Although successful job hunting is the result of humans connecting with humans, executive resume writers & career coaches realize that most job hunting( specifically during initial stages) is done online.
Lots of studies prove that searching for a job online has low ROI since 85% of jobs are filled through networking. However the first step towards a job hunt involves online job research.
I am going to talk today about how to make readers/decision makers aware that you are looking & makes you as easy as possible to search & impress decision makers with what they see
- Make your LinkedIn profile rich: When potential employers & headhunters are looking out for profiles like you for a possible role, make your profile desirable & on the top the list by including the relevant keywords related to your profile/function at the right places. Replace your headline that will otherwise default to your current job title with 120 characters that include kind of words that a hiring manager would enter to find candidates for the role that they are aspiring to fill. Refer to job of your interest to figure out industry keywords & key phrases & weave that into language that describes your success/accomplishments in summary & experience sections.
- Let recruiters know that you are looking: LinkedIn allows you to privately let recruiters ( who have subscribed to this premium service) know that you are available for their outreach. While turning on this function won’t cover all recruiters, it at least covers some. When you are going full flow for a job hunt, make it easy for all recruiters to contact you by including your email & contact number in the summary section.
- Be active online: Gone are the days when just submitting your resume & doing a kick ass interview would help you land up with a job. Around 70% of decision makers look at social media to screen job candidates. This essentially means that from comments you post to picture you share, you must remember that people are looking to see if your personal persona aligns with a professional one. Around 80% of the decision makers use LinkedIn for candidates screening. I recommend that apart from being careful on what comments you post/pictures & articles you share, you should have a professional image on LinkedIn. Focus on completing as many sections on LinkedIn as possible, a robust headline & a great summary, achievement highlights in the experience section. Make you that you have recommendations & complete skills & volunteer sections.
The main objective of job seekers should be to be in front of decision makers & get an opportunity to pitch. You can encash this by making yourself easy to find by hiring managers/decision makers.
As the founder and executive resume coach at Sushant Kumar Ventures, I offer customized executive resume and LinkedIn profile writing services for modern day job seekers. Sign up here for our services/free consult.
