It may be the beginning of winter, but if you’re looking for a new job, there’s no better time for spring cleaning. We’re not talking about organizing your closet; even when you’re utilizing professional employment agencies, cleaning up social media accounts and your resume are necessary for finding a great job. Here’s why – and how – to take your profiles and resume to the next level today.
Social Networking – Not Just for Friends and Family
Savvy job seekers understand the importance of a squeaky-clean online image. According to a recent survey, an average of 60% of hiring managers are using social media to research potential employees. Depending on the industry, this could be even more – 76% of IT managers and 65% of sales managers use social networks. So, even if you’re not big on social networking, you should be staying active on social media for the sake of your career.
Anything that you don’t want a potential employer to see should be either deleted or given privacy filters. Facebook, for instance, enables you to customize who can see individual posts. The same goes for pictures and other profile features. And don’t forget that your internet presence isn’t limited to your own profile. Search for pictures you are tagged in, and make sure to un-tag yourself if you don’t want potential employers to see you partying hard.
It’s not always enough to keep your social media from being incriminating. An inactive social presence can also be bad for job seekers, especially if you are looking for a job that requires you to be tech-savvy. Regularly posting on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter will show hiring managers that you are comfortable with online communication and technology.
Review and Streamline Your Resume
On average, a hiring manager will look at your resume for no more than six seconds. You had better make them count.
If you have been a nurse for 30 years, do you really need to list the time you spent working a drive-thru window in high school? If an old job is not relevant to your current search, it’s probably okay to leave it off – as long as it does not create a gap in your resume’s job history. Or, you can try this tactic from expert resume writer Grant Cooper:
“Create a section immediately following the main job description area entitled ‘Previous Positions’ that simply lists the older, less relevant jobs. In this way, the jobs are documented so that decision-makers can see how your career progressed without devoting too much space or attention to positions in the distant past.”
Whatever you do or do not include on your resume, make sure that the most important information stands out, so that it is sure to be noticed in those first crucial six seconds.
Use your time wisely this winter by cleaning up your resume and social media accounts. And make sure to visit our Candidate Resource Center for more tips from one of Atlanta’s top staffing firms.