resumes and cover letters in 2014: this is not your mother's job search!

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A booklet about designing and writing resumes and cover letters. In this text, I cover design/style/writing/formatting issues for two of the most critical elements in your job search / application--the resume (both traditional and new media) and the cover letter. Beyond that, I introduce suitable technology apps,web 2.0's role in your job search and application materials, and tips for constructing these important documents. I have 20+ years experience teaching professional writing, writing for the web, style and editing, and other related courses in university settings. Before becoming a professor, I worked in the private sector (banking and finance as well as law). Currently, I consult with local businesses regarding their communication needs and protocols, especially as they relate to a company's web presence. I also freelance and help local businesses to design and execute their new media marketing strategies. Please contact me at [email protected] re/ feedback, questions, inquiries.

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Page 1: Resumes and Cover Letters in 2014: This is NOT your Mother's Job Search!
Page 2: Resumes and Cover Letters in 2014: This is NOT your Mother's Job Search!

Good Cover Letters are as as Your Resume

If you're going to spend many hours writing and polishing your resume, you should not shortchange the letter that will accompany it. Otherwise, your carefully constructed resume may never get read.

Good cover letters will:

Express your interest in the company and position Highlight the most important information from your resume (by most important, I mean

most important for that specific job) Give the reader a first impression of you Tell the reader you're qualified before he/she even reads your resume.

Remember: the purpose of a resume letter is to get your resume read.

In today's very competitive job market, most savvy applicants are going to have a pretty good resume that emphasizes accomplishments and contains the right qualifications and experience. Unfortunately, many of these otherwise savvy job applicants will use the same generic letter for each job opening, reasoning that their resume will speak for itself.

Big mistake!

The applicants with the greatest chance of having their resume actually read and getting an interview are the ones who:

Find out the Hiring Manager's name if at all possible and address the cover letter to that person specifically.

Study the job description and clearly outline how they are an excellent match for that specific job opening.

State their experience and qualifications using keywords from the job ad.

Page 3: Resumes and Cover Letters in 2014: This is NOT your Mother's Job Search!

to solve their immediate staffing problem.

ne of the biggest mistakes job-applicants make is crafting a cover letter that’s all about them. Here’s a little recruitment secret: employers aren’t interested in reading about how fabulous you are. What they really want to know is how hiring

you can solve their problem.

The next time you apply for a job, be sure your cover letter answers the following four questions:

Why This Company?

Recruiters are looking for you tell them why you want to work for his company. Make their job easy and tell explain what attracted you to the company and why you want to work there.

Suggested answers: Consider why you want to work for the company. Needing a job isn’t a strong enough reason. Maybe you’re impressed with a cultural aspect of the company or the organization’s reputation in the community. Whatever the reason, make sure you communicate why you want to work for the company.

O

Page 4: Resumes and Cover Letters in 2014: This is NOT your Mother's Job Search!

Why This Job?

Something else a recruiter wants to know is why you want the specific job you’ve applied for. Is it the perfect fit for your experience and background? If so, explain that. If this job is your dream job, share the reasons why. Companies want to hire someone who will be passionate about the job and who wants to succeed in what they’re doing.

Suggested answers: • “I’ve used your services for years and feel I understand what your customers expect in terms of quality and service.” • “I prefer to work with people in this kind of setting (be specific here with the industry, department, etc.). I know I can hit the ground running.” • “I have 3 years of experience in the industry. I am eager to learn your processes and continue to do what I love most.”

How Can I Solve Your Pain?

Companies hire a worker to solve a problem within the organization; their reasons vary from being short staffed to needing an experienced manager to lead the team. Help explain how hiring you will solve their problem. Connect the dots in your work history to the needs of the current opening and clearly explain how your background is an ideal fit for the role.

Suggested ways to answer: Make it clear that you’ve done your research on the company and the opening. Read between the lines of the job ad and look for pain points the company may be experiencing, and explain why you’re the answer to the problem.

Why me?

Lastly, a recruiter wants to know why she should hire you over the other 100 people in the applicant pile. It’s your job to clearly explain why you’re the best person for the job.

Suggested ways to answer: Don’t regurgitate your job history and skills list that are already on your resume. Start one of the paragraphs in your cover letter with something along the lines of “I’m the right person for the position because …”

How do you answer these questions in your cover letter?

Page 5: Resumes and Cover Letters in 2014: This is NOT your Mother's Job Search!

Cover Letters: General Tips

Be Concise Keep your letter short enough for someone to read in 10 seconds. Write a concise cover letter that will pique the interest of the reader to want to read your resume next, if they read your cover letter first. However, do not assume a hiring manager will read your cover letter first—ensure your resume can stand alone in conveying your value message. Lisa Rangel, Chameleon Resumes Be Specific About Your Qualifications When applying for a position, prepare a cover letter that picks up 3 - 4 key qualifications listed in the job description and be very specific with regards to what you can offer pertaining directly to those qualifications. Lori Dermer, Dermer Consulting Close Your Cover Letter With a Call to Action Close your cover letter with a "call to action." Don't close with something cliché like, "I hope to hear from you soon." Of course you do... along with the other dozens of candidates who are saying the same thing in their cover letters. Rather, state something like, “I’m excited about opportunities within your company and hope to explore contributions I can make. I’ll call you next week to, hopefully, talk further or set up a time to meet with you personally." Remember: Never leave the ball in the employer's court! Charlene Holsendorff, Career Management Specialist, Ever After Communications Connect Your Skills to the Job Requirements Use the cover letter to connect your skills, experience, and education directly to the employer’s advertised requirements. In the work world, where each application receives a minute of review, make it as easy as possible for the potential employer to see that you are qualified for their job. You are much more likely to receive an invitation for an interview if you do the work for them. Susan Heathfield, Human Resources Expert, About.com Customize Your Cover Letters Nothing says "I don't care about your company" like an opening of "To Whom It May Concern." That may have been OK before the advent of modern technology, but today it generally takes as little as a Google search or a phone call to figure out the name of the hiring manager. Addressing your letter to the correct person (and spelling their name correctly!) will automatically ingratiate you to the reader and show that you've spent some time researching the company and position. You should customize your cover letter for every job, but if you are going to have form cover letters, at least make multiple versions that can be used for different types of titles, functions and industry situations. Many people don’t even make the effort to do this and basically restate their resume. Jay Martin, Chairman, JobSerf, Inc.

