Many networking organizations and social media sites such as HAPPEN, Monster, Linkedin, VisualCV, Indeed, CareerBuilder, ExecuNet and more offer an opportunity to post your resume online. If you believe a variation of resumes should be submitted to different companies and recruiting organizations the problem will arise when content from the resume submitted to apply for a specific position is compared to the resume which is posted online. There is no doubt that HR Professionals and Recruiters are checking out candidates online and a lack of consistent content could put your  credibility at risk. This is no different than professional online profiles. Personal branding is a difficult endeavour without a consistent approach and it is unlikely you are an expert at everything. You only have one name, one job history and one education so market it accordingly. If you are focusing on a career transition, share that information in addition to the initiatives you have put in place to achieve this goal. Honesty will be received more positively than trying to doctor a resume to make yourself look like you are qualified for a position which may be a far stretch from your experience.

Is it important to apply directly to a specific company and position? Absolutely! No one will disagree with matching your qualifications, expertise and “fit” to a specific company and position. However, it is not a “public” resume that should be used to achieve this. It is a professional, personal and well composed Cover Letter! One which will highlight those specific achievements and skills among the many contained in your resume that correlate with those of the position you are applying for. Although a resume is a critical “selling document” which emphasizes the accomplishments throughout your career, it is a factual history and not a personal document. Quite the contrary to this is a cover letter. It is personal, addressed to the decision maker, acknowledges your investigative efforts to know all there is to know about their company and why you want to work for them. It documents the skills, expertise and accomplishments which will show you are the ideal candidate for the position!

Linkedin currently has over 180 million users. Twitter has surpassed 500 million and Facebook recently reached 1 billion users! With these phenomenal statistics it is easily understood why Recruiters and HR Professionals are embracing Twitter and Facebook in addition to Linkedin. What is surprising is not the fact that a number of clients have been asked by recruiters, “Are you on Facebook?” but that they are unprepared to answer the question.

It is unlikely the Recruiter asking the question is not already aware of the answer and instead is leading up to the real question, “Why are you not on Facebook?”

The following answers will not be well received:

• I don’t like Facebook
• I have too many friends and relatives that are inappropriate on Facebook
• I lack the technical savvy to set up a profile
• I want to keep my personal life hidden
• I don’t know what Facebook is

If you thought avoiding Facebook would be a positive step in managing your career, think again. Ignoring a network of over 1 billion people will send a red flag to decision makers.

If a company is promising you a job for a fee, do not engage their services! Reputable, qualified and certified individuals provide individual services for a fee that could lead to a job but the decision to pay for these professional services should only be made after a thorough investigation outside of their website or organization. Start with Rip Off Report.  Review certifications, experience and references. Network to obtain recommendations from satisfied friends or colleagues.

A reputable supplier will have references, significant experience and certifications. If you don’t understand what you are buying don’t pay for it! Social Media services are abundant but it is blatantly apparent that most of the services do not include any consulting or education but simply a signed contract for a year of auto tweets. If you have 2 Followers on Twitter, this is a total waste of money and the person selling it should be ashamed to do so! It should also be understood that a personal investment in your business or online profiles is key to establishing credibility.

Another company providing the website and hosting for a client set up a site with a contact me link that did not link to the contact information page. An online search found the individual associated with the company listed as an Online Expert. I note this simply to point out the fact that the website did not contain any links to any online information; not Linkedin, Facebook or Twitter!

If you are dealing with a supplier who has little time or interest in educating you with detailed information about the product or service they are providing consider this a red flag and avoid taking the risk of being ripped off.

Do you know what you are paying for?

A Cover Letter Can Be a Powerful Selling Tool provides information on the importance of a cover letter and details regarding the content necessary to ensure you create the opportunity to sell yourself as a potential candidate for the position your are seeking.

