Nowadays the internet is everything(just in case you hadn’t noticed). But gone are the days when your social media profiles were viewed only by your friends and family (oh, and that creepy stalker guy).
Now even potential employers are perusing our online platforms, sometimes even more than our actual CVs. It’s time we start viewing our profiles as being just important as our resumés, and making sure they paint an impressive picture of ourselves before we even think of sending out job applications. If your entire timeline consists of nothing but selfies, you’re not really going to look well-rounded to recruiters.
Dr Felicity Coughlan, Director of The Independent Institute of Education, suggests a clean slate – creating a professional online persona from scratch which prospective employers will be directed to instead of your personal social presence. “Creating and tailoring a new, professional online identity will greatly improve a graduate’s chances in SA’s notoriously tough job market,” says Coughlan.
Here are 4 things to keep in mind when creating this new profile:
1
Keep it real
Never claim any experience or qualifications which you DON’T have. It will always come back to bite you. Ensure all the information you share is accurate and as you progress in your career, add on relevant details so that your professional online presence continues to grow.
2
Highlight achievements
DON’T be afraid of bragging, this is not the time to be shy. If you’ve achieved something notable draw attention to it by placing it higher up in your profile, or anything else that will make it stand out. Your online profile allows you to manoeuvre in ways that a paper CV does not.
3
Explain gaps in employment/studying
What’s on your profile is just as important as what’s not. If you took a gap year or had to interrupt your studies or job for some reason, DON’T forget to note it in your profile. Make sure you present it in a way that shows that the time was well spent – list any skills or experience you gained, for example.
4 Demonstrate or provide evidence of “soft” skills
Especially in our difficult job market, employers DON’T just look at your qualifications and technical proficiency. Put yourself ahead of the pack by emphasising your “soft” skills just as much as your technical ones – like being able to work successfully in a team or communicate well in a professional environment.
Need some help writing a killer CV? Click here! Plus, don’t forget to check out these tips on how to bag your dream job.
