Online Profiles

(for sites like LinkedIn)

Adding to Your Brand

Understanding the importance of a strong online profile is critical in today’s job search.

Every Job Seeker Needs One

These days, every job seeker needs to have their profile posted on networking sites:

Job seekers (so recruiters and companies can find you)
Business people (good to develop a network IN CASE you have to suddenly look for a job)

As networking sites continue to grow (LinkedIn, LookupPage, Xing, Plaxo, Ryze, etc), your online branding profile is as important as your resume and interview skills. Studies show that some 89% of recruiters are using online networking sites to find candidates for positions.

Online profiles and bios are now being used as search tools in job searches and are a primary method for attracting the attention of recruiters and hiring managers. Because networking sites are used by both job seekers and non job seekers to build networks and make connections, they provide a very “safe” venue in which to be seen – ideal for currently employed job seekers.

By ignoring the profile or only giving it secondary attention, you are handicapping your job search results. It is vital that the bio or profile that you use on an online site be extremely well-written, noun heavy, keyword laden, and designed to garner attention.

FIVE TOP MISTAKES MADE WITH ONLINE PROFILES:

1. Thinking what you have is good enough already.

The problem with this is that sadly, 85% of the profiles listed on any given site do not maximize the potential for the candidate. If you want to be found by recruiters and hiring managers, and/or you want to build a great group of networking professionals, trying your own hand at writing your profile can be a disaster. Most people find it difficult to write effectively about themselves, and do not know how to showcase their talents in a concise, keyword rich profile. What they end up with is a mediocre profile and mediocre results. Don’t be one of the statistics!

2. Treating your profile like your resume.

Online profiles are much more limited in space than a resume. In an online profile, you want to have as much punch as possible in a much more limited space.

3. Copying/Pasting from your resume to develop your profile.

Most people erroneously do this because it is easy, and seems to save time. Unfortunately, what seems to save time actually costs you in results. Just pasting resume content for the bio is crippling because the function of the resume and the function of the bio are very different. Unlike a resume, a profile needs to be noun rich to ensure the profile comes up in searches.

4. Not keeping your profile updated.

Because online profiles are used so much by recruiters, it is important to keep information updated and current. I’ve seen profiles with old career information on them and email addresses that are no longer valid. What is the point of having a tool help you be found if you then can’t be reached?! Keep your work experience up to date whether or not you are job searching, and be sure you can be contacted through a current email address that will reach you and you check often.

5. Adding “fluff” material.

Remember that online professional networking sites are very different than online social sites. Listing your 10 cats’ names for example, really is not the way to go! Discussing your most recent vacation trip isn’t either. Think professional all the way!

Do you really want to take a chance of not looking your best?

Make sure you are making the most of your online efforts! We know how to develop an online profile for you that will lead recruiters and key readers to view your profile. Contact us today to learn how this affordable service can open the door of SUCCESS for you!