There are five types of cover letters for consideration:

Advertisement – your response to sell yourself as the ideal candidate for a specific, advertised position

Recruiter – an introduction to a recruiter to sell yourself as valuable potential candidate to their organization

Direct Mail – target a specific company or organization to sell yourself as an interested, highly qualified candidate

Networking – share key contacts to establish credibility and a genuine connection to sell yourself as the ideal candidate for an available position or introduction to a company

Pain – seize the opportunity to portray yourself as proactive, looking for new challenges and ready to tackle critical business issues in this introduction to solicit a position which will allow you to resolve their pain

Check out these Sample Cover Letter Samples from Elite Resumes.

Although a strong Internet presence is critical to any professional seeking to advance in their career, there is still one very important document which is an absolute must and that is a Professional Resume! Why? Because it is the core of your job search strategy and could very will be the source for contact information and search criteria. Perhaps you have excelled so well at establishing your personal brand online that you have simply been discovered by an interested potential employer? That’s great but you will still be asked to submit your resume prior to an interview! An experienced Certified Professional Writer has the expertise to uncover your most influential achievements and qualifications; those same key attributes a potential employer is looking for. Your resume should be updated and ready to send at every available opportunity. When you pay a professional to compose this most valuable and influential document, you are receiving a document which will be highly regarded by HR professionals and Recruiters but also one which will provide most of the content necessary to establish a professional online presence. It is the consistency of content in your resume and online profiles which will ensure a credible and professional impression.

Don’t underestimate the importance of a professional resume in today’s job market! The most significant change in the past 15 years is not the relevance of a resume but simply that sharing it is now most often done online rather than as a paper document.

Paul Copcutt’s “Just My Toonies Worth”, What’s your next job in the tech sector?, gives the facts on why you should not get comfortable in any position stating, “In some areas of products and services the technology sector is booming, in others it is going…..going….gone – FAST.”

Paul elaborates on 3 important tips to consider in your career regardless of the industry:

1. Never settle for what you have.

2. Remain flexible and open to new ways of doing things.

3. Cut bait and run.

If you’re still feeling comfortable in your current position you may already be aware of the following forecasts:

90 Million Workers Won’t Be Needed By 2020, Study Says, Bonnie Kavoussi, The Huffington Post

Employment Projections: 2010-2020 Summary US, Bureau of Labor Statistics

Employment projections: Where the jobs will (and won’t) be over the next decade Workopolis, Statscan

Canada’s Best Jobs 2012 Canadian Business

Whether you are employed in a growing or a declining industry, maintaining an up-to-date, professional resume will ensure you are always prepared for whatever tomorrow brings!

92% of Hiring Managers are using social networks to seek out potential clients and 86% of those are targeting Linkedin as their top resource. Your profile is key to the impression you will generate but so too is the network of connections you have established. The Linkedin invitations you send or accept are a reflection of your integrity and it will be obvious if you have concentrated on expanding your network in terms of numbers rather than individuals.

The “how to” of Linkedin invitations to expand your network of professionals requires a basic understanding of networking and more importantly networking etiquette. Networking is a 2-way street whether you are online or off just as any relationship is both give and take or it will be deemed dysfunctional. You are the “ideal candidate” presenting a recruiter with a potential fit to satisfy the needs of their paying customer. The recruiter you are connecting with has the potential to introduce you to their client. Both parties will benefit equally from this connection. It is not unlike bartering so when sending an invitation to link in with someone to gain expertise from them, it is easily reciprocated by offering to share with them the expertise you have in your field.

This is what you will see when sending an invitation:

How do you know Martin?

• Colleague
• Classmate
• We’ve done business together
• Friend
• Other
• I don’t know Martin

Include a personal note: (optional)

“I’d like to add you to my professional network.”

————————————————————

You must select an option in order to send an invitation keeping in mind that when selected they expand to select a company or school. How many times have you received an invitation from someone that says you have done business with them or are a colleague at a company you have never heard of? The sender of that message has damaged their credibility. To make it worse is to send the canned invitation and with no further explanation.

Networking etiquette when face to face is a mandatory handshake. This personal touch is no less important online and is easily met by sending a custom message. DO NOT send the canned invitation, “I’d like to add you to my professional network” without customizing it to indicate to the recipient who you are and why they should accept the invitation. If it is not personal, it is not professional.

