Recruiters work hard to find the best talent in their fields, so you have to work hard to make sure they can find you. Recruiters use multiple online resources to find quality candidates to fill open positions but you can’t just submit a resume to an online job board and expect to get a call the next day. It’s your job to make sure you have fully optimized you online profile to help your chances of appearing higher in candidate searches. Here are a few tips taken from The Ladders to help increase your odds.
1. Build and update a LinkedIn profile
“If you’re not online, you don’t exist.” That‘s the motto of many recruiters today. And for many of them, “online” means one place: LinkedIn. According to a recent survey of U.S. hiring managers, 66 percent used LinkedIn to find job candidates for openings, 23 percent used Facebook, and 16 percent used Twitter.
If you haven’t done so already, visit both LinkedIn and Facebook to establish a profile page that describes who you are. Keep it professional, but make it an expression of your professional personality. Whet the appetites of visitors to your page. Update it regularly.
2. Advertise yourself with a Unique Selling Proposition
Describe yourself with a brief sentence – a Unique Selling Proposition. A USP is a one-sentence description that says who you are, what your biggest strength is and the greatest benefit you bring.
For example:
“Hands-on Operations Manager with strong people and team-building skills who has helped produce revenues of $2.8 million with a 22 percent margin for my previous employer.”
Place this sentence in your profile header as a starter to explain what distinguishes you from others in your field. Include your previous employers as well as the briefest descriptors about you.
3. Add your LinkedIn profile URL to your resume
Once you’ve built your profile, make sure you make it easy for recruiters and hiring managers to find you on the Web. Add this link directly to your resume right under your contact information.
4. Ask for LinkedIn recommendations
Amassing recommendations is like stockpiling referrals before you need them. Once again, you want to make it easy for recruiters and hiring managers. A great way to provide them with good feedback about your work is with LinkedIn recommendations. A recommendation is merely someone saying something good about you. Make a list of your past (and present) bosses, supervisors, colleagues and clients. If they’re on LinkedIn as well, they can provide you with a recommendation. Don’t be afraid to ask, since most will be more than glad to do this for you. When they’re done, you’ll have a number of professional recommendations easily seen by anyone who visits your profile page.
5. Make yourself an expert
You can also employ tools like LinkedIn and Facebook to extend your network. You’ll find hundreds of groups on LinkedIn beyond the obvious ones dedicated to alumni and job search. With a little searching you’ll also find groups of people dedicated to the advancement or discussion of their particular profession or industry as well as people seeking solutions to specific problems.
Article originally posted on The Ladders: http://www.theladders.com/career-advice/can-recruiters-find-you-5-online-methods-to-borrow
Modified by T-Tech Solutions LLC
