Social Media / LinkedIn - an indispensable tool in your creative job search

Part One

Getting the basics right – how to build a successful online profile

 With 80% of jobs never actually advertised and an increasingly competitive marketplace, networking is playing a more important role in job hunting than ever before. 

As of January 2013, LinkedIn had 200 million members across the globe spanning over 140 different industries and Facebook had 1.06 billion monthly active users. The numbers and networking possibilities are huge – but where do you begin?  Follow our top tips on how to build a successful online profile to help you with your job search.

 1. Check-out your on-line persona

Google yourself and check what comes up about you – look at your current profile on LinkedIn and Facebook page with a fresh pair of eyes.  If you were a recruiter what impression of you would you get?

2. Add a photo to Facebook and LinkedIn

Research shows that profiles with a photo on LinkedIn attracted 50 – 70% more inquiries than those without.  On both Facebook and especially LinkedIn make sure the photo portrays you as professional yet approachable  - make sure you smile!

3. Complete 100% of your profile

Make sure you complete 100% of your profile, use job descriptions to tell the story of your career.  Fill in any languages you speak, highlight all your skills and expertise as well as your education details. It all combines to build a rounded picture of yourself and a completed profile is more likely to come up when pro-active recruiters run job searches.

 4. Check your privacy setting on Facebook

Double-check that it’s only your friends who can see your personal photos on Facebook. A recruiter’s first impression of you from your professional photo on LinkedIn may be very different to the impression he or she would get if looking at more informal images on Facebook! Recruiters have been known to screen people out at the CV stage on the basis of things they have seen on Facebook.

 Our blog will continue tomorrow when we examine how to make your online profile even more attractive to recruiters, helping you find that new job.

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