In a job search (and in your career) you need an online presence. When others search your name online, what they find is your ‘brand.’ It’s your chance to make a great first impression. You want recruiters and potential employers to find positive things about you that will encourage them to call you for interviews or recommend you to others. Plus, when you do apply for jobs or connect with hiring managers, they will search for you online–so you need them to discover great things.
So, what can you do to make sure your online brand identity is a strong recommendation for why someone should hire you?
1. Use every opportunity to establish a presence.
The more you show up online, the better it can be. Although LinkedIn is my favorite online networking site, you should also get established on Facebook, Twitter, Facebook, Google +, and maybe Vine or Meetup. (One article says that you should “cybersquat as much social real estate as possible” to both strengthen your online brand and to combat social identity theft.) Make absolutely certain that every site provides a professional profile (find out if you’re a LinkedIn Do or Don’t)with dynamic words that describe who you are and what you do.
2. Make sure your photos are professional and consistent.
Attach a head-and-shoulders professional photo to each of your online pages. Having the same photo on all sites will help those who don’t know you recognize you. And please remove the too-personal photos of you with your friends at the party, or you at your political function, or anything else that could cause controversy. If you’re trying to land a job, you want potential employers to concentrate on your job skills without anything else getting in the way.
3. Participate.
Join groups and discussions, and try to share something of value to help others. Always keep your professional brand in mind as you contribute your thoughts and ideas. (In case this is a problem for you, remember that a little self-censoring is not hiding the “real you,” it’s simply keeping your public face separate from your private one. Or, to put it another way…there’s a lot you wouldn’t say in front of your grandmother that you wouldn’t hesitate to say in front of your friends. Think of cyberspace as your grandmother. )
Overall, remember this: Decide how you want people to see you, and develop a consistent theme–in your photos, your questions, and your comments. It presents a unified, clear, positive image to the rest of the world that will pay off for you in your job search and your career.