Last fall, while at a political event, I had several opportunities to be interviewed by newspaper reporters. While I contributed to their stories, I did so anonymously. Why? Simple. I conduct business on the web and am acutely aware of the importance of managing and controlling my online identity. While I absolutely believe in keeping my business and my politics separate, that isn't the most important reason for my decision. Rather, when a customer, potential customer, or business associate searches on my name, I don't necessarily want political articles coming to the forefront of the search results. I want my business websites, the websites promoting my books and products, business-related articles I have written, my blog and LinkedIn profile, and other professional sites. I want some level of control over the professional image and personal brand that I display to the world.
Managing your onine presence and identity in this way is important for every professional and is expecially critical when you are looking for a job. When a recruiter targets you as a potential candidate for a job opening, more often than not the first thing they do is to go to the web and search on your name to see what pops up.
Don't make the mistake of thinking you can separate your personal online presence from your professional one; you can't. Nor should you want to. A good online presence is a mesh of the professional and personal-creating a rounded and positive image of who you are and what you can do. On the other hand, it is wise to be prudent about what you release to the public domain. Topics such as religion and politics are often controversial and have the potential to cause bias in other's perceptions of you.
You may be reading this and thinking, "That's not a problem I face; I don't have an online identity." But, if I were a betting person, I would bet that you're wrong. If you've ever used the Internet, then there is a strong chance that you've established an online presence. Using social networking sites, commenting on blogs or articles, reviewing a book, posting your resume-all of these things create an online presence. So the question isn't, "Do you have an online presence?", but "How does that online presence make you look?" And if you're job hunting, the answer to that question is paramount.
Okay, the next question in your mind may be this; "Why is what I do personally any business of yours?" The answer is simple: Most employers are looking for more than just skill-set and experience. They are also looking for people whose personality will fit in with their company. So they are going to take an interest in your personal profile as well as your professional one. Everything you do--from your Facebook page to uploaded photos of your latest trip to Spain--is susceptible to scrutiny by a potential employer seeking to learn more about you. So make sure what they find is something you want them to see. The last thing you want is for some recruiter to Google your name and find a photo of you drunk and happy, dancing bikini-clad on a beach in Cancun. Will this eliminate you for consideration? Maybe. Maybe not. But, is this the impression that you want to make on your future boss and co-workers?
Since it's out there and someone just might see it, you need to see it too. So go ahead, Google yourself. If you don't like what you see-even if what you are seeing is nothing--do something about it. There is a plethora of ways to establish a good online identity: networking sites, blogs, and personal web pages are just a few methods of getting your name out there in a positive way. I always that professionals involved in a job search create a LinkedIn profile. An online career portfolio that includes downloadable versions of your resume are another good idea.
The bottom line is, when it comes to the Internet and managing your online presence, there simply is no separation of personal and professional. So make sure that every action you take online works towards creating an image you want the world to see. Because whether you like it or not, we will eventually see it.
Did you know that Facebook recently opened up to allowing "vanity" names? What is a vanity name? It means that you can now have your name in the Facebook url, like this:
http://www.facebook.com/michelledumas
If you are managing your online identity and personal brand for professional purposes (and if you aren't, you should be!), having your name in the url is a great way to gain some control over what shows up in the search engines when a recruiter searches on your name.
So, if you want your name, you better go grab it now before someone else with the same name as you, does.
How do you do it? It's easy. Just go to http://www.Facebook.com/username and follow the simple directions.
If someone already has your name, try another variation. For example, you might include a middle initial.
Good luck! Go get your name now. It will only take you a couple of minutes.
Q. How are resumes different now than in the past? If you had one piece of
advice to bring my resume up to current standards, what would it be?
A. There are actually many differences because styles and trends for resumes are changing all the time. However, I would say that the most fundamental difference has come about with the increasing importance of personal branding. While it is much more complex than this, at its essence, personal branding is about the authentic and unique promise of value you offer. In relation to your career, it is about the promise of value you offer that differentiates you from your peers and competitors in the workplace and job market. On your resume, this personal brand needs to be communicated in a way that will differentiate you from the vast pool of candidates. This demand--this need to communicate on your resume exactly what it is that distinguishes you and sets you apart from the competition in the job market--has really transformed what used to be viewed as a simple chronological listing of employment into a dynamic and compelling self-marketing document. And, of course, it isn't enough to just tell the reader of your resume that you have certain abilities. You must illustrate these abilities and your value proposition through past accomplishments presented as concise "success studies" complete with challenge faced, action taken, immediate result, and strategic importance.
