Reasons Why Your Online Presence Will Replace Your Resume

More and more recruiters use the web as a place to search for talent and conduct employment background searches and the trend for job seekers to need an "online presence" is increasing year by year. 

  • Your online presence should include your own website at yourfullname.com

    Your online presence should include your own website at yourfullname.com

    This website is the core of your online presence and if you optimize it effectively, it will rank number one for your name in major search engines such as Google.

  • Your online presence should contain social network profiles

    Your online presence should contain social network profiles

    With vanity URL’s, on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter at a minimum. You should also get listed on sites such as Spokeo.com, and obtain your Google profile.

  • By claiming your web presence, you’re protected from being confused with other people with the same name, claiming it before you

    By claiming your web presence, you’re protected from being confused with other people with the same name, claiming it before you

    You also gain control over how you’re perceived online, and thus what employers find out about you when they conduct their search.

  • More than 1/3 of companies feel that resumes will be replaced by profