I’m headed out to Dallas to present a hands-on workshop on social media strategies for job seekers to my colleagues at this year’s National Resume Writers’ Association Conference.

Resumes are an important marketing tool, but I believe that a resume is naked without a corresponding social media strategy. Over 90% of recruiters perform Internet searches on candidates before making a hiring decision, and more than half of employers solidify their decision to hire based on a strong online presence. Today’s job seeker needs a robust and digitally distinct web presence in order to compete for positions in the 21^st century. If someone searches for information about you online, what will be found? Ask yourself these questions.

• Do I exist online?

• Am I a “John Doe” who is difficult to locate online because there are many people out there with the same name?

• Is the information about me online relevant to my professional identity and is it accurate?

• Is there any damaging information about me online that a hiring manager could uncover?

If  you don’t currently have a strong or targeted online presence, the good news is that you can create and manage one very quickly and move from digital dud to digital rock star. Here’s how our online identity program works.

1. Comprehensive audit of your online identity. We will scour the Internet to uncover all mentions of you and your affiliations online. Based on our findings we will make recommendations for placement on online identity and networking sites to build your digital footprint and create new and sustainable visibility for your candidacy.
2. Traditional and online bio. A powerfully written, branded bio placed strategically across multiple online identity and networking sites can quickly build your value proposition and facilitate a dialogue between you and the hiring authority. We will create a bio that focuses on your core competencies, market differentiators, and compelling stories of professional success.
3. Profile creation. Once the online audit and bio are completed, we will make recommendations for profile placement on up to five online identity and networking sites. Each package is customized to the needs of the individual client. Online communities each have their own tone and culture and we will match your brand to the online communities that are most likely to contribute to your career success. We manage all administrative aspects of the profile creation for you including password creation, linking, image uploads, signature lines, and content development.
4. Online identity management coaching. We will teach you how to effectively maintain your profiles and optimize their value in just minutes a day through a one-hour tele-coaching call and electronic tips sheets.

Just interested in a particular online identity or networking tool? We can customize any of our packages to meet your needs. Want to learn more about our online identity services and receive a custom price quote? Contact us directly to discuss your specific needs.