Your resume used to be it: dates, jobs, fancy paper. That’s what got you the interview and a shot at a good job. But these dates and jobs are not enough; the world has changed. Businesses need to know more than that bulleted list to trust you. Now, your online presence is just as important, or even more; it shows exactly who you are. Your Facebook, your Instagram, even what you say on Twitter – all of it makes up how someone perceives you. And these things are incredibly strong components to get viewed in this new world.
Crafting your digital story
So, what’s the best way to start with that? Instead of looking at online stuff as something that is separate from your actual identity, the online persona needs to be thought about as your new overall resume. First impressions now all involve a quick Google search to see what’s up. Potential employers are all diving in to see what you show up to be and see if what you are saying is true. They aren’t necessarily looking at the specific number of followers on the company’s Instagram or the pricing for different promotional packages, but they are curious about what your presence appears to people. Building your identity needs thought/consideration, so the next step is that you think like it’s the only one an employer will see.
Risks with this new resume
The issue is that this can also be risky, so be warned. Maybe some random photos from years ago suddenly become an online fire issue in the present time. Or some rant from a random Twitter account reflects on how some perceive you currently. Old bosses are all very willing to dish out information to recruiters about some past employees’ behavior. This is why you need to be careful about all of the things you put online, because this is very likely to affect you somewhere.
Clean up a bit
So, should you clean digital profiles? Yes! See what’s public, what others can see. All the social profiles that you forgot exist; find them all. Fix the things that may make you look bad so every profile makes you look better. Think of these management professionals who can guide you correctly on this. These specialists do not always come cheap, but can show where you could improve on managing profiles. A simple clean-up will go a long way further than just fixing things.
LinkedIn still matters
Even with a lot of things changing, some things still hold the same value. LinkedIn continues to be a really important place for professionals out there to show off accomplishments. It may have changed the look of a resume format, but it has also expanded what can be shown about a person’s career. If profiles are made well, showing off accomplishments, it might impress that potential future employer. As many job candidates show off experiences, it is becoming all the more commonplace now, don’t forget about it because it is a simple must-do to be a competitive person in the job search.
Actively creating content
Besides liking things on social media, you can also add to how a company sees someone. Consider buying YouTube subscribers and creating YouTube content on current trends or showing off how much you know about topics. Companies are trying to spot people who are knowledgeable and not afraid to show off ideas. If you are nervous about creating content, then even posting a bunch of intelligent and sharp responses will go a long way too. The internet can make others into experts with their own style of promotion, so learning to do things the right way will mean everything when you are searching for work.
Thinking about privacy settings
Make sure to know how to use those privacy settings properly on accounts because privacy options sometimes change without consent. Check to see exactly who has easy access to private photos or old accounts. Maybe you can remove some followers or likes on specific accounts, don’t be scared! If information is on restricted settings or accounts, employers will not know exactly what you are doing or what you are about. It is a good idea to limit what only friends and family can see; that’s mostly common sense.
Conclusion
Your digital identity might be the first glimpse someone gets. Make them want to know more. You should always be able to see yourself represented well. It is your job and legal duty to always seek truth…. Or risk everything becoming undone with fake digital profiles.
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