job search

This post originally appeared on flexjobs.com blog on July 31st. Flex Jobs makes your search for a telecommuting, part-time, freelance, or flextime job better, easier, faster, and safer. Their site is easy-to-use and even allows you to build a professional-looking resume right in your profile which you can digitally send to any prospect. The platform allows you to create more than one profile so you can filter your search and find the best matches for you.  Enjoy the post!

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The L.A. Times reported recently that, “A whopping 92% of U.S. companies say they are using social networks to find talent in 2012, according to a new survey. In addition to checking your resume, nearly 3 out of 4 hiring managers and recruiters check candidates’ social profiles — 48% always do so, even if they are not provided.”

When you are on the hunt for a new job, it is essential that you have your personal brand in order and your online ducks in a row. If you have not yet taken the time to polish your personal brand, let’s review this handful of essential tips to help you outshine your competition.

1. Define You

The most significant step to developing your personal brand, is determining what your brand represents. Your core values are the heart of your brand. It is the foundation for all of your brand and communication strategies. Ask yourself a few questions. What motivates you to get up in the morning and tackle the day? Why are you unique? What are you passionate about?  When you begin to answer these questions, your personal brand will take shape. Once you have discovered your core values, you can easily draft your personal vision statement. Your vision statement will serve as your personal brand guide and will keep you in check as you continue your search and promote yourself.

2. Set Goals for Your Job Hunt

Setting your goals will help you filter your search results to apply only for jobs which align with your brand.  How well does a company and job listing fit your brand’s values? If they don’t match up, don’t apply. FlexJobs has a great feature, which allows you to develop more than one profile.  You can create very specific profiles to look for jobs tailored to your specific goals. There is even a video tutorial to show you how to set up multiple profiles. This will really help you narrow your search and save you valuable time.

3. Develop a Content Plan

Develop a detailed content plan so that you are continually engaging audiences, sharing valuable content and affecting perceptions of your image.  Think about how often you will post to your social accounts.  What topics are relevant to your job search and to your desired industry? Use a calendar to map out your social content plan and develop a strategy. Use a tool like Hootsuite to manage posts for Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+, among others. Your communication strategy will help you stay focused on your goals and in-line with your brand identity.

4. Promote Through Social Media

Digging a bit deeper into some of the specific platforms, you’ll gain a better understanding of why you need to plan your content. It takes time to manage your profiles, but your hard work will pay off as you will be more easily found, and will be proud to share your social links because you can be confident what others will find.

LinkedIn

• Add video to your LinkedIn Profile. This Sprout Insights article is a good tutorial for that.
• Utilize Sections on LinkedIn to highlight your achievements, especially if you have less work experience to leverage.
• Remember to include LinkedIn as part of your content plan and schedule posts.

Facebook

• Tighten up your controls so that your posts, photos and/or activity are not set to Public.
• Use Facebook Lists for easy use of custom settings.
• Strategically use Life Events to post your achievements to your Timeline. Set those posts to Public so recruiters can see them.

Twitter

• Schedule some Twitter time each day to reply, retweet and converse.
• Use the list function to set up lists for leads, businesses, news sources, etc.
• Update your bio to reflect your job hunting status.
• Take care with who you follow and who follows you.

Pinterest

• Use Pinterest as the visual form of “Interests” on a resume.
• Share photos relative to your hobbies and life goals.
• Pin the items which make you a person a Hiring Manager can relate to.

Website/Blog

• Establish your own website, blog or splash page like about.me.
• Make sure to mention that you are looking for employment.
• Write about or post information that is applicable to your chosen industry.

On your FlexJobs profile, you can list one website per profile. Promote your site or list a splash page or your LinkedIn account to help you make a positive first impression.

5. Be Consistent

• Use the same profile photo and color schemes/background photos across all networks for easy identification.
• Make sure your bio information is listed the same on all sites.
• Follow up with your leads and conversations and track interactions.

With sites like FlexJobs, the search for that perfect job is made much easier with so many tools and resources at your finger tips. Taking the time to build your personal brand and engaging online will prove to be worth the effort, as your brand will be refined, professional and ready for any recruiter to discover.

Shanna Bright founded Beaming Bohemian, unconventionally brilliant communication, to infuse communications with positivity and purpose and to empower you to build a meaningful, personable brand which connects and inspires people. She consults with several university programs, businesses and individuals about personal branding and strategic use of social media.  You can learn more about her work at http://beamingbohemian.com or contact her directly at [email protected] to schedule a private consultation.