In today’s job market, your online presence is more important than ever. Employers are increasingly using social media to screen potential candidates, and LinkedIn is one of the most popular tools.
While LinkedIn has yet to replace the traditional resume, these days, there is a good chance that the very FIRST introduction that a potential employer has to you will be your LinkedIn profile. This is why writing a compelling, persuasive LinkedIn profile is as important as your resume.
If you’re not on LinkedIn, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to advance your career and control the first impression and image potential employers form of you.
Having an online presence is essential in today’s job market. Even if they’ve received your resume first, the potential employer will Google you. If they can’t find anything about you online, that will not reflect well on you. LinkedIn gives you a chance to control what comes up when someone Googles your name. You can ensure that the first thing they see when they look you up is a professional profile showcasing your skills and experiences.
For most of our clients, we write both a resume and a LinkedIn profile, so ask us about this during your free consultation.
3) Your Online Presence Doesn’t End With LinkedIn
A large part of our daily lives and social and professional interaction now occurs on the Internet. We meet and communicate through social media, email, text messages, and video conferencing apps like Skype or Zoom.
As a result, the rules for making a good first impression have expanded. It is important to remember that first impressions will happen, and you may not know when. Even more importantly, you may not be actively involved in the process.
Online first impressions are often formed based on what you have on your social media sites. Not just on LinkedIn but also on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. People see these online properties, read about you, look at your images, and quickly form first impressions.
That’s why it is essential to keep track of all the “virtual real estate” you occupy and make sure the information is accurate and represents you well.
Don’t post unprofessional photos of the party you went to last week or of you in a skimpy bathing suit on the cruise you took as your last vacation. Avoid discussing politics or other controversial and polarizing topics.
Of course, you should carefully check your privacy settings and lock down your account. But even if you think your account is private, it may not be as private as you think. Be cautious!
4) Email Also Creates a First Impression
Email is another vital touchpoint that can make or break the first impression someone forms of you. Poor grammar and spelling mistakes will leave a negative first impression.
On the positive side, email gives you time to think about what you want to say and how you want to say it. You can polish your message until it’s just right.
Take your time writing, editing, and spell-checking every email you send. Just because it is digital doesn’t mean it needs to be casual. Err on the side of being too formal.
Online tools such as Grammarly can be beneficial when sending any email or drafting any other type of written communication.
An unprofessional email address is a fast way to destroy a first impression. If an employer receives an email from [email protected], what impression do you imagine they’d form? If you don’t have an email account for professional correspondence, create one.
Also, don’t forget to check your settings. Look at how your own “from” field is displayed. Make sure it makes sense and is appropriate for the circumstance. This will be a first and last name for most of us, but you may also wish to include any special credentials (e.g., M.D. or R.N.)
5) Do Your Research to Ace the Job Interview
With your new powerful and persuasive professionally written resume and LinkedIn profile, it won’t be long before you begin getting calls for interviews.
Before you walk into the room, make sure you know everything there is to know about the company and the position you’re interviewing for.
This research will help you answer questions more confidently and show the hiring manager that you’re genuinely interested in the company and the opportunity.
Visit the company’s website and read through its About Us page. Thoroughly familiarize yourself with their products and services. Read recent news releases. Find out who will be interviewing you and look them up on LinkedIn. The more you know, the better.
In your interview, mention specific things you like about the company and why you think you would be a good fit for the position. Demonstrate your genuine interest in working for the company and that you would be an asset to their team.
Source : https://www.distinctiveweb.com/career-marketing/good-first-impression/