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Make it Personal Unlike a resume, your cover letter should be personalized and written in a first person point of view. Make sure to tailor your letter to the specific job posting using examples of special projects you’ve worked on, accomplishments you’ve achieved, and specific skills you’ve honed through your work history. Create excitement about your interest in the position and clearly state why you will be a superb addition to the employer’s team. Finally, close out your letter with a desire to speak further in person or over the phone with the recruiter or hiring manager you are addressing. Done right, a personalized cover letter can be the difference maker in landing your next interview. John Scott, Career Advocate, Beyond.com - The Career Network Save as a PDF The benefits of saving both your cover letter and resume together as one PDF file (labeled with your name and indicating it contains both) are twofold. The first is that it makes sure that your resume isn't inadvertently changed or that the document format isn't corrupted on the recipients end. The second is that it reduces the chance that your cover letter and resume are separated. This is especially important if you are an entry level job seeker who is relying on your cover letter to make up for experience gaps and help you stand out to the hiring manager. Sean Little, VP of Marketing, FirstJob Showcase Your Personality Hook your reader's interest in the first sentence. "It is with great interest that I write to apply for the position of..." is a great first line if you want to lose your reader's interest. It's dreadfully boring. Instead, try a professional but bold statement that catches the reader's eye, such as: "Looking for a dynamic marketing guru? Look no further. Here I am." Most cover letters are boring and lack anything that makes them stand out. Showcase your enthusiasm, positive energy, and personality by stepping away from the standard formula and really writing from your heart. It might take more time to craft a letter this way, but it will definitely stand out to employers. Sara Sutton Fell, Founder & CEO of FlexJobs.com Show a Personal Connection or Interest in Your Work Even if it is only in one sentence, explain why the type of work interests you. While employers want qualified applicants, they also want motivated people who like their work. Without using clichés, explain how using required job skills makes you feel. Personal experience or connection will help make you stand out. Example: “Because my parents are retired educators, I can relate to the challenges your customers face in their day to day work.” Juliet Wehr Jones, Vice President, Career Key

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Skip the Graphics Two people I worked with recently had 'cute' pictures on their resume and cover letter. Do NOT do this, ever. The downside is that it is a distraction, appears unprofessional and shows poor judgment. The upside is, well, none. In years past people put their pictures on resumes, but this is also a huge red flag for EEOC issues. All options are bad in this area. Jay Martin, Chairman, JobSerf, Inc.

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Phrases That Don't Belong in Your Cover Letter

Think your cover letter is perfectly crafted? Check to make sure you're not including any of these no-nos in it. "I meet the requirements for the position." Hundreds of candidates will meet the requirements for the position. That's not enough to get you a second look. You want to explain why you're an excellent candidate, not just an adequate one. "I'm hard-working and a great communicator." And probably a team player and an independent self-starter, too. These are clichés that cause hiring managers' eyes to glaze over. Worse, they don't convey anything of substance—the fact that you've assessed yourself as these things will hold no weight whatsoever with employers, who prefer to assess these things for themselves. "I'm a visionary leader." But not very humble, apparently. If you're truly a visionary leader—or a master communicator, or whatever other brag you're tempted to make—it should be evident from the accomplishments you've listed on your resume. Proclaiming this about yourself comes across as, well, weird. “I’m + followed by a vague / abstract weaselword or weaselphrase” – if you can’t quantify your talents or qualifications, statements like that are useless. Also: any kind of skills that are expected these days, i.e. Microsoft Word, Internet Explorer, typing, email etc. "You won't find a candidate better qualified than me." Unless you've seen the rest of the candidate pool, you have no way of knowing that. This comes off as needlessly cocky hyperbole—and it's generally inaccurate, to boot. If you're really stunningly qualified, the hiring manager should be able to spot that on her own. Simply proclaiming it, especially when you have no basis to know if it's true, doesn't reflect well on you. "Dear sir or madam." In most industries, this will come across as an antiquated, stuffy salutation. If you know the hiring manager's name, use that instead, but if not, simply writing "dear hiring manager" is fine, and won't make you appear as if you come from an earlier century.

Page 9: Resumes and Cover Letters in 2014: This is NOT your Mother's Job Search!

Cover Letters: General Outline

Fundamentals of a Dynamic Cover Letter

First Paragraph Do not waste this opening paragraph of your cover letter. It is essential that your first paragraph sparks the employer's interest, provides information about the benefits the employer will receive from you, and helps you stand out from all the other job-seekers who want the job. Focus on your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) -- the one thing that makes you different from all the other job-seekers -- and identifying two or three benefits you can offer the employer. Weak opening paragraph: I am writing today to apply for the account manager position you have posted on your company Website. Better opening paragraph: I have increased the size and sales levels of my client base in every position I have held, which in turn has increased the revenues and profits of my employers. I want to bring this same success to the account position you have posted on your Website. Best opening paragraph: If you are looking for a dynamic team member with career coaching and training experience, please consider me for your (name of position). I am a positive and energetic individual who is willing to work hard and has a strong desire to succeed. Due to my experiences and educational history, I feel that I would be an excellent (name of position) at (name of company). Second Paragraph

Provide more detail about your professional and/or academic qualifications. Provide more

information about how you can provide the benefits you mention in the first paragraph. Be sure

to stress accomplishments and achievements rather than job duties and responsibilities.

Expand on specific items from your resume that are relevant to the job you are seeking. Use

solid action verbs to describe your accomplishments and achievements.

If you do not have a lot of solid experience in the field you are trying to enter, remember to focus on key skills that can easily transfer from your previous work experience to the job at hand. And if responding to a job posting or job ad, be sure to tailor this paragraph to the needs described in the ad. Third Paragraph Relate yourself to the company, giving details why you should be considered for the position.

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Continue expanding on your qualifications while showing knowledge of the company. You need to do your homework -- show that you know something about the organization. Fourth Paragraph The final paragraph of your cover letter must be proactive -- and request action. You must ask for the job interview (or a meeting) in this paragraph. You must express your confidence that you are a perfect fit for the job. You can also put the employer on notice that you plan to follow-up within a specified time.** Weak closing paragraph: I hope you will review my resume, and if you agree with what I have stated here, consider me for the position. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Better closing paragraph: I am eager to help advance the success of <your company / insert company name here to personalize!>, and I am convinced that we should arrange a time to meet. I will call your office in the next week to schedule an appointment.** Or: “I am eager to help advance the success of <your company / insert company name here to personalize!>, and welcome the opportunity to discuss this job opening with you in a personal interview."

**Regarding that follow-up phone call: if you determine a call would be advantageous or necessary, call the person

but do it late at night and leave a message. Most Hiring and HR Managers have voice mail. You can say in the message

that you purposely called after hours to avoid bothering them during their busy days.

http://www.quintcareers.com/cover_letter_samples.html

Your cover letter must be tailored specifically for each job you apply for!

Remember: it's your job to show the Hiring Manager

exactly how your qualifications are a good fit for job

and the best way to do that right up front is in the cover letter.

Page 11: Resumes and Cover Letters in 2014: This is NOT your Mother's Job Search!

Cover Letters: Layout, Design, Font Choices

Page Margins / Layout

For hard copy, left and right page margins of one to 1.5 inches generally look good. You can

adjust your margins to balance how your document looks on the page. The letter should be

formatted in “full block format,” meaning that everything is left aligned (nothing is “tabbed” in

five or more spaces).

Font Style and Size

Use a font style that is simple, clear and commonplace, such as Times New Roman, Arial or

Calibri. Font SIZES from 10-12 points are generally in the ballpark of looking appropriate. Keep

in mind that different font styles in the same point size are not the same size! A 12-point Arial

is larger than a 12-point Times New Roman.

If you are having trouble fitting a document on one page, sometimes a slight margin and/or

font adjustment can be the solution.

Serif or sans serif? Sans (without) serif fonts are those like Arial and Calibri that don't have the

small finishing strokes on the ends of each letter. There is a great deal of research and debate

on the pros and cons of each. Short story: use what you like, within reason; note what

employers use; generally sans serif fonts are used for on-monitor reading and serif fonts are

used for lengthy print items (like books); serif fonts may be considered more formal.

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Page 13: Resumes and Cover Letters in 2014: This is NOT your Mother's Job Search!

