ESSENTIAL QUICK READ: Professional Online Profiles
Many employers will now naturally check on potential candidates’ social media accounts when they are recruiting for a role, as a way to learn more about the applicant.
For this reason it’s vital that you make sure that your online presence presents you in the most professional way possible to potential recruiters and that you also know how use social media for your job search.
Here are some top tips for maximising your professional online profile.
Don’t underestimate the career impact of professional online profiles
It can be tempting to think that professional online profiles are only relevant to particular sectors and that you don’t need to engage with such platforms as they are irrelevant. However, the reality is that platforms such as LinkedIn, the global leader in online professional networking, are increasingly being used by professionals across all sectors, from education to finance, from law to consultancy. The risk of not having an online profile is that it can give the impression that you are out of touch with your professional peers.
Start by getting the basics right
It’s important to spend sufficient time on building an impressive online profile, but it’s better to make a start now rather than keep putting it off! Essentially an effective online profile includes five core elements. Once you’ve got these covered you can then spend more time adding in specific details and achievements in the future. Here’s a brief outline of the five key elements:
| Element | Advice |
|---|---|
| Profile Picture | Profiles that include pictures get 14 times more views than those without so choose your head shot carefully. |
| Headline | Use your current role (eg: Law student, Experienced Accountant) or your career goal (eg: aspiring Management Consultant) |
| Summary | Think of this section as your elevator pitch. Make sure it has impact by keeping it short and succinct and highlight your strengths. |
| Experience | This is what makes you stand out. Include work experience, part time jobs and volunteer work and the skills you have gained from them which are relevant to your chosen sector |
| Recommendations | These are like mini references. Look for quality here and not quantity. Ask your tutors, or the managers you have worked for to give you a recommendation. |
Find a relevant platform
Whilst Linkedin is the largest professional networking platform by some way, it’s by no means the only platform available. Make sure you do your research by talking to professionals whom are based in your chosen area to discover if there are additional platforms which they use as a vehicle for their online professional profile. For example, Angel List is used widely by those working within start ups to identify potential investors and future opportunities, https://angel.co/.
Continuously improve
The beauty of an online profile, unlike a static document, is that it can be continuously updated and improved. Each time you gain a new qualification or engage in a fresh project, which requires new skills, make sure you reflect that change on your online profile. This way both you and potential recruiters can see how your professional skills and capabilities are growing and developing.
Don’t forget to research others
Whilst initially you will spend the majority of your time working on your own profile and updating it with achievements, don’t forget that a key benefit of using online professional networking platforms is that they enable you find other relevant professionals. Find time to do some targeted searches to get a sense of the roles available within your preferred sector and the career trajectories of professionals whom work in those industries. This will provide you will valuable insider information for future job applications and also widen your network within the industry.
Check your privacy settings and the impression given by your personal social media accounts Recruiters may Google your name and look at all your social media accounts, personal and professional. What impression of you would they receive and does it fit the message you would like to send about your career ambitions and suitability?
You may want to adjust your privacy settings to keep the professional, professional and the personal, personal.
Check out the resources in the Career Development Lab for more help on this and related topics.
