- Without a doubt,
the job hunt is worlds different today
than it was 20 years ago.
Recruiters might start with your resume and cover letter,
but you can bet that at some point
in the recruitment process, either the recruiter
or potential employer will be looking you up online.
With that inevitability,
you need to make sure
that your online presence puts forth the image
and the skills you want employers to know about.
Let's talk about your web presence
in three places, LinkedIn, other social media platforms,
and the web in general.
We'll start with LinkedIn
because for recruiters, LinkedIn is their digital home.
So this is generally the first place
they'll be searching your name.
Head to LinkedIn
and take a look at your profile and your activity.
Look at this as if you were someone who didn't know you.
What does your profile say about you?
What are the top skills
and qualities that it seems to portray?
If you're having trouble putting yourself
in a recruiter's shoes, try asking some friends
or family members to look at your profile.
Ideally choose people who aren't familiar
with your industry
so they won't tell you exactly what you're wanting to hear.
You're just trying to get the first impressions
of who they would expect you to be from your profile.
Next, do the same with your other social media platforms.
Do they portray an image that you would be proud
for a recruiter to see?
Do they put forth best side and show you
to be a well put together, compassionate,
and reliable person?
If not, it's probably time to rethink the content
that you're posting.
Finally, you want to take a look
at your web presence outside of social media.
It's time to do what so many people dread.
Googling yourself and seeing what comes up.
If you're not finding much in your Google results
that gives you professional credibility,
it's never too late to start.
Consider launching a blog that relates
to your industry or career.
You could post brief,
but professional blog posts designed to educate the public
about particular topics in your career, for example,
or blogs that give your insights on a particular issue
or event based on your professional knowledge.
Any of these will make you more Googleable,
and will add to your online image as a valued professional.
In this day and age, it's important to recognize
that everything that you post online,
even if it seems to have absolutely nothing to do
with your work, has potential to impact your job search.
When you recognize this,
you can take the next steps to use your LinkedIn,
your other social media, and your web presence
as a whole to paint yourself in the absolute best light.