Why It’s Time to Clean Up Your Online Presence During Your Job Search
Almost every single employer will take one, simple action before they decide to interview you or offer you a job: They will look you up online. If they can’t find you when the search, or worse, if they do find you and the profiles are unflattering, you won’t receive a call or an offer. If you’re embarking on a job search and you want to make the right impression, it’s time to clean up your online presence.
Make Sure Social Media Is Boosting You, Not Burning You
One of the most important things you can do in a job search is check, double check and triple check that your personal social media profiles on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. are set to private. Even if you think your profiles are fit for your grandmother to see, you don’t want hiring managers poking around in your personal business.
Next, focus on building professional profiles. When was the last time you revamped your LinkedIn page? If you haven’t updated it in a while, do it now. Make sure you have a recent, professional headshot and that all of your fields are filled in completely, using keywords that are relevant to your field. LinkedIn is a network you want to remain public. Choose the option for a personalized URL that you can include on your resume and make sure your profile is searchable.
Get A Professional Website
Purchase a domain in the form of your name. If someone already has that domain, add your middle name, middle initial, maiden name etc. This website should be clean and simple – it doesn’t have to be intricate. However, if you are a developer, programmer or designer you should use your site to showcase your talent.
You can also provide links to your online portfolio or GitHub on your site, and if you are comfortable writing, add a blog where you share your perspective on trends and happenings in your niche.
Create Professional Social Profiles
When you are certain that your personal profiles are set to private and you’ve got yourself a functional website, set up professional profiles on social platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Here, you can share your blog content, connect with thought leaders in the industry, follow your target companies, contribute to professional discussions, etc. You can set these professional profiles to public so that hiring managers can find them when they search for you and they can see that you are active in the professional community.
Work Your Presence Every Day
Each day, spend a few minutes online, making sure you’re building a professional presence. Make new connections, make thoughtful comments, share content and contribute to conversations. The more active you are online, the better your presence will be, and the more impressed a hiring manager will be when they find you.
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 to learn more about our track record and our commitment to your success.
