When applying for a job or internship, a good amount of time and thought goes into building an impressive resume. And now, emphasis is being laid on building a good online presence as recruiters are going online with their employee background checks.
The Web offers a host of options for students to build a great online profile which can help recruiters gauge their capabilities. Here are a few pointers to help one build an effective online presence and also manage one’s virtual identity to impress recruiters.
While Linkedin has been universally accepted as an online resume-building network, students should also look at creating profiles in other social sites which have high search rankings on Google. These sites appear on the first page of Google when their names are searched for. So, an active profile can help create a good impression.
Get creative
The idea of personal branding is gaining great momentum and in an age where small-time businesses and autorickshaw drivers are looking at the Web to gain a competitive edge, students cannot afford to ignore its power. And to stand out among the rest, some amount of innovation is necessary.
Traditional blogging sites such as Blogger, WordPress and Tumblr can be used to build an attractive compilation of one’s work. For instance, a student can upload published or unpublished writings or even put up write-ups on the projects that he or she may have worked on as part of academic assignments.
“Blogs are an excellent platform to showcase one’s interests, creativity and experience. Most importantly, they give reviewers an idea about the thought processes and worldview of a person. Companies are on the lookout for candidates who exhibit ingenuity, and this can be exhibited by maintaining creative blogs. I feel content is more important than the design, and more time should be spent in generating good writing,” says Ron Billimoria, CEO, Miracleworx Web Design.
Yet another way to express oneself is through Twitter. This micro-blogging platform can help exhibit one’s active involvement in current affairs and also their areas of interest. However, if one is looking for something more ambitious in terms of design, then a website may be the best option, even if not feasible in terms of time and money. Another alternative is to use the free templates of website builders to make a professional-looking website. A few such sites to check out are Web.com, Weeble and Wix.
Visually appealing
Including a good number of visual elements, such as photos and videos, can go a long way in making the website or blog look good. Visuals have the capacity to attract more attention as well as registering better in the minds of people. They can, therefore, be used to one’s advantage. Another option is to create short video resumes and upload them on YouTube. These videos can showcase a specific skill, and the link can be a part of one’s resume.
Brevity is of utmost importance as it saves time. Shorter the video, the better chances of it getting noticed. Besides, it shows the ability of the student to present ideas concisely, which is an important skill. “Video resumes by themselves cannot make a huge impact unless the area is niche. They have to be combined with other elements to create a balance,” explains Billimoria.
It is advisable for students to keep the same username across all active platforms as it establishes consistency and avoids confusion in the minds of employers. The identity must be as distinguishable as possible. Finally, integration is key. “You cannot have your recruiters run from pillar to post to find out more about you. Cross-linking of blogs and other websites helps them access all the information in one place,” says Billimoria.
With online identity becoming such an integral part of finding a job, it would be safe to say that a traditional resume is no longer enough.
