Your Online Brand: The Missing Puzzle Piece to Your Job Search
Your resume is an important tool when it comes to making a strong case to IT hiring managers. In today’s digital world, however, that resume isn’t enough to position yourself as an IT rockstar. Building an online brand is essential for completing the puzzle for hiring managers. If you are being considered for an interview, you will be Googled. Therefore, you must take the time to build an online brand that makes a hiring manager say, “We’ve got to talk to this person!”
Four Tools To Create a Killer Online Brand
You want to make sure that when a hiring manager researches you, that the results they see reinforce the idea that you are their ideal candidate. Use these strategies to start building your brand.
- LinkedIn.
IT professionals who neglect LinkedIn are neglecting the most important platform for job seekers. You must be active on LinkedIn, as it has become the go-to source for information on candidates. Be certain your profile picture is professional and up-to-date, that you are constantly updating your information with recent successes and projects, and that you strategically utilize keywords so that your profile can be found. Build connections each week, and participate in professional groups on LinkedIn to meet new people and showcase your expertise.
- Personal website.
If you don’t own your name as a domain, go buy it now. Your website doesn’t have to be intricate (though developers should use it to showcase their skills). At a minimum, it should include your resume and portfolio. Ideally, it should also contain articles that showcase your expertise in your field.
- Social Media.
Make sure all your personal accounts are set to 100 percent private. You can create professional profiles on Twitter and any other platform that makes sense based on your area of expertise. Use those professional profiles to share thought leadership pieces and curate content in your niche, building connections with influencers. Be sure to follow your target companies on the platforms you choose, as well.
- Professional forums.
Study up on active online forums in your niche. Create a professional profile using your real name and participate thoughtfully in the discussions there. Quora is a great catch-all forum that shows in Google results. Some forums won’t show in search, but hiring managers and recruiters do hang out there to monitor conversations and scout talent.
If you’re looking to land a new gig, do yourself a favor and regularly check search results for your name to monitor what hiring managers see when they search for you. Always remember when you post anything online that it should reinforce the brand you want to build.
If you are an experienced IT professional looking to take the next step in your career, partner with the tech recruiting experts at Talon today. Contact us today to learn more about our commitment to your professional success.