Margins and white space? In terms of overall appearance, both

. That means, you shouldn't have a

lot of white space that is not balanced out by something on the other side. That also means

that your margins --1 inch all around-- should be maintained in both documents. To test if your

document is balanced on the page, hold it at arm’s length and judge if something seems to be

pulling your document to one side or the other. In other words, if your document has more

white space on one side than the other, or if your document has more text on one side than the

other, that means your document is unbalanced. In some cases, it is fairly simple to even out

the balance.

For example, if you have a list of items, you can create a table with two columns:

Item one

Item two

Item three

Item four

When you're finished entering your items, all you have to do is set the table properties/borders

and shading to white and nobody will ever know that you created a table to list your items!

Test: ask someone to look at a document for five seconds; take away the document; ask the

person what font was on the document; see if s/he even noticed the style. A too-small or too-

large font gets noticed, as does a weird style.

Should your resume and cover letter font style and size match? Yes! It’s a nice touch and

looks polished. Most readers will, at least subconsciously note, any significant difference in

style and size.

How many fonts? Not more than three per document! Choose one for your name

(bigger/bolder) on the resume, another one for all the text that is bolded (job titles, for

example), and the third one for the regular body text.

One space or two after the period? While the modern convention is the single space, it is no

less arbitrary than any other, and if you believe that larger spaces after periods look better in

some situation, you should feel confident that your choice is supported by hundreds of years of

good typographical practice. My preference is not for double-spacing, but for a slightly larger

sentence space, about 1.5 times an interword space for most typefaces. For a fun / interesting

take on the one or two spaces debate, read: http://www.ditchwalk.com/2011/01/19/two-

spaces-after-a-period/

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Instead of your phone number, add today’s date in that line

THIS TYPE OF LETTER FORMAT IS CALLED

“FULL BLOCK FORMAT”

Page 15: Resumes and Cover Letters in 2014: This is NOT your Mother's Job Search!

Instead of your phone number, add today’s date in that line

Page 16: Resumes and Cover Letters in 2014: This is NOT your Mother's Job Search!
Page 17: Resumes and Cover Letters in 2014: This is NOT your Mother's Job Search!

 

• Do  not  list  a  “Job  Objective”  -­‐-­‐  it  might  limit  your   opportunities

• List  all  your  jobs  and  college  work,  but  not  high   school  years

• Show  in  concise,  relevant  detail  the  match   between  you  and  the  job  -­‐-­‐  for  example  ...

• JOB  REQUIREMENT:  “Experience  with  MS  Access”• YOUR  RESUME  AND  LETTER:  “Three  years  using  Access  to  track  contributions  in  support  of  $13.6  million  United  

Way  fundraising  campaign  in  Anyname  County,  Florida”• “Concise”  does  not  mean  “brief”  -­‐-­‐  it  means  “conveying  the  most  meaning  in  the  fewest  

words”

what to do / what not to do

Page 18: Resumes and Cover Letters in 2014: This is NOT your Mother's Job Search!

 

• Keep  the  document  easy  to  read  at  a  glance

• Use  standard  10-­‐  to  12-­‐point  Arial  or  Times  Roman  (other  typefaces  may  be  distorted  

when  viewed  by  recipient)• DO  NOT  USE  ...

• Colorful,  unusual,  or  fancy  graphic  design  elements• “Attention  getters”  (unless  you  are  in  a  “creative”  field  such  as  acting,  music,  art,  design,  or  advertising  -­‐-­‐  and  

even  then,  use  sparingly)• Narrow  margins  (leave  ample  white  space)• A  photo  of  yourself  (many  companies  reject  this  because  of  risk  of  appearing  discriminatory;  however,  

this  does  not  apply  to  performers)

• Be  specific  +  concise  ...  emphasize  results,  not   duties:

• Managed  five  staff  handling  $150,000  weekly  payroll;  received  “Service  Excellence”  award  two  consecutive  

years• Trained  more  than  15  customer  service  associates,  two  of  whom  are  now  managing  store  departments  with  

combined  $6.4  million  in  annual  revenues• Choose  details  that  make  sense

• If  applying  for  an  accounting  job,  downplay  role  as   daycare  supervisor  and  emphasize  financial  tasks

• If  you  want  to  get  called  for  an  interview,  research  the  company’s  needs  and  show  emphatically  how  you  can  

meet  those  needs

• Do  not  use  MS  Word  templates    

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• Reader’s  reaction  depends  in  part  on  variables  that  you,  the   writer,  cannot  control

• Thus,  focus  on  what  you  can  control:• Relevant  and  meaningful  details• Correctness  of  grammar  and  spelling• Professional  tone  &  content  (no  begging,  whining,  boasting,  or  

lying)• Simple,  clear  format

• Your  ability  to  compete  depends  on  three  factors:• What  you  offer• What  you  appear  to  offer,  and  • How  strongly  your  qualifications  match  what  the  employer  wants  

and  needs

Page 20: Resumes and Cover Letters in 2014: This is NOT your Mother's Job Search!

   

 

       

This  is  the  general  format  of  the  resume  you  should  produce:  

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Also  acceptable,  if  you  want  to  highlight  specific  courses  you  have  taken/or  don’t  have  much  in  the  way  of  work  experience;  this  way,  you  can  nicely  fill  up  the  page  with  relevant  information:    

 

Page 22: Resumes and Cover Letters in 2014: This is NOT your Mother's Job Search!

The  resume  below  is  an  example  of  a  BAD  resume;  it  makes  all  the  mistakes  that  drive  hiring  managers  crazy—bad  formatting,  objective  statement,  personal  pronouns,  irrelevant  hobbies:  

                                             

It’s not enough for your resume to be free of errors and contain a brief summary of your skills and experience to be considered a ‘good’ resume. In fact a ‘bad ‘resume isn’t even looked at. You need more than your resume to be looked at: you want it to stand out and call the reader to take action.

Owner
Line
Page 23: Resumes and Cover Letters in 2014: This is NOT your Mother's Job Search!

1. Avoid personal information like political or religious affiliations, or volunteer info unless it directly correlates to the job for which you’re applying.

2. The same goes for photos. Don’t add a photo, unless your career is directly tied to your appearance, like acting or broadcast journalism. Even if you’re stunning, it’s a bad move. It’s also illegal in the US for an employer to request a photo. 3. Don’t limit yourself. A one-page resume is fine for someone fairly young, but two pages is the norm these days. 4. That said, if a piece of information can be cut without harming your professional narrative, cut it. Two pages are fine as long as it’s two pages of useful info.

5. Be mindful of your email address. If you don’t have a professional-sounding email address at the moment, go get one. They’re free. First.Last@gmail is always a safe bet. 6. Tailor your resume for each job you apply for. Let me repeat that: you have to tailor your resume for each job you apply for. This is usually as simple as altering your headline and reordering some of your bullet points. This is key and I cannot stress this enough. 7. And lastly, don’t be cute. If someone has ever given you the advice that “your personality should shine on your resume,”

they’re wrong. Terribly, terribly wrong. The resume is no place for your personality. Save that for the interview. Instead, keep the

resume to solid facts. Your resume should be constructed with the screening process in mind, and no one will be screening you based on how funny you are. The Takeaway: You’ve got very little time to snag a reader’s attention, so play to your core value. Lead your resume with a short but compelling narrative and make that narrative run throughout your resume. Go light on duties and heavy on accomplishments. Avoid fluff. Keep it to two pages, and don’t hesitate to use white space to make it digestible and less daunting.

