In an ever-changing landscape, staying ahead is critical for success…

During a recent survey, VIQU found that job seekers are becoming more reactive in their job search. Yet whether you’re actively or passively on the job search, knowing how to set your best foot forward will set you apart from other job seekers.

Building a consistent and professional online presence is an essential part of this success. Not only does it give you a competitive advantage, but it can also actually save some individuals from being removed from the recruitment process.

Why do you need an online presence?

It is now equally important to convey your relevant abilities both offline and online. I would even go as far as to say that a job seekers online presence will replace the traditional CV within the next decade.

The dominance of social networking, virtual CVs, alternative job search methods and the use of AI will have a lasting effect on the way employees are recruited. Emphasising this point, VIQU recently found that 52% of hiring managers, and 85% of recruiters examine a candidate’s online presence to determine their eligibility when filling IT roles. 98% of employers and recruiters told us they had previously rejected job seekers having researched their online presence.

How to build your online presence

The content you put out on your social media channels represents who you are to prospective employers.

For example, consider your profiles on platforms like Twitter and Instagram – how appropriate is the imagery and language you use? Does it display excessive alcohol use or a negative attitude? Are you confident that your profiles highlight your good communication skills? Assessing your online presence with simple questions like these could be the difference between securing a new role or being unsuccessful.

Now consider how you appear to be people on LinkedIn. Whilst it’s vital that you carefully decide on what you post via comments and articles, the actual background information you include on your profile is even more important.

Unfortunately, your LinkedIn profile can easily do you an injustice. Therefore, it’s crucial you keep background information up to date and ensure all content is well written and grammatically correct.

In a recent article, Shannon Lee of ‘Learn How to Become’, provides everything necessary to get started, including tips on creating a stellar LinkedIn profile, finding the right connections, using the platform appropriately and making that profile stand out from the crowd.

Summary

What do the above statistics and tips tell us? Consistency is key. Everything from posts to imagery to personal insights are equally important when building a positive online presence.

If you work within the IT or Cyber Security industry and you’re seeking a new role, please get in touch to discuss your online presence and how we can assist you.