#JobCred: Marketing Yourself Online, 101

Job searching is a job in and of itself, and now I’m asking you to market yourself?

But for some tech savvy employers and recruiters, successfully marketing and branding yourself online may get you noticed.  Marketing yourself online can be a great way to foster a fabulous reputation for yourself (or not so fabulous, depending on how well you do it).  Here are some ideas to build your online brand and boost your #jobcred:

1. Start with creating a focus or a theme about yourself.  What is it that you stand for?  Are you a wedding cake decorator focusing on gluten free desserts?  Are you a sales rep specializing in widgets?  Consistently focusing on common ideas or interests builds on your reputation as an engaged and knowledgeable member in your particular field.

2. Edit yourself.  Take down any inappropriate pics and try to limit the nonsensical posts that might cause a potential employer or recruiter to misjudge you.  You can also check your privacy settings within your social network of choice(s) to limit public views of your account.

3. Give some thought to the design of your Twitter and Facebook pages.  A lot of sites, such as Tweety Got Back offer not only free Twitter themes, but also matching pictures for your Facebook timeline.  Cohesive, polished looks offer another opportunity to associate yourself with a certain idea/theme.

4.  If you’re not on Twitter, get on Twitter, and tweet appropriately.  Follow businesses you’re interested in and people with similar interests, and don’t be afraid to engage with them.  Twitter is becoming more and more like one big conversation.  Use it to network, participating in Twitter chats, etc. to build your name and reputation in online communities in your field.

5. And of course, LinkedIn.  As the go-to social networking site for job searching, you can’t write an article like this without mentioning it.  Group discussions are a great way to network, and don’t forget to ask past managers and colleagues to ask for recommendations, these are a great tool that can help set you aside from other candidates.

6. Depending on what kind of industry you’re in and what kind of time management skills you have, a blog is also something to think about.  Writing fresh articles on things relevant to your industry gives you the appearance of being an expert.  Also, think of blogs as databases of searchable keywords for Google to sort through.  If you have a high-quality blog with good search results, potential employers (or depending on your circumstances, potential clients) searching through similar topics have a greater chance of finding you.

By maintaining a solid, knowledgeable online presence, you’re stacking your odds at getting noticed and employed, but remember — no matter how well you market yourself online, a good resume, cover letter and first impression are all key factors, and hold greater weight than a good twitter page.

Will Tweet for #Jobs!

Like LinkedIn, Twitter is another internet phenomenon I neglected back in the day.  My first inclination towards having a Twitter account was being able to use it to update my Facebook status as this was back in the Dark Ages, aka pre-iPhone.  I would send a short text to Twitter which would keep all of my Facebook friends up-to-date on the Orange basketball game score or know that it was, alas, snowing again in Syracuse.

Now, however, Twitter has morphed well into its own being.   Tweeting  is a full-time job for some, and for others, a resource to a full-time job. Many companies and organizations have their own accounts to promote themselves and keep interested fans in the know.  A company could have several Twitter accounts dedicated to different interests, including one specifically made for job postings, such as @StarbucksJobs or @GoogleJobs.

While tweeting in itself isn’t going to magically provide job seekers with employment, it does have its benefits.  For those actively pursuing job leads, a Twitter account is yet another way to shamelessly promote yourself to employers.  Following and interacting with leaders in your area of interest helps keep you up-to-date and shows others you have a strong interest in the latest news in your field.

Using hashtags (#) can be a great way to associate your tweets with worldwide trends and gain visibility.  For example, tweeting “#jobs” associates your tweet with all others that used the same hashtag.  “#Jobs” becomes a link that will bring up all those other tweets.  This can be a great tool for learning more about an issue in your industry of choice, starting conversations, and growing your social network.  Job searching is, after all, about building and maintaining relationships, and Twitter is yet another tool to help you do so.

As with anything you do though, remember to keep it Prompt, Professional and Polite–in other words, don’t tweet in great detail about your Friday night escapades and limit random, unimpressive tweets like “#pizza!”.

And last but not least, don’t forget to follow @Stafkings for the latest job news and opportunities across New York State!

Do you tweet for jobs?  Either seeking talent individuals or a job of your own?  What tips or stories would you like to share?

DOs and DON’Ts of Communication Etiquette

We live in the age of the smart phone.  You can simultaneously be having a phone conversation with someone three thousand miles away and be playing Angry Birds at the same time, tweeting all the while.

Technology has given us many gifts, but it can sometimes be a burden.  When communicating about a job, remember these three Ps:

• Prompt,
• Polite, and
• Professional.

Whether the conversation is online or over the phone, these three are an absolute MUST.  While this doesn’t mean you need to stare at your inbox or cell phone for hours on end, it does mean you need to be routine about checking them and be good about returning calls or emails as soon as you can.   As a recruiter, there’s nothing more annoying than having to repeatedly contact an applicant, and we will give up after only a couple attempts.  After all, we’re only trying to help you out.

That said, when you DO communicate, keep it polite and professional.  Remember to dot your i’s and cross your t’s when talking or emailing us as we are not your buddies.  Sending a message with something like “i like 2 work w/ppl” or “i got mad computer skilz” is not acceptable.  While it’s great to message like that with your friends and family, always keep a professional voice when it involves a job.

Take that literally when it involves talking in person or over the phone.  I know from experience that taking the “ums” “likes” and “errs” out of your speech can be a difficult task, and even I’ll slip up now and again in an, er, conversation.  But by making a substantial effort to keep it PPP and by speaking clearly sans slang homz, you’ll be taken much more seriously and make a good first impression on a perspective employer.

What are your DOs and DON’Ts for communication etiquette?  Share your best experiences or your worst bloopers!