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In a recent nationwide survey of 2,000 hiring managers conducted by Harris Interactive, 37% said they used social media to help make hiring decisions with 65% saying Facebook was the social media site they checked most often. Does anyone think those percentages are likely to go anywhere but up? Nearly 2 out of 3 said they were checking to see if the candidate presented him or herself professionally, with over half saying they were checking to see if they thought the candidate would be a "good fit" with the company's culture.

Are you ready for the shocking part? More than 1/3rd of them said that they had found something on a social media site which caused them to NOT hire a candidate.

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Resumes  aren’t  Dead.  But  they  will  be.  

 http://www.recruiter.com/i/resumes-­‐arent-­‐dead-­‐but-­‐they-­‐will-­‐be/  

   We  all  know  that  social  media  use  has  been  on  the  rise  in  the  recruiting  industry,  but  did  you  know  that  1  in  6  job  seekers  credit  social  media  for  helping  land  their  current  job?  That’s  the  latest  statistic  according  the  infographic  How  Job  Seekers  and  Employers  are  Connecting  Online  by  OnlineColleges.com.      In  2012,  88  percent  of  job  seekers  created  at  least  one  social  networking  profile  while  92  percent  of  employers  used  social  media  to  recruit.  Among  employers,  LinkedIn  was  the  most  popular  site  for  recruiting  last  year  while  Facebook  took  the  top  spot  among  job  seekers  for  finding  employment.    Online  and  social  resumes  are  a  bit  trickier  than  standard  resumes,  as  there  are  no  standardized  resume  templates  for  social  network  profiles.  It  takes  time  and  attention  to  build  a  strong,  compelling  personal  brand  and  targeted  professional  profile.      However,  social  profiles  are  a  must  for  today's  jobseeker,  as  they  are  not  only  a  source  for  web  identity,  but  also  the  actual  method  by  which  you  apply  for  a  job  with  a  corporation.    

If  you're  not  using  social  media  to  promote  yourself,  you're  missing  out.  Just  as  employers  use  multiple  avenues  to  push  out  job  postings,  you  as  a  job  seeker  need  to  use  all  the  channels  available  to  you  to  put  yourself  in  front  of  recruiters.  Using  Twitter,  Facebook  or  LinkedIn  as  a  means  to  give  updates  on  your  career  or  connect  with  other  professionals  gives  your  résumé  legs  and  can  make  you  more  memorable  as  a  candidate.  But  since  companies  are  screening  candidates  through  social  media,  make  sure  your  online  profiles  are  either  professional  facing  or  locked  for  outside  viewing.    

An  eye  catching  resume  in  .txt  format  for  electronic  submission,  in  addition  to  a  .doc  and  PDF  version  that  can  be  emailed,  snail  mailed,  overnight  expressed,  faxed  and  handed  out  in  person,  PLUS  a  social  media  presence  (particularly  LinkedIn)  are  all  essential  in  conducting  

New Media / Social Media Resumes -- The New Way to Resume!

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an  effective  job  search.  Social  media  is  not  yet  a  substitute  for  a  resume,  rather  it  complements  and  expounds  on  a  resume.      

 

Most  managers  want  applicants  who  not  only  know  how  to  use  “old”  social  media  platforms  like  Facebook,  but  they  need  to  be  familiar  with  newer  platforms  like  Pinterest  as  well.  Because  you  can’t  necessarily  predict  which  social  media  platform  is  going  to  dominate  at  the  time  of  your  interview,  it’s  best  to  just  research  and  learn  how  to  use  an  array  of  social  media  platforms  right  now.  Read  tech  blogs  so  that  you’re  in  the  “know”  of  which  new  social  media  platforms  are  making  a  big  splash  in  the  industry  and  create  accounts  accordingly.  That  way,  when  you  put  together  your  resume,  you  can  say  that  you’ve  used  Pinterest  or  had  a  blog  since  the  beginning  of  your  college  career.  This  can  demonstrate  your  skill  level  as  well  as  your  ability  to  foresee/understand  which  social  media  platforms  resonate  better  with  people.    

Resumes  are  inherently  boring.  There’s  nothing  very  exciting  about  facts  and  figures  or  the  number  of  years  you  spent  diving  for  golf  balls  in  luxury  golf-­‐course  water  traps.  

Well,  maybe  that  last  one’s  interesting.  (Also:  a  totally  real  profession!)  

But  the  hard  truth  is  that  most  of  us  look  dull  on  paper.  Most  of  us  are  just  another  name,  another  job  title,  another  piece  of  paper.  Recruiters  and  hiring  managers  everywhere  sigh  and  deftly  toss  our  resumes  in  an  ever-­‐increasing  pile.  Should  just  we  give  up  and  admit  defeat?  Resign  ourselves  to  being  bland  and  inconspicuous  among  thousands  of  other  applicants?  

No,  of  course  not.  The  social  media  resume  is  one  solution.  

It  starts  with  your  site.  Or  a  link  to  your  site,  rather.  Your  personal  website  or  blog  or  slideshare  presentation  made  available  for  all  the  world  to  see.  You  don’t  have  a  site?  Get  one.  It’s  free  –  just  Google  free  website  builder  or  use  a  blog  like  WordPress  or  Blogger.  

person  successfully  submitted  a  social  media  resume  in  the  form  of  a  candy  bar!! http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/man-hailed-candy-bar-resume-article-1.1275798  

If  you’ve  never  blogged  –  blog  about  anything.  You  don’t  have  to  write  a  lofty  dissertation,  just  write  about  what  you’re  interested  in.  It  shows  you’re  creative  and  have  ideas  worth  expressing.  If  you  really  don’t  want  to  write,  just  write  one  page  about  yourself  and  use  that  as  the  front  page  of  your  site.  It  makes  you  look  knowledgeable  and  professional.  

Add  a  dash  of  personal  style.  Put  up  a  video  of  yourself  dressed  in  business  attire,  addressing  to  the  audience  your  strengths  as  a  candidate.  Or  make  a  photo  gallery  of  your  last  skiing  trip  –  even  an  ongoing  list  of  books  you’re  reading  is  invaluable  content.  Anything  you  

Get  inspired  by  the  many  examples  of  varied  social  media  resumes  available online!  One  

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can  do  to  show  yourself  in  a  professional  setting  will  set  you  above  the  rest.  You’re  trying  more  than  anything  to  look  employable  and  professional  –  someone  that  any  employer  would  be  lucky  to  have.  Think  about  what  you  would  want  to  see  from  a  candidate  if  you  were  a  recruiter  or  employer…  

Pepper  with  Social  Networks.  Twitter,  Facebook,  LinkedIn  –  all  micro  reflections  of  your  character  –  tiny  pedestals  from  which  to  proclaim  your  skills,  accomplishments,  and  involvements.  Create  profile  badges  and  embed  them  on  your  site.  

Now  you’re  marketing  yourself!  Be  catchy  –  but  don’t  overdo  it:  too  much  visual  stimuli  (i.e.  think  seizure  inducing  flashing  lights)  runs  the  risk  of  alienating  the  people  you’re  trying  to  impress.  You  don’t  want  to  look  like  you’re  trying  to  impress  though  –  it’s  a  fine  line  to  consider.  

