mac (I'm running macOS Monterey):
  1. Open the Automator app.
  2. Create new Quick Action.
  3. Add "Get Specified Text" to your action flow.
  4. Paste your desired text (my LinkedIn URL).
  5. Add "Copy to Clipboard" to your action flow. It should be clear that the input is your text above.
  6.  Name your action (remember this) and save.
  7. Open System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > Services
  8. Scroll down to General, find your action name, and add your desired shortcut keys.

The trick is finding a memorable key combination that isn't already in use.

There's so much to a job hunt, but hopefully this small automation will make it that much easier.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thecaseygould/