If you’re like most of the top-level executives I work with, the last time you were faced with a job search, the Internet didn’t critically impact the way you went about landing your next opportunity.
The world of executive job search has changed a lot in just the past few years.
Did you know that top-level executives are routinely Googled by recruiters and hiring decision makers vetting candidates?
If you have any presence online, you’re making a first impression before you find them and submit a resume. But if they can’t find you online, or if they find anything that discredits you, you won’t be in the running.
Let’s say you’ve been savvy enough to work on your personal brand and put together a great brand-solid resume. If your only job search strategy is finding places to send out your resume, you could be missing out on landing a dream job. You’re neglecting the tactics that can put you in front of decision makers.
But if the very thought of having to incrementally build a solid online footprint is too overwhelming to consider, or if you don’t have the time to build an expansive web presence, here are some FREE relatively quick-fixes to get you in the game:
1. Join LinkedIn and leverage its networking resources.
Create your branded LinkedIn profile by cutting and pasting your resume and adding a compelling tagline next to your name at the top. Then get busy taking advantage of the search features, “Answers”, etc.
To learn more about using LinkedIn, check out my posts in the LinkedIn category and especially, Get the Best Out of LinkedIn for Your Personal Brand, Networking, and Executive Job Search.
2. Create a VisualCV as your online career portfolio.
House all your brand communications – Executive Resume, Brand Bio, Achievement Summary, Reference Dossier, etc. – in one multi-media rich online destination, easily accessible to anyone with one click. They won’t have to open email attachments.
Find out more in the VisualCV category, and especially my post, A VisualCV Belongs in Your Personal Brand Toolkit.
3. Comment on relevant blogs.
This relatively painless and little-used practice can be surprisingly powerful and gets you involved with blogging – one of the very best credibility and brand-building practices. Blogging also opens you up to a forward-thinking community you may not otherwise connect with and can position you as a subject matter expert.
If you’ve chosen the right blogs, your compelling comments will position you and your brand value directly in front of the very people you want to attract. Here are some tips to do this well:
Finding relevant blogs for commenting:
→ Go to Alltop.com and Technorati.com to source relevant blogs by category. Don’t forget to look for recruiters blogs.
→ Go to CEOExpress.com to find major publications and more resources.
→ Google the names of industry thought leaders and experts to see where they’re blogging.
→ Do a Google search of relevant key words for your industry or field and your areas of expertise.
→ Set up Google Alerts for various key word phrases. Google will send you an email when these phrases are published online and lead you to the site. Set up an alert for your own name, too, to track when you show up online.
→ Take a look at the blogrolls on any of the relevant blogs you come across for other blogs to take a look at.
When you post comments:
→ Keep your comments brief (1-2 paragraphs) and on-topic.
→ Add something new to the conversation that will help position you as a niche expert.
→ Although bloggers love to read “Terrific post!”, offer more than just kudos.
→ Link back to your VisualCV or LinkedIn profile as your website. The right people will be directed to the brand communications you want them to see.
Your takeaway?
Submitting your branded resume to job boards and search firms isn’t enough at the C-level to get you into a great job these days. Invest the modest amount of time it will take in these 3 tips to start building a vibrant and accurate online footprint, so you’ll be found when decision makers search online for candidates like you.
For more suggestions on building a solid online brand identity:
Can’t agree more with your assessments but I would also include an online Professional Portfolio to link together your blog, resume, references, social and business networks all in one personal url. I have found such a site in http://www.pzhone.com .