Finally,  broadcast  your  social  media  creation  on  the  good  old-­‐fashioned  paper  resume  –  just  include  the  printed  URL  of  your  social  media  resume/website  at  the  top  of  your  resume  page  much  like  you  do  your  email  address.    

Recruiters  and  hiring  managers  still  like  to  see  it  done  the  traditional  way,  but  they’ll  notice  the  unique  domain  name  at  the  top.  So  now  you  have  the  social  media  resume,  not  alone,  but  working  in  tandem  with  your  traditional  paper  resume.  

This  infographic    http://www.recruiter.com/i/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/social-resume.jpg  offers  information  on  how  job  seekers  can  create  a  social  resume  on  sites  like  WordPress,  Tumblr,  Razume.com,  and  ResumeSocial.com.  It  also  provides  examples  of  creative  resumes,  such  as  one  job  seeker  who  made  her  resume  into  an  infographic.  

With  your  social  resume  comes  your  online  presence,  and  the  infographic  lists  the  do’s  and  don’t’s  when  it  comes  to  building  your  social  presence.  

Recruiters  DO  like:  

• Membership(s)  in  professional  organizations  (80  percent)  

• Volunteer  activities  (66  percent)  

Recruiters  DON’T  like:  

• Profanity  (61  percent)  

• Poor  grammar/spelling  mistakes  (54  percent)  

• Mentioning  alcohol  consumption  (47  percent)  

• Religious  posts  (26  percent)  

Also,  the  infographic  advises  to  show  the  influence  your  social  presence  has.  This  includes  klout  scores,  LinkedIn  endorsements  and  connections,  your  Twitalyzer  rank  and/or  blog  engagement  or  Technorati  rank.  

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One  of  the  best  ways  to  attract  potential  employers  is  by  having  a  strong  LinkedIn  profile  that  is  easy  to  find  by  employers.  

Here  are  some  tips  for  creating  a  LinkedIn  profile  that  can  land  you  that  job  of  your  dreams.  Or,  if  you’re  not  that  picky,  just  a  job.  

You’re  not  looking  for  job.  

That’s  right,  even  though  you  are  looking  for  a  job,  you’re  not  just  looking  for  any  job.  It  seems  counter-­‐intuitive,  but  employers  want  what  they  can’t  have,  not  what’s  easily  available.  Remove  that  blaring  “I’M  LOOKING  FOR  A  JOB”  text  on  your  LinkedIn  profile.  Tone  all  job  search  references  down  –  concentrate  on  making  yourself  look  more  desirable  and  less  desperate.  Your  profile  should  reflect  an  accomplished  professional  in  the  field  and  industry  in  which  you  want  to  get  a  new  position.  You’re  not  looking  for  a  job.  Repeat  that  to  yourself  again.  You’re  instead  a  professional  open  to  opportunities  in  ABC.  You  want  to  make  your  career  with  a  company  that  ABC.  

Make  your  headline  clear  and  concise.    

Your  headline  is  what  recruiters  will  see  first  about  you.  Many  people  use  certain  buzzwords  that  are  clichéd  and  used  over  and  over  again.  Clearly  state  what  you  can  offer  to  an  employer,  using  keywords  that  they  will  search  for.  You  will  also  want  to  make  sure  that  you  are  not  limiting  yourself  in  your  headline.  You  want  to  leave  the  possibilities  as  open  as  possible  while  conveying  what  areas  you  have  most  experience  in.  

Remember  that  you’re  designing  your  headline  after  what  employers  want  to  search  for,  not  to  brag  to  other  professionals  in  your  industry.  If  you’re  a  Project  Manager,  write  that,  not  “A  Seasoned  Executive  Consultant  with  Project  Experience.”  In  other  words,  don’t  try  to  make  yourself  something  you’re  not  –  make  it  easy  for  people  to  figure  out  what  you  do.  Stay  simple,  specific,  and  positive  when  writing  about  your  skills  and  experience.  

Write  a  direct,  informative  summary  and  experience  section.    

Your  summary  and  experience  section  should  tell  a  clear  and  concise  story  about  your  work  history.  Most  managers  will  scan  this  section  fairly  quickly,  so  make  sure  that  the  most  important  information  is  at  the  beginning  of  the  summary  to  catch  their  interest  and  draw  them  in.  Use  specific  examples  and  clearly  point  out  your  results  in  past  jobs.  

The  specialties  section  is  a  great  place  to  put  keywords  for  search,  but  do  not  overstuff.  Just  put  a  few  of  the  most  important  words  that  describe  you  to  make  your  profile  easy  to  find  in  searches  by  managers.  

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Remember  that  the  summary  and  experience  section,  as  well  as  the  specialties  area,  is  the  place  to  show  what  you  are  made  of  and  to  really  sell  yourself  to  employers  who  have  found  your  profile.  Put  most  of  your  effort  and  focus  into  these  vital  sections.  

Feature  a  few  solid  recommendations.    

Only  feature  a  couple  of  recommendations,  as  more  than  that  can  be  overkill  and  can  jumble  your  profile.  Any  old  or  outdated  postings  should  be  removed  when  you  are  starting  your  job  search  so  that  recruiters  can  see  the  most  up  to  date  and  relevant  referrals.    This  way,  they  can  contact  people  who  have  most  recently  recommended  you.  

With  recommendations,  pay  more  attention  to  who  is  recommending  you  than  what  they  are  saying  about  you.  A  management  level  reference  from  your  current  or  recent  employer  is  fantastic.  Shoot  for  senior  people  in  the  industry  in  which  you  are  most  likely  to  find  work.  You  can  also  use  strategy  here  –  want  to  work  at  a  particular  company?  If  you  have  a  friend  or  know  an  employee  there,  have  them  recommend  your  work.  

Do  not  exaggerate,  pad,  or  build  yourself  up  with  adjectives,  but  use  examples  of  quantifiable  results  to  show  a  manager  what  you  can  bring  to  their  company.  

After  your  profile  is  created,  stay  present  on  LinkedIn  by  joining  industry  groups  and  posting  interesting  news  about  your  field.  Connect  to  as  many  relevant  people  in  your  field  as  you  can.  Note  that  the  people  you  connect  with/to  will  then  see  your  activity  on  their  homepage  –  this  is  your  chance  to  keep  yourself  top  of  mind.  When  jobs  open  up,  consistent  and  professional  activity  could  make  the  difference  between  getting  the  call  and  not.    

Fully  complete  your  LinkedIn  Profile.  

LinkedIn  clearly  states  that  users  with  completed  profiles  are  40  times  more  likely  to  receive  opportunities  through  LinkedIn.  It’s  easy  to  see  whether  your  LinkedIn  profile  needs  more  work  as  LinkedIn  displays  a  percentage  score,  indicating  level  of  completeness.  So,  before  you  do  anything  else  like  installing  apps,  joining  groups,  commenting  on  discussions,  check  your  score  and  if  it’s  way  below  100%,  you  should  do  some  work  to  update  your  profile.  LinkedIn’s  idea  of  a  completed  profile  means  that  you  have  included  the  following  information:  

Your  industry  and  location,  an  up-­‐to-­‐date  current  position  (with  a  description),  two  past  positions,  your  education,  your  skills  (minimum  of  3),  a  profile  photo,  at  least  50  connections.  

