Bindparam and Like condition when querying - sql

Question

I have this function that should just look in the database for a name similars to an user input. However I can't use Like with the param :uname.
Everyone I look in the web they suggest me to do something like this
$username = "$%username%";
However the query doesn't return any result.
I know the database is properly made because if I ask this, it returns the proper answer
SELECT * FROM $schema.pessoa WHERE nome LIKE %Mike%
However in my code $username contains "Mike" and yet it doesn't return anything, I assumed %username hadn't be properly made however if I make an echo of it, it indeed contains the string I want- "Mike".
So the problem seems to be in the way I am questioning it with the parameter but I have no idea
function SearchUser($username) {
global $dbh, $schema;
try {
$username = "$%username%";
$stmt = $dbh->prepare("SELECT * FROM $schema.pessoa WHERE nome LIKE :uname");
$stmt->bindParam(':uname', $username);
$stmt->execute();
$result = $stmt->fetch(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC);
if(empty($result))
{echo 'empty';}
return $result;
}
catch(PDOException $e) {
$_SESSION["s_errors"]["generic"][] = "ERRO[32]: ".$e->getMessage();
header("Location: list.php");
die;
}

Answer 1

It does look right to me,
I could only suggest you try it this way and see if that makes any difference
$username = 'Mike';
$stmt->bindValue(":uname", "%".$username."%");
Edit.
Looking at it again, this doesn't look right to me..
$username = '$%username%';
Shouldn't it be
$username = '%'.$username.'%';