If you’re not on Google, do you exist? What if your name is on Google – only there are hundreds or thousands of listings – and not one of them is you. With the majority of employers now Googling candidates and candidates Googling employers, it is essential to create a positive online identity – and personal brand.
Check out this article in the Wall Street Journal on the impact of a “non-Google” existance. Enjoy!
Exciting news! My pals at Career Hub – and myself of course – have a new eBook to help you with your job search, namely expert tips and advice on how to make the most of your next interview.
If you don’t have Career Hub’s earlier eBooks, you’re missing out on similarly great advice about resume writing and job search strategies. Now, for the first time, we’re making all our eBooks available without email sign-up. Simply download the PDFs and start reading! And to stay regularly updated with all the best in career advice, bookmark this site, sign up for our RSS feed, or have the articles sent directly to your email box.
Insider’s Guide to Interviewing
Expert advice on how to succeed in interviews – topics covered include effective interview planning, tips on taking control of the interview situation, advice on closing, and best approaches to salary negotiation.
Click to open in browser or right-click to save to hard drive
Insider’s Guide to Resume Writing
In this book, our experts tackle all aspects of effective resume writing, including defining your branded value proposition, the value of story-telling, the secret ingredient of context, common resume mistakes, and how you can go beyond the resume in your career marketing.
Click to open in browser or right-click to save to hard drive
Insider’s Guide to Job Search
This is the first book in our Insider’s Guide series. From determining career direction, through resume writing to networking and interview skills, each of our experts provides real-world strategies for job search success.
Click to open in browser or right-click to save to hard drive
Enjoy the free stuff! And please let us know how they’ve helped you with your career search. 😀
Check out this article in the Wall Street Journal’s Career Journal – all about blogging and using it as not only a recruiting tool, but a job seeking tool as well.
More and more online identities count in the job search. More and more recruiters and employers Google your name to find out more about you. What’s your current digital dirt status? Need to cover up some dust bunnies?
This article provides some solid tips to manage your online identity using blogs. And I am a bit biased since my friend Kirsten Dixson of Brandego is profiled. 🙂 Way to rock Kirsten!
PS: Kirsten and I — along with JibberJobber founder Jason Alba — will be talking about online identities, brand management, and social networking at the upcoming Career Masters Institute conference at the end of this month.
Check out Sean Aiken’s blog – one candidate’s innovative technique to explore careers at: http://www.oneweekjob.com/.
This guy’s getting a lot of play and some interesting offers. Here’s what I like about this concept:
1. He’s exploring all types of careers and trying to discover his passion
2. He’s creating a terrific online identity and a strong brand (passion for travel rules “dude”)
3. He’s getting tons of press and links to the blog
4. Along the way he’s raising money for a good cause, “Make Poverty History.”
4. He’s getting paying sponsors for trying to figure out what he wants to be when he grows up!
A few suggestions:
1. Obviously this is a guy who likes to experience things in order to determine what he wants to be. I can also recommend some cool assessment tools to help him along his journey.
2. Express strong interests. If travel’s what you love, explore more travel-related careers, rather than a flower shop.
3. What a way to network – build and solidify those relationships. One never knows where it will carry you next. (For more networking tips, check out: Rock Your Network.)
I think it will be interesting to check in on Sean and see where he lands next.
This week’s WXP News had a great article that also relates to the job search process – and your online identity. If you were not aware, about 35% or more of recruiters and employers check your online identity before they meet with you. It’s amazing what a quick Google search can find out.
Also, much of job searching today is done via email. Quick, email your resume to an ad or online post. Before sending, check out your subject line. Is it relevant and attention-getting in a good way? What’s your cover letter or intro like in the email? Does it portray you in a favorable way, while addressing the needs of the employer? Have you spell-checked it?
Think about email ettiquette throughout the job search process, not just in the first email. How do you respond to their request for more information? For clarification? For setting up the interview?
And sadly, how do you respond if you are rejected?
Suggestions: Keep cool. Ask for suggestions. If this is the type of career you wish to persue, perhaps they have some tips for you.
Here’s a link to the WXP News article: Flame Away: Does the ‘Net Make People Nastier?.
Rock Your Career® 