Edit  Profile  URL  to  Make  it  More  User  and  Search  Engine  Optimization  (SEO)  Friendly.  

Your  public  profile  is  the  public  version  of  your  LinkedIn  profile,  and  it  is  this  page  that  appears  in  search  engines,  like  Google.  The  standard  URL  that  LinkedIn  gives  you  contains  your  name  and  a  lot  of  numbers  that  are  not  reader  friendly,  and,  according  to  experts,  not  SEO  friendly.  So,  adjust  your  public  profile  URL  so  it  is  as  close  to  your  name  as  possible,  e.g.  www.linkedin.com/in/firstnamelastname  to  make  it  more  reader  and  SEO  friendly.  

 

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Write  the  Summary;  Adopt  an  Inverted  Pyramid  Information  Structure.  

The  LinkedIn  summary  has  more  prominence  than  the  professional  profile  you  prepare  in  a  resume.  Typically,  the  LinkedIn  summary  is  longer,  maybe  two  or  three  times  the  length  and  is  a  more  fully  formed  branding  statement  than  the  resume  profile.  Because  the  LinkedIn  summary  is  longer  and  contains  two  or  three  paragraphs,  it  needs  more  structure  than  the  shorter  resume  profile  to  create  a  similar  positive  effect.  Many  experts  recommend  that  you  adopt  the  Inverted  Pyramid  Approach  to  present  your  information,  an  approach  used  in  journalism  to  convey  information  in  the  most  effective  way.    

In  short,  this  means  that  the  most  newsworthy  info  should  come  in  the    first  paragraph,  which  is  the:  Who?,  What?  When?  Where?  Why  How?,  followed  by  the  Important  details  in  the  second  paragraph,  and  Other  General  Info  and  Background  Info  in  the  third  paragraph.  The  idea  of  this  is  that  the  reader  gets  a  summary  in  the  first  paragraph  and  can  leave  the  summary  at  that  point  and  still  get  a  good  feel  for  what  you  are  about.  

Create  Attention  Grabbing  Headline.  

LinkedIn  profiles  place  a  lot  of  emphasis  on  the  ‘Professional  Headline’  that  appears  at  the  top  of  the  profile  just  below  your  name.  This  ‘headline’  is  displayed  prominently  at  the  top  of  the  page  and  also  appears  in  the  listings  of  search  results,  which  means  it  will  be  very  influential  in  determining  whether  a  recruiter  clicks  on  your  profile  or  not.  So  prepare  an  accurate  but  attention  grabbing  headline  to  draw  in  the  reader.  

Install  Apps.  

Used  well,  the  LinkedIn  apps  enrich  your  profile.  Current  apps  include  a  WordPress  app  or  a  Bloglink  app  which  allows  you  to  present  your  blog  on  your  LinkedIn  profile.  Only  use  this  if  your  blog  relates  to  your  business  and  industry.  This  is  not  for  personal  musings.    

The  Slideshare  app  is  great  for  showcasing  presentations  you  have  given  on  your  LinkedIn  profile.    

There’s  also  the  Creative  Portfolio  app  for  showcasing  creative  work  in  unlimited  multimedia  formats.  They  also  have  a  GitHub  App  so  developers  can  show  their  headline  activity  on  GitHub.    

I  strongly  recommend  that  where  appropriate,  you  install  apps  and  enrich  your  profile.  

 

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Make  your  public  profile  visible  to  everyone.    Your  public  profile  is  visible  on  search  engines,  meaning  that  recruiters  can  find  you  through  Google  searches.  So,  ensure  your  public  profile  is  set  to  be  visible  to  everyone,  and  it  will  appear  in  search  engine  listings.    Use  Good  Quality  Photos.    Part  of  the  reason  that  people  use  LinkedIn  is  to  see  how  you  present  yourself  in  a  business  context.  I  think  image  is  part  of  that  deal.  LinkedIn  thinks  it  is  too,  because  it  determines  a  profile  fully  complete  only  if  it  has  a  picture.  Yet,  you  can  go  put  in  a  candidate  search  and  you’ll  still  find  profiles  without  photos.  So,  optimize  your  LinkedIn  profile  by  including  a  good  quality  headshot,  or  upper  torso  shot  in  business  attire/business  setting.    Get  well-­‐worded,  specific  recommendations  from  staff  who  have  managed  you.    

       I  have  talked  previously  about  the  value  of  recommendations  on  LinkedIn,  and  how  they  enhance  your  credibility  by  offering  a  reliable  reference  that  can  be  traced  back  to  a    ‘real’  source.  But,  that’s  the  key  point;  they  can  be  traced  back  to  a  source,  which  puts  a  greater  emphasis  on  source  credibility.  While  peer  and  client  recommendations  are  useful  and  provide  a  useful  360  degree  view,  try  to  accumulate  recommendations  from  staff  who  have  

recruiters.    Encourage  your  references  to  write  high  quality,  specific  reviews  that  speak  to  your  achievements  within  the  context  of  real,  named  or  well  defined  projects/situations,  as  this  is  more  convincing  and  creates  more  impact.    Use  LinkedIn  Answers  and  Comment  in  Groups  Discussions.  

         LinkedIn  experts  claim  that  using  LinkedIn  Answers  and  commenting  in  group  discussions  will  create  more  links  back  to  your  LinkedIn  Profile  which  will  raise  your  LinkedIn  search  ranking,  meaning  that  you  will  appear  higher  in  the  search  results  and  potentially  receive  more  contacts  from  employers.  This  may  be  true,  but  the  least  it  does  is  generate  additional  exposure  for  you.    Recruiters  regularly  mine  discussion  groups  for  prospects,  so  if  you  are  active  and  showing  that  you  are  an  expert  in  your  field,  you  have  a  better  chance  of  being  contacted  by  a  recruiter.    However,  it’s  a  fine  line  between  appearing  like  an  active  social  networker  and  someone  who  networks  and  ‘plays  on  the  Internet’  at  the  expense  of  getting  work  

managed  you,  (the  more  senior  the  better)  as  these  carry  more  weight  in  the  eyes  of  

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done  in  the  office.  So  moderate  your  activity  in  social  networks  and  be  mindful  of  the  impression  you  may  give  with  the  volume  and  type  of  activity.      Increase  Your  Connections.    Increase  your  connections,  using  LinkedIn  approved  tactics.  Why?  Because  search  results  are  sorted  starting  with  the  closest  degrees  of  connection  and  ending  with  the  furthest  degree  of  connection.  So,  the  more  connections  you  have,  the  more  closely  you  will  be  connected  to  recruiters  which  will  mean  you  will  appear  higher  up  their  search  results.    While  LinkedIn  is  crucial,  it  is  just  one  piece  of  the  social  media  profile  puzzle  that  includes  Facebook,  Twitter,  Blogs,  YouTube,  all  of  which  must  be  used  effectively  and  appropriately  if  you  are  to  fully  optimize  your  social  media  profile  and  impact.    If  you  have  not  yet  begun  participating  in  social  media,  start!  You  can’t  afford  not  to;  consider  it  a  part-­‐time  job:  getting  up  to  speed  on  Twitter,  FB,  blogs  etc.    

