What Your Profile Really Says About You
You
finally hit publish on your profile and a wave of anxiety washes over
you. What if nobody likes it? What if nobody clicks? Will you be stuck
in digital limbo—
alone—forever?
Whether you’re single or paired off, the second you start job hunting, it’s like you’re diving right back in the dating pool.
Sure,
the expected outcomes are a little different (I hope!), but much of the
process is the same. You’re searching for someone who also needs and
wants you in their life, and you’re comparing notes to see if you’re
compatible.
The comparison is even more apt when you think
of online dating and the role online profiles, like those on LinkedIn
or other job search websites, play in finding the right match.
And,
as with online dating, creating an effective job-hunting profile is all
about developing a strategy that creates desirability.
What does your profile say about you?
If
you’re not giving enough thought to your online profiles, you may be
sending mixed messages to potential employers. Consider what your
profile may be saying:
- No picture — Not having a photo says, “I am not
confident enough to show my face.” If you don’t have a photo you’re
proud of, find a friend with a camera and start shooting. Look straight
at the camera and smile for the best impression.
- Logo or something else as picture — Again, I worry
about the person’s confidence when there’s a logo or avatar instead of a
picture; or I worry that they have no personality.
- No recommendations — A profile with no
recommendations screams, “No-one else believes I am as good as I say.”
Reach out to a few friends or colleagues for recommendations to remedy
this ASAP, and be sure the skills you’ve listed mirror your real-life
skills.
- Incomplete profile — To me, this just smacks of
laziness. It says, “I have nothing to say or am too lazy to put it
here.” Whenever you have the opportunity to include more information to
make a good impression, you should do so.
- Not up to date — If you haven’t updated your
profile since 2009 but are actively looking for a job, that’s a
disconnect. I would wonder if perhaps your heart wasn’t in it or if you
truly had a keen eye for detail.
- No contact details — This is like saying, “Call
me!” but not giving out your number. If you are overly concerned about
privacy, create a new email address and Google Voice phone number
specifically for job hunting, but make certain whatever you do that your
potential interviewers don’t have to work to contact you.
Putting your profile to work
Once
you’ve put your best foot forward, so to speak, and filled out your
profile completely and correctly, you can take it to the next level.
Some other tips to consider:
- Ask for an introduction. Instead of a totally blind
date, it helps to have an introduction. Work your contacts and discover
who in your network might be able to make an introduction or
recommendation at your dream job.
- Cultivate connections. Connections who work within a
company to which you’re applying can also give excellent insights into
the company culture and tidbits that can come in handy during the
interview phase.
- Appeal to your ideal match. Use the descriptions of
your previous positions to tell the story job recruiters are interested
in hearing. If you know that your ideal position is with a company that
values independence and self-direction, for example, highlight your
past accomplishments in those areas.
- Get specific. Just like potential mates get tired
of reading about “long walks on the beach” and people “looking for
someone with a good sense of humor,” recruiters start to glaze over
clichés as well. Be as specific as possible with your profile to make
yourself stand out in the crowd.
- But don’t be tempted to exaggerate. In this
Internet age, your resume can be double checked in the fraction of a
second it takes Google to return a result, and any exaggeration can be
seen as outright dishonesty.
- Follow up (but don’t come across as desperate).
It’s always appropriate to follow up after a first meeting, but don’t be
a pest, and don’t come across as desperate; it’s a turn off.
I hope you found this useful? As always, I'd love to
hear your views. Ever made a terrible profile blunder online? Have you
got any tips and stories to add? Please share your views in the comments
below.
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About : Bernard Marr is a globally recognized expert in strategy,
performance management, analytics, KPIs and big data. He helps companies
manage, measure and improve performance.