Online Search Tips for Savvy Job Hunters

We all love a bit of social networking – and so do recruiters, it would seem; because social media is now pretty big business when it comes to recruitment. Some people are even receiving job offers online – and if you want to be one of them, you need to get up to speed. Here are some tips to help you in your online job search:

• Be prepared to interview at the drop of a hat.  With today’s technology, employers are scheduling phone interviews and making immediate offers in some cases.  Make sure your résumé is updated on all social media sites you are utilizing in your job search.
• Your profile on any social media site, if used to its full potential, is like a digital résumé – publicizing skills, awards, groups, organizations, hobbies, and even references. And the best part? You can mold them to suit any image you want to portray.
• If you have more than one social media profile, give yourself even more exposure by connecting the dots and navigating people to each one. Include the URL to your LinkedIn account on Facebook and Twitter; and if you have an online portfolio, website, or online résumé, include a link to that on all of your accounts too.
• If you’re interested in working for a specific company, following them on LinkedIn is one of the best ways to learn more about what they’re up to. You can also see who else works for them and even add them to your network.  Be sure to personalize any invites. Let them know that you’re interested in their company and what they do, and ask for some advice – they may admire your initiative.
• One of the best things about LinkedIn is that it allows you to ask for endorsements from the people you’ve worked with, which are then displayed on your profile as an example of how great you are at your job. Some jobs are even filled through recommendations alone, as the good word of a former boss, professor, or colleague makes it easier to trust you. If you’ve done a good job for someone in the past, ask them to recommend you.
• Ultimately, the main reason that digital résumés are valuable is because companies want you to have one, but they can be helpful in other ways as well. Unlike paper résumés and even digital files, once a résumé is online, there’s no real way for you to, um, misplace it, and having one can be quite helpful in a pinch if you have to provide someone with your resume quickly or lose out on a job.

Lynn Pates is a human resources advisor at Intuit and a member of the Leadership Colloquium @ UMW advisory board. Check out the Leadership Colloquium @ UMW on LinkedIn.