Many,  especially  large,  employers  are  now  requiring  that  resumes  be  submitted  electronically  into  applicant  tracking  systems,  rather  than  faxed  or  submitted  on  paper.  This  practice  saves  potential  employers  a  great  deal  of  paperwork,  but  presents  some  challenges  for  job  seekers.      First,  when  submitting  a  resume  electronically  online  to  a  potential  employer,  the  job  seeker  needs  to  check  the  job  posting  carefully  to  see  if  the  employer  requires  a  particular  format.  The  most  popular  format  currently  is  .doc,  which  is  the  old  Word  format  from  Microsoft  Word  1997-­‐2003,  although  there  are  some  employers  that  will  prefer  other  formats,  including  Adobe  (.pdf)  and  ASCII  (.txt).  Nothing  will  get  a  job  seeker  rejected  more  quickly  than  failing  to  follow  the  directions  in  the  job  advertisement.  Care  must  be  taken  to  include  relevant  keywords  and  jobs  in  the  resume,  as  recruiters  will  typically  find  an  applicant's  resume  by  performing  searches  within  their  applicant  tracking  system.      Second,  many  potential  employers  also  take  advantage  of  online  resume  databases  and  job  boards,  such  as  Monster,  Career  Builder,  Dice,  or  Indeed.  Taking  advantage  of  these  services,  employers  perform  a  search  through  the  job  resume  database  looking  for  possible  matches.  This  practice  requires  the  job  seeker  to  include  key  words  common  to  the  position  he  or  she  is  seeking  in  order  to  help  the  resume  database  find  that  particular  resume.    

 Share  a  private  link  to  your  profile  video  easily  and  efficiently  with  any  employer.  Include  the  link  in  a  resume,  cover  letter,  job  application,  social  media  profile,  and  more.  Companies  can  click  on  the  link  and  be  directed  to  a  page  dedicated  to  your  profile  video.  Here’s  a  site  that  lets  you  record  an  employment  profile  video:  https://www.sparkhire.com/job-­‐seeker-­‐features    

 

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 Imagine  having  60  seconds  to  tell  any  employer  why  you  are  perfect  for  the  job.  Record  your  profile  video  and  stand  out  from  the  competition  like  never  before.  Nine  out  of  ten  employers  say  they  would  watch  a  video  resume  if  they  were  to  receive  one.    https://www.youtube.com/embed/0kpLVtaB73A?autoplay=1&rel=0    

 With  the  launch  of  Spark  Hire’s  free  mobile  app,  job  seekers  and  employers  have  access  to  video  job  and  talent  search  resources.  The  new  app  allows  job  seekers  to  record  a  video  resume  and  participate  in  online  video  interviews  from  their  iPhone.    “By  utilizing  the  app,  both  employers  and  job  seekers  are  able  to  save  time  and  money  by  using  their  smartphone  to  communicate,”  said  Josh  Tolan,  Spark  Hire  CEO.  “In  just  the  first  quarter  of  fiscal  year  2012,  Apple  sold  37.04  million  iPhones.  Employers  and  job  seekers  already  own  the  phones,  so  we’re  enhancing  the  hiring  process  by  allowing  them  to  use  the  phone  they  already  have  to  connect.”    In  addition  to  the  resume  and  interviewing  capabilities,  users  may  also  manage  their  active  Spark  Hire  account,  receive  job  alerts,  and  communicate  with  employers  through  Spark  Hire  email.  The  app  is  also  a  completely  compatible  piece  of  companion  software  for  the  greater  Spark  Hire  platform.  Employers  can  also  manage  their  Spark  Hire  accounts  through  registered  iDevices  and  maintain  their  company  profile,  view  their  listed  jobs,  review  past  video  interviews,  and  interact  with  job  seekers  through  their  Spark  Hire  inbox.    

 ResumUP  is  a  powerful  tool  to  define,  plan  and  grow  your  career.  http://resumup.com/    Using  data  out  of  social  media  profiles,  ResumUP’s  new  online  recruiting  tools  allows  job  seekers  to  instantly  construct  infographic  online  resumes  including  a  display  of  an  applicant’s  work  experience,  education,  personality,  and  other  attributes.  Recruiters  can  equally  easily  create  visual  job  vacancies  while  filtering  resumes  through  the  use  of  multiple  filter  technologies  that  automatically  select  the  most  appropriate  profiles  for  each  position.  Additionally,  the  tool  allows  applicants  to  match  their  qualifications  to  a  position’s  necessary  criteria  before  applying,  leading  to  fewer  mismatched  candidates.    While  the  website  at  ResumUP.com  remains  in  its  beta  stage,  several  leading  firms,  such  as  Facebook,  Adidas,  and  Yandex  have  adopted  the  pioneering  technology  on  an  experimental  basis.    Karen  Grigorian,  HR  Director  at  Kraft  Foods  said  about  the  technology,  ““We  are  striving  to  be  innovative  beyond  just  food  production.  This  hi-­‐tech  vacancy  visualizing  tool  could  be  a  great  opportunity  to  attract  top  talents.”              

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 A  new  study  states  that  as  many  as  92%  of  all  employers  nationwide  check  a  job  applicant’s  social  media  profile  before  hiring.    In  addition,  69%  of  respondents  report  not  hiring  a  candidate  based  on  something  found  on  a  social  networking  site.      Companies  and  universities  take  advantage  of  the  personal  information  available  on  Facebook,  Twitter  and  LinkedIn  to  aid  their  decision  process  for  admitting  potential  students  or  hiring  new  employees.    Posted  photographs,  tweets  and  affiliated  online  groups  create  an  online  persona.    These  bits  and  pieces  of  information  make  their  way  online  and  become  safely  stored  away  in  the  

 Internet’s  memory.    Using  social  media  platforms  as  a  means  for  showcasing  one’s  accomplishments  and  reputable  

personal  character  traits  may  positively  influence  an  employer’s  decision.    If  used  appropriately  social  media  helps  individuals  stand  out  from  other  job  applicants.  For  students,  photographs  of  traveling  excursions  and  participation  in  extracurricular  activities  attract  positive  attention  from  admissions  officers.    Online  reputations  aligned  to  academic  and  professional  goals  offer  increased  opportunities  for  impressing  HR  managers,  future  employers  and  university  representatives.    However,  children  and  teenagers  often  fail  to  understand  that  one  silly  photograph  or  comment  may  severely  impact  their  future  ambitions.  Too  many  teenagers  and  adults  believe  information  posted  online  remains  private  for  friends  and  family.  In  fact,  uploaded  content  becomes  public  domain,  opening  doors  for  unintended  eyes  to  see.        Your  digital  footprint  might  not  seem  significant  now.    However,  at  some  point  in  your  life,  and  most  likely  without  you  knowing,  others  will  scan  your  social  media  platforms  in  order  to  gain  insight  into  your  character.  Can  any  of  your  postings  be  misconstrued?  Misinterpreted?  Put  you  in  a  bad  light?  Are  you  presenting  yourself  like  a  capable,  professional,  well-­‐educated  person?    With  the  introduction  of  more  and  more  social  media  platforms,  it  becomes  difficult  to  distinguish  between  good  and  bad  content.    It  also  requires  time  to  scan  and  delete    (a  heads  up  here:  it  is  virtually  impossible  to  completely  wipe  any  content  from  the  Internet,  regardless  of  what  sort  of  promises  certain  businesses  make  regarding  their  ability  to  restore  your  online  reputation)  potentially  damaging  content,  especially  if  your  photo  count  is  in  the  thousands  and  you  posted  content  since  the  dawn  of  the  Internet.      