There is one option available to select when sending a Linkedin invitation which is not noted above but will appear if you are a member of the same group as the recipient. Joining Linkedin groups is an excellent way to get to know other professionals and expand your professional network.

Remember, your network of connections is a reflection of you. Give careful consideration to the invitations you choose to send and those you choose to accept. How do you know the connection or what do you share in common? Do they have a completed professional profile which includes a profile photo? These are basic components to consider when dealing with Linkedin invitations and expanding your professional relationships.

Someone who knows someone who knows someone; that is likely how you met your best friend, secured your last job and found your favourite boutique. Every time you meet someone there is the potential to generate new opportunities. The difference between networking face to face and online is approximately one billion people! Of course, this does not mean that you will automatically generate new opportunities without any effort anymore than if you attended a networking event and chose not to introduce yourself to all in attendance. The power and influence of social media will not be recognized if you do not manage your reputation and connect with others to increase your network and enhance your visibility. The decision to stand out in the crowd or stay lost in the crowd is directly related to success or failure.

The World’s 25 Most Reputable Companies lends insight into what is important in establishing a visible and highly respected brand. Google any of these organizations and it is clearly evident these organizations are fully aware of the power and influence of Social Media.

By establishing your personal brand and harnessing the power and influence of Social Media you will have the ability to achieve infinite possibilities.

Networking organizations and events offer an opportunity to introduce yourself with a firm handshake, exchange business cards, present a well rehearsed infomercial and share common information; all of which will leave a memorable impression. A neat appearance and a well articulated message will ensure your professionalism and credibility shine!

The impression you generate when networking online is just as critical requiring careful consideration as to how your invitation to connect will be received. Will the recipient know who you are? What information are you providing? You may have thought a previous encounter left a memorable impression but will your name be remembered? In order to ensure your credibility and the acceptance of your invitation there are 3 key areas to be addressed:

1. A professional photo; one that really does look like you so you’ll be easily recognized.

2. A custom introductory message which states who you are, why you want to connect, details regarding your knowledge of the individual such as how you met or a shared connection. Include information which will instill an interest to connect. Do not send a canned message: “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.”

3. Customize your URL. This link to your personal profile should contain your proper name and requires a simple edit to remove the default numbers and dashes when originally established.

Increasing your network on Linkedin provides an extraordinary resource with the potential to reach out to over 150 million professionals!  However, your professional network is a reflection of you. If you are creating a network of connections consisting of strangers without professional photos or customized URLs it will damage your own credibility.  What impression will your next online invitation generate?

Social Media should not be regarded as an invasion of privacy but rather a venue which is enabling an age of communities not unlike the close knit villages of days gone by when children played together, mothers worked along with other mothers to care for children and fathers worked together trading goods, farming and sharing the tasks of erecting buildings or digging wells. The industrial revolution led us into an era of oneself rather than ourselves and with that, privacy was an easy sell. Social Media is swinging the pendulum the opposite direction and close knit communities are emerging online around the globe. Like minded individuals are sharing ideas, promoting causes and networking with colleagues to advance in their careers. Communication is no longer inhibited by logistics and the wealth of information is infinite. Word of mouth, the most trusted of recommendations is easily obtainable with a simple search and this online visibility is transitioning businesses to give back to their customers by incorporating social responsibility.

Today, the transparency that has resulted from establishing a genuine and authentic personal brand utilizing social media has not resulted in damage due to a lack of privacy but in unlimited opportunities! Unless of course the information you have provided on your resume is not factual. A successful job search strategy involves a profile which is visible, concise, reputable and one which does not generate any red flags, not unlike a resume which should never leave any significant gaps in employment. You may think it is negative to note a year as a “homemaker” or in a part time position but this is much more preferable than leaving a decision maker wondering if you were incarcerated for that year! A recruiter or potential employer is focused on an individual with the qualifications they are seeking and will find those potential candidates among the many who have made the effort to stand out in a crowd. A successful executive career requires a highly visible and impressive online profile. This professional profile should not include personal details related to financial, religious or political information; that is private.