Finding a job in this economy may be challenging to some, but not to those who have built a strong online personal brand. A personal brand is what you represent in the minds of others. You're already familiar with the most well-known brands, including Oprah and Trump, but you in fact have a brand as well. Recruiters judge you based on first impressions and what they hear about you from third party sources. How you portray yourself, both online and offline, and your reputation is going to be a major factor whether you get the job or not. Finding a job is harder now than it has ever been, not just because of the poor economy, but since there's so much competition to get noticed online, and to get your resume to the right person.
Here are five tips on how to secure a job:
1. Clean up your online presence.
A study by Microsoft last year showed that about 80% of employers are using search engines and social networks for background searches. More and more companies are investing in social network recruiting strategies over job board advertising. Search for your full name on a variety of social networks, including Facebook, and using Google, to see what comes up. If you're not proud, or you don't deem the results professional, then revise them immediately. Those results are the same results that recruiters will see when they are looking to interview you. A poor online presence will cost you an interview and a job because information is accessible to recruiters and is used in their decision making.
2. Be proactive.
Jobs aren't going to find you so you need to be aggressive and put yourself out there. Start asking your inner network if they have any positions open at their companies or if they can refer you to someone who might. Use LinkedIn to find people who are hiring for certain jobs and connect to them directly. Go on Twitter and start tweeting with managers at companies you're interested in.
3. Tell recruiters what you're looking for.
Be sure you cite that you're looking for a job in a certain field without your social network profiles. You need to communicate that you're actively looking and then use keywords so that people can find you when they search. If people don't know that you're looking for a job, they won't contact you.
4. Escape virtual reality.
Don't rely on social networks when searching for a job or you'll come up short. You have to get out into the real world so that you can meet people face to face. Instead of being one email in someone's inbox, why not meet them in person so you can establish a direct connection and relationship with them? You will have more success meeting people in person than online because people get bombarded with hundreds of job requests daily.
5. Be passionate and narrow your focus.
If you don't find a job you're really passionate it about, you won't get it. There's so much competition that at least one of the other applicants will actually want the job for more than just a paycheck. Employers want to hire passionate people, who are looking to establish careers, instead of just job hop. Your best bet is to find something you're really interested in and then committing to getting a job in that field.
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