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In  general,  all  Internet  users  must  be  smart  about  their  digital  footprint,  and  take  the  time  to  establish  a  positive  online  reputation  since  users  rarely  know  who  might  be  reviewing  their  profile  and  since  truly  deleting  information/photos  etc.  might  be  nearly  impossible.      

 Also,  consider  the  Streisand  Effect. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect    A  friend  of  a  friend  desires  to  go  to  medical  school.  She  graduated  from  college  last  year  and  is  currently  studying  to  take  the  MCAT  and  apply  for  medical  school  programs.  If  you  heard  her  talk  you  would  pretty  much  conclude  that  she  is  passionate  about  medicine  and  very  determined  to  become  successful.  Yet,  I  came  across  her  Facebook  profile  one  day  and,  in  my  Carrie  Bradshaw  voice,  I  couldn’t  help  but  wonder:  Does  her  online  presence  reflect  the  same?    Once  you  understand  just  how  important  social  media  and  your  online  reputation  (whether  good  or  bad)  can  be  to  your  future  success  you  simply  cannot  help  but  notice  that  there  are  still  millions  of  people  who  are  ignorant  to  this  fact.    Case  in  point,  my  friend  of  a  friend.  Her  Facebook  profile  is  filled  with  pictures  of  her  1)  dressed  provocatively  2)  holding  liquor  bottles  and/or  cups  up  during  a  party  (with  the  cups  assumed  to  contain  alcohol)  and  3)  photos  of  her  and  friends  in  in  very  skimpy  bikinis.    Now,  don’t  get  me  wrong.  We’ve  all  gone  to  a  party  or  to  the  beach  and  had  photos  taken.  Employers  are  human  and  they  understand  this.  Yet,  I  think  the  issue  comes  when  the  quantity  of  these  types  of  photos  exceeds  the  “on-­‐occasion”  instances.    So  in  my  friend’s  case,  although  she  is  intelligent  and  determined  to  enter  medical  school,  it’s  unlikely  a  potential  hospital  or  administration  committee  at  a  school  would  think  the  same  after  viewing  her  profile.  Image  is  everything,  even  if  it’s  not  the  one  you’d  hoped  to  portray.    Potential  employers  are  scanning  Facebook,  Twitter,  LinkedIn,  and  other  platforms  you’ve  created  accounts  with  when  reviewing  an  applicant.  Here’s  what  you  need  to  know  about  the  role  your  social  networking  presence  may  be  playing  in  whether  or  not  you  get  hired;  information  to  hopefully  help  you  pause  and  think  about  any  negative  effects  before  posting:    Facebook  is  a  part  of  today’s  standard  background  check.  As  you  may  already  know,  many  companies  today  conduct  background  checks  on  potential  employees  in  order  to  evaluate  whether  or  not  they’re  appropriate  choices  for  hire.  What  you  may  not  be  aware  of  is  that  perusal  of  your  Facebook  and  other  social  networking  profiles  is  a  part  of  standard  background  checks  these  days.    Sites  like  Facebook  are  an  excellent  way  to  find  out  about  the  “real  you”  and  not  just  the  professional  “best-­‐face-­‐forward”  you  that  shows  up  to  the  job  interview  or  sends  in  the  resume  that  sparked  interest  in  the  first  place.  Make  sure  that  yours  is  sending  the  message  you  want  potential  employers  to  get.    Employers  are  looking  to  match  the  face  and  personality  with  the  resume.  After  learning  your  profile  will  be  scanned  in  the  sourcing  process,  your  first  instinct  may  be  to  panic  and  delete  all  your  photos  –  if  not  your  entire  Facebook  –  but  you  might  want  to  understand  exactly  what  those  conducting  your  background  check  are  actually  looking  for  before  jumping  the  gun.  Really,  they’re  looking  for  a  sense  of  who  you  are  outside  of  your  professional  persona.  A  lot  can  be  determined  in  this  regard  by  checking  out  what  organizations  you  belong  to,  as  well  as  what  you  discuss  with  your  friends.  

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Employers  don’t  necessarily  care  what  your  hobbies  are  or  how  you  like  to  spend  your  free  time.  However,  they  do  care  about  whether  or  not  you’re  involved  in  any  illegal  activity,  whether  you  appear  to  be  racist  or  sexist,  and  whether  or  not  you’re  in  the  habit  of  posting  questionable  content  (such  as  sexually  explicit  material).  Any  of  those  things  is  likely  to  negatively  affect  your  chances  of  getting  hired.    You  must  be  the  gatekeeper  for  what  you  post  publicly.  This  should  be  something  you  do  anyway,  but  if  you  haven’t  already  given  some  thought  to  adjusting  your  privacy  settings  on  Facebook,  now  might  be  a  good  time  to  do  so.  If  you  don’t  want  others  checking  out  your  social  networking  profiles,  be  sure  to  lock  them  down,  at  least  partially.  Also,  just  start  being  more  careful  of  what  you  post.  After  all,  your  social  media  presence  plays  a  major  role  in  how  you  present  yourself  publicly.  Your  online  profiles  should  be  representative  of  the  best  possible  version  of  you.  

 http://communicateskills.com/2012/09/19/best-­‐looking-­‐resumes/    

 What  people  like  to  do  on  social  media  are  simple  things:  gossiping  around,  cheer  when  others  post  results  from  their  RunKeeper  apps,  watching  strangers’  food  pics  on  Instagram,  and  smile  at  funny  cats  and  pass  them  on.    Will  that  kind  of  behavior  have  an  impact  even  on  corporate,  i.e.  professional  communication?    

The  written  word  in  a  universe  where  visual  is  king    

percent  of  a  text  longer  than  100  words.  Furthermore,  the  image  and  video  sharing  trend  is  here  to  stay.    Images  shared  on  Facebook  get  much  more  response  than  just  plain  text,  Pinterest  and  Instagram  are  two  of  the  fastest  growing  social  networks  and  Slideshare  content  spreads  virally  through  blogs  and  online  platforms.    The  evidence  is  clear:  people  want  to  look  more,  and  read  less.    

 

People  read  less  than  you  think.  According  to  a  Nielsen  study,  people  tend  to  read  only  20  

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Facebook  

“2.  More  than  25  billion  pieces  of  content  (web  links,  news  stories,  blog  posts,  notes,  photo  albums,  etc.)  are  shared  each  month.”  

“9.  People  spend  over  500  billion  minutes  per  month  on  Facebook.”  

Twitter  

“11.  Twitter’s  web  platform  only  accounts  for  a  quarter  of  its  users  –  75%  use  third-­‐party  apps.”  

“12.  Twitter  gets  more  than  300,000  new  users  every  day.”  

LinkedIn  

“21.  LinkedIn  is  the  oldest  of  the  four  sites  in  this  post,  having  been  created  on  May  5  2003.”  

“26.  80%  of  companies  use  LinkedIn  as  a  recruitment  tool.”  

YouTube  

“34.  Every  minute,  24  hours  of  video  is  uploaded  to  YouTube.”  

“40.  YouTube  uses  the  same  amount  of  bandwidth  as  the  entire  Internet  used  in  2000.”  

Blogging  

“43.  60%  of  bloggers  are  between  the  ages  18-­‐44.”  

“44.  One  in  five  bloggers  updates  their  blogs  daily.”