How to Check Your Online Presence

Have you assessed your online presence before sending out your resume? Consider this:

After reviewing your resume, recruiters often check your online presence. What will they discover? Do you want a recruiter viewing your Facebook profile?

If the thought makes you shake your head “no,” it’s time to enhance your online presence. But what if you’re not online? That doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.

Some employers may bypass candidates without an online presence. Provide them with something professional—begin with a LinkedIn profile and consider an online resume, at the very least.

The article will guide you on:

1. Streamlining your social media profiles and refining search engine results for recruiters.
2. Leveraging the potential of LinkedIn to establish a professional online image.
3. Integrating your online presence with your traditional resume for a cohesive professional profile.

How to Check Your Online Presence and Social Media Profiles

Let’s say you’re a true digital native, active on various social media platforms beyond LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. You might have an Instagram account, a YouTube channel, and even a personal blog or website. If this resonates with you, it’s crucial to regularly conduct a vanity search online.

Even if you’re off the grid and seemingly non-existent online, it’s still advisable to check your online presence. Start by searching your name on different engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo. Make sure to perform the search while logged out of your Google accounts to avoid personalized results.

In case you come across disturbing content, it’s important to understand that your perspective and Google’s criteria for removal might differ. Google typically addresses issues like bank account numbers, images of signatures, and non-consensual nude images. For embarrassing or unprofessional material, especially images of you in compromising situations, Google suggests reaching out to the webmaster directly.

If you’ve found nothing alarming, review your various social media profiles. Ensure your LinkedIn profile is set to public, and check public views for Facebook and Twitter posts. Delete any controversial posts, such as those featuring provocative or bigoted content, drugs and alcohol, or poor writing. Recruiters are not necessarily seeking disqualifying content but rather looking for elements that reinforce your resume, like a professional portfolio and online persona.

Consider sharing public, professional content online to strengthen your online presence.

How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile to Impress Recruiters

Alright, let’s start afresh.

Whether you’re online or offline, having a LinkedIn profile is essential.

Why?

Because, according to our HR statistics report, 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn to assess your online presence.

What does this mean for you?

Nearly every time you submit a resume, a recruiter will likely check if you have a LinkedIn profile.

So, it’s advantageous to have one, and it’s even more beneficial if it aligns with the information on your paper resume.

If you’re already on LinkedIn, consider optimizing your profile.

For both scenarios, the initial step is to complete your profile.

Then, think about adding additional information that didn’t fit into your traditional resume. If there wasn’t room for hobbies and interests, include them. On LinkedIn, 87% of hiring managers appreciate employees with personality.

Lastly, personalize your URL and think about linking to an online resume.

Why?

Personalizing your link makes it more user-friendly for recruiters. Adding a link to an online resume provides convenient access to your information.

Imagine a situation where a recruiter accidentally spills coffee on your paper resume or it gets misplaced behind their desk. Voila! The recruiter has a memo with your personalized LinkedIn URL, and there’s the link to your online resume. Handy, right?

To personalize your URL, go to “view profile,” click on the pencil icon next to your LinkedIn profile URL, and edit the link to include your name and only your name.

How to Check Your Online Presence Against Your Traditional Resume

Consistency is the key to aligning your online reputation with your traditional resume.

Consider this:

Imagine you’re an exceptional photographer, specializing in capturing images of mice, akin to Annie Leibovitz in this niche. In this case, your online portfolio should showcase your mouse photography, and your resume should highlight your work with mice, avoiding any mention of owls, deer, or rats.

Ensure your online presence maintains a consistent representation across various platforms.

Once you’ve confirmed this alignment, cross-reference your digital and paper content. Begin by incorporating a link to your portfolio or website in the contact section of your resume.

Additionally, link to an online resume through your portfolio, website, or LinkedIn profile. This ensures that your online professional presence is interconnected. If a recruiter discovers your website or portfolio, they can easily navigate to your resume. Similarly, if they begin with your resume, they can seamlessly explore your website or portfolio.

The idea is to create a cohesive online presence, regardless of your profession. Leaving a digital trail, akin to breadcrumbs, is a prudent strategy. Regularly check your online presence to strategically place links where recruiters can easily find them.