Developing a professional online profile

Today more than ever, it is vital that we have a professional online presence given that

“80% of employers Google job seekers before inviting them into an interview!” (Joyce, 2014)

This percentage certainly shocked me and got me thinking, what is the best way to create an authentic professional online presence and self-brand ourselves to attract potential employers…

So let’s start with the most obvious platform to attract, interact and connect with millions of professionals  : LinkedIn. An article on the Guardian aimed at students explains that ‘a LinkedIn profile is your chance to build a positive online presence for yourself,’ (Burch, 2013) and this is where I personally started when creating my own professional identity.

The video below produced by LinkedIn succinctly summarises how to use the platform to successfully network with professionals in your desired field of work… and humorously reminds us that LinkedIn is not just for old people with heavy briefcases

But is LinkedIn the Best and Only option for creating a professional presence?

Twitter also acts as the perfect platform to connect and engage with companies and industry figures. Twitter is ideal for interacting with companies you are interested in, as its ‘openness…shocases your talents, personality, style and interests'(Hartwig,2013). I personally use Twitter to follow PR and Marketing companies as I am interested in these industries and really appreciate the fact that you can engage with anyone on any level (from intern to CEO) at the company – it’s so vital to build up a rapport!

Moreover, Twitters’ new format and extra features such as pinned Tweets and Best Tweets allow job seekers to paint a more accurate picture of their ‘professionalism, skills sets and interests’ (Le Viet, 2014) and it is understandably emerging as one of the best social networks for both the creation of a professional online profile and for job searching.

Here are some top tips for creating a professional online profile:

LinkedIn:

• Showcase what makes YOU special
• Have an updated profile with all your relevant experience
• Include a professional photo
• Connect to others with a purpose (Steimle, 2013)
• Share regularly and wisely (Halzack, 2013)

Twitter:

• Showcase what makes YOU special
• Be distinctive
• Professional profile photo
• Share and RT content you are genuinely interested in
• Follow companies / individuals in industries you want to work in
• Show your personality – keep your audience in mind!

Bring all your profiles together via the platform About.me – to really showcase yourself to employers and get your professional profile noticed.

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Sources

Burch. K, Students: how to use LinkedIn at uni to help you get a job when you graduate. The Guardian. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/education/mortarboard/2013/dec/30/linkedin-tips-for-students-employability [Accessed 9/11/2014]

Hartwig. E, How to Effectively Use Twitter as a Job Search Resource, Mashable. Available at: http://mashable.com/2013/02/09/twitter-job-search/ [Accessed 9/11/2014]

Halzack. S, Tips for using LinkedIn to find a job, Washington Post. Available at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/tips-for-using-linkedin-to-find-a-job/2013/08/01/7c50c418-e0ff-11e2-8ae9-5db15d3c0fca_story.html [Accessed 9/11/2014]

LinkedIn, LinkedIn for Students: Your Career Starts Here. Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWp6AN00D_c [Accessed 9/11/2014]

Le Viet. S, Twitter’s Redesign Makes the Platform Ripe for Recruitment. Mashable. Available at: http://mashable.com/2014/04/21/twitter-redesign-recruitment/ [Accessed 9/11/2014]

Joyce. S,What 80% Of Employers Do Before Inviting You For An Interview. Huffington Post. Available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-p-joyce/job-search-tips_b_4834361.html [Accessed 9/11/2014]

Steimle. J, Top 3 Tips From a LinkedIn Expert. Forbes. Available at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/joshsteimle/2013/08/07/top-3-tips-from-a-linkedin-expert/ [Accessed 9/11/2014]

Featured Image: http://pearsonstudents.com/blog/clean-it-up-how-social-media-can-make-or-break-your-job-search/