Professional Online Presence Required

Only a decade ago a person having an “online presence” was nearly unheard of aside from the occasional myspace.com account, and even then we didn’t think of those profiles as a “presence.” With the availability and prevalence of social media platforms today, an online presence is expected and nearly unavoidable; thus creating an online presence you can be proud of and share with an employer is a necessity.

When hiring for a new position employers are going to seek out information about candidates online, so the information they see might as well be the information you, the candidate, want them to see. Current job applicants need to make information about their career easy to find in order for them to rise above their fellow candidates and increase their chances of successfully landing the job of their dreams.

When employers search for information on prospective employees, they have an expectation that they will stumble upon a Facebook profile, a Twitter page, or a LinkedIn account. The thing that employers don’t necessarily expect to find (and are happy when they do) is clear evidence of the accomplishments a candidate has had during their career and proof that the individual is continually making strides to improve and be known as a leader among their peers within their industry. The kind of employee who demonstrates dedication to their career will be an asset to a company and push colleagues to new levels of excellence.

Here are some very simple rules to follow when creating content for your professional online presence.

1. Write well and pay close attention to details

When you are posting online, digital lingo should be used sparingly (if ever) and proper English should be used whenever possible. For example, you should talk about the things you’ve done well and never talk about the things you’ve done “good.” Ask for multiple reviewers, friends and family, to proof read your work. If employers will be judging you, it’s best to ask those who love you to judge you first. 

2. Remain credible at all times

A quote by Mark Twain has hung in my home for many years, “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” Just as you shouldn’t lie in real life, you should never lie online. Make sure your content is well written, while also being sure to represent yourself truthfully. Provide proof to your work including photos, link to articles written about projects in which you played a part, and links to charitable organizations where you volunteer, if your volunteerism can be verified should someone decide to do a reference check.

3. Document your experiences

If you do not have evidence to back up your efforts within your industry, create it. By all means, I do not mean you should fabricate ANYTHING, but take photos of the projects you do complete, ask colleagues for LinkedIn endorsements and recommendations, blog about a success you had at your or a new technique you’re using to accomplish objectives in your current position, or a host of other things. No one will document your experiences for you; it is up to you must be proactive in documenting your own professional successes and challenges to make you a credible candidate that stands out among the rest.

4. Observe industry standards

Always adhere to any standard set by your current employer or your industry as a whole. Do not post sensitive or confidential information online. Before posting, think “Would I want my current or future employer to read this?” If the answer is no, don’t post it.

5. Create content regularly

Cleaning up a professional presence during a job search is commendable, but what is impressive is evidence of regular posts. What makes a person credible online is a proven track record of posts and evidence of engagement across key platforms.

6. Be your own advocate

Promote your own posts – share them on multiple platforms and participate in conversations that interest you about your industry. Connect with other professionals – you never know how or when your paths might cross and they could be the greatest asset in obtaining the job of your dreams, but you’ll never know them if you don’t make a proactive effort to participate. For tips and ideas on what platforms to utilize, please view my blog post, Tools and Platforms for Creating your Professional Online Presence.

7. Keep your personal presence clean, too

Anything you say or do online can (and will) follow you. Just because you have one Twitter account for your job and another “private” account for your personal life, don’t think that the things you say won’t come back to haunt you. Whatever you do in real life, online or otherwise, has the potential to help or hurt you professionally – don’t let it hurt you.

In short, to be the dynamic and impressive prospective (or current) employee we wish to be, it’s important to have a credible professional presence online that is maintained regularly. Building and maintaining a professional online presence will demonstrate to an employer your proven track record and, while interviewing for a new position, it will be clear that you’re not just offering lip service when you talk about work experience – you have the evidence to back up answer.

Who knows, maybe if you build your professional presence online, you won’t have to search for a new job ever again. Instead, just maybe, new jobs will find you as a result of the networks you nurtured and the professional online presence you’ve created.