Just as with face-to-face interactions, first impressions are crucial in the online job-hunting world. Here are the key steps to improve online visibility; that every technology professional should take to project a solid online image.
6 steps to improve online visibility
Google yourself
Among steps to improve online visibility, this one might seem rather obvious… But you would be surprised of how many applicants forget this vital step. Remember that Fotolog or Myspace profile you made in middle school? Well, Google does. Chances are your adolescent self does not quite reflect the person you have grown to be. Or perhaps you would simply prefer keeping your personal life to yourself.
Conduct an in-depth search to unearth all the information a stranger would find should they looked you up online. Then review all that info and ask yourself whether or not you should delete certain things or update your account’s privacy settings.
Polish your LinkedIn profile
LinkedIn has become an absolute necessity for any professional looking for a job or wanting to stay active in the talent market. Your LinkedIn page is like your business passport, if you will. Start by polishing your profile.
Make sure your photograph is updated, professional and in HD. Follow the platform’s simple guide to complete your profile – add a good intro and about section describing your background and aspirations. Include all relevant skills in the dedicated section. Don’t just add job titles and companies in the timeline detailing your work experience. Provide a brief description of what you did while working for that company or what the project was about.
Be active where it matters
Would you trust a social media expert that wasn’t active on any social media platform? Probably not. Even if you secretly are an expert on something, it really pays off if you show it. At least you should be visible in the circles that matter the most to you and your area of expertise.
Create a robust profile on all relevant job boards and professional networks – from generalist sites like Indeed, to more specialised ones like GitHub or AngelList. Get involved in discussion groups and forums. Write an article or post with tips or insights you’d like to share. Here are a few examples of content you could be writing yourself:
- A piece on S/4HANA migration on SAP’s blog
- A Medium article comparing Swift and Kotlin
- A LinkedIn post tracking the evolution of the AI tooling market
If you want to go the extra mile, sign up to the portals of companies exclusively dedicated to IT and tech recruiting. That will put you in the radar of the top recruiters for your specialty. You can sign up to ours here.
Consistency across platforms
Once that’s covered, make sure that you are presenting a cohesive profile across all platforms and services. Is the image you are projecting on LinkedIn consistent with your Twitter profile? Are your past job titles the same on the different job boards? Do the start and end dates of previous projects match?
Maintaining consistency is important. It shows that you take yourself seriously and conveys a unified and robust message regarding who you are and what you aspire to.
Know your keywords
You know how search engines work. Check that you are including in your online profiles all the relevant keywords to secure a top spot on the search results page. Pay special attention to synonyms, and make sure to include the most common descriptive variants of an activity or skill.
Look at your peers
Something that can help you in your keyword search is looking at the profiles of other people. Look for experts in the field you are applying to, see what keywords they are using. Pay special attention to how they structure their personal and professional details, learn as much as you can. The more senior or trusted this subject matter expert is, the better.
Need tips on how to find a job in IT? Check out our IT job hunting guide.