Are you in the job market right now? Is it taking longer than you want? Do you find yourself getting frustrated, depressed, anxious, and fearful that you'll never find a good job, or maybe even a little bit angry at the circumstances in which you find yourself? If so, you aren't alone. But, knowing that you aren't "alone" in your frustration, while somewhat comforting for many, isn't very helpful in landing a new job that will pay the mortgage.
Unfortunately, once you've reached this stage of your search, all of the frustration, fears, and doubts become self-perpetuating as your negative thoughts manifest even more of the same, and the success (or non-success) of your job search lives up to exactly what your expectations are for it. Before you know it, your unsuccessful job search has begun to impact your self-esteem, your energy for finding the perfect new job wanes, and your job search stalls out.
How do you jumpstart a job search that has stagnated in this way? How do you prevent the problem in the first place?
It all begins with a purposeful change of your mindset, an acknowledgement that you absolutely know the perfect job for you is out there waiting for you, and a decision that you will do whatever it takes to find and land that job.
"Easier said than done" is what you are probably thinking right now. But, the truth is, it doesn't have to be difficult. Here are a few tips to restart positive forward momentum in a languishing job search.
Check and adjust your attitude about job searching. Don't underestimate the importance of a positive attitude in your search and don't forget that you always have a choice in how you perceive and think about the circumstances of your life. When you find yourself thinking negatively about your job search, you can consciously choose to change those thoughts to more positive ones. You might, for example, choose to adopt a "failure is not an option" attitude and to approach finding a job as if it were a job itself. Yes, job searching is a process and often takes time, but a "can-do" attitude that radiates self-confidence is an attitude that people will respond to in a positive way. A positive attitude will make it more likely that you'll receive the support and help of others, it will help you get noticed by employers, and it will almost always win you the job offer over another candidate with a less-than positive attitude.
Stop with the excuses! You know the ones: "My job search will take a really long time." "Finding a new job will be really hard." "I don't deserve the job I truly want." "I don't have enough help and support." "I'm not smart enough or qualified enough." Do you find that the constant chatter running through your head tears you down or builds you up? Does this pessimism help you or hurt you? How would your job search change if you adopted a more optimistic mindset? Yes, a job search will sometimes take time and persistence, but is that a good excuse not to take the first step (and the second and third)? Of course it isn't. Maybe you don't have every single "desired" qualification for a position, but you know you have another transferable skill, the ability to quickly develop the qualification, and a real ability to contribute to the company. Again, you truly do have a choice. All it takes is a decision to stop the negative self-talk. When you catch yourself making your job search harder with these excuses, stop yourself and turn the excuses into a positive affirmation.
Think from the end and imagine yourself arriving at your end goal, not striving for it. When you land the perfect position, what will it be like? What type and size of company is it in? What is the company culture like? What are your responsibilities and what opportunities do you have to make a contribution to your employer? How much are you paid for your contributions? What are the employer-sponsored benefits like? How does it feel to be in this position that is so fulfilling and rewarding to you? Daydreaming about the perfect position and imagining that you have already landed it and are working in it isn't a pointless exercise. Your mind is a creator and by adopting this mindset in which you think from the end, as if your goal is already your reality, you open yourself up to the possibilities and the synchronicities that will support you in arriving at that end goal.
Will your job search end when you land the perfect job tomorrow? Maybe...maybe not. But, a simple and conscious shift in the mindset that you choose to adopt can make all the difference. You truly do have a choice. A negative attitude and mindset will make your job searcher harder and longer. A positive attitude and mindset will make your job search easier and more successful. Which will you choose?
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Nationally certified resume writer and career marketing expert, Michelle Dumas is the founder and executive director of Distinctive Career Services LLC. Through Distinctive Documents http://www.distinctiveweb.com and her Executive VIP Services delivered through http://www.100kcareermarketing.com Michelle has empowered thousands of executives, professionals, and managers all across the U.S. and worldwide. Michelle is also the author of the popular e-book 101 Before-and-After Resume Examples found at http://www.before-and-after-resumes.com and of Secrets of a Successful Job Search found at http://www.job-search-secrets.com