The importance of online reputation is crucial for the success of any individual looking to launch a successful career in a multitude of professions, and is more than simply avoiding having a bad one. The online world has given employers the opportunity to see beyond your paper resume and into your online identity. It is no secret that employers will google each candidate and it is important that what they find shows you at your best, most professional self.
At first glance you may be thinking that having no reputation is the way to go when it comes to the online world. However, having no online reputation can be just as damaging as a bad one and make you invisible to potential employers. The online world has opened doors for marketing yourself, and most of the free services can be just as beneficial when used effectively as paid ones. So it makes sense to use them, and use them well to ensure that your employer sees what you want them to see.
In most cases the best place to begin is to create a Linkedin profile, it is simple, free and can widen your opportunities instantaneously. In its most basic form Linkedin is your online resume, it contains information about your education and employment history. But when used to its full potential the free profile can become a place to correspond with professionals and network in order to create opportunities for yourself. It allows you to make personal connections with real potential employers, to show them who you are beyond your resume. Linkedin as a platform is also designed to encourage collaboration. It is very simple to discover other professionals or students and collaborate on projects, and add these success to your growing portfolio of work.
For a student with an aspiration to succeed in the competitive field of Public Relations, a blog is the perfect place to showcase a multitude of things. Having an active and well managed blog account can show employers that you are dedicated and have a significant body of work. It as an extension of your resume and the portfolio of professional works that accompanies it. A blog showcases your writing style and is also a record of your ongoing skill development. Having a blog in itself can lead to employment, as exposing yourself to the online world as a writer can open up many writing opportunities as potential employers discover your blog and can immediately gauge your ability. Maintaining an active blog will not only lead to personal growth and the improvement of your skills but will also get you noticed.
Twitter is a huge platform with massive professional potential, but it is often overlooked as a place for career building. Twitter is a very professional social media site and it allows everyone to engage with each other and trending topics. Everyone has something to say and twitter provides its users with a platform to do this. The hashtag organisation of the site means you can follow and contribute to discussions that interest you with great ease. Twitter promotes a community of like minded people as you follow and gain followers and converse in a multitude of topics. The character limit on posts ensure that you take great consideration with language choices and what you choose to include is concise and of actual importance. Having a successful twitter account can make you stand out from the crowd of other job seekers, as you have developed a voice in the online world and have shown yourself to be part of the real world conversation.
Now creating and maintaining these different online platforms is one thing but offering them in one easy convenient place is even better. Aboutme is a website that allows individuals to lead prospective employers in the right direction. Profiles consist of a short bio and a profile picture and then a list of links to your other online accounts, accounts that showcase you in your best light. It is important to have a solid online presence across a multitude of platforms but these will only really pay off if they are seen. Aboutme makes it simple and easy for employers to see everything about you that you want them to. It is the title page on your paper resume but in digital form. It is simple and basic but it is important, and can make a big difference in employment opportunities and your online visibility.
Avoiding a negative online reputation is certainly a good place to begin but, when job hunting in the digital age, having no online presence is making you invisible to prospective employers and collaborative works. Your online profiles can help you improve your skills and get you involved in your professional community. The digital world offers up many opportunities at no cost so take advantage of them; build a strong reputation for yourself and give your career a head start.
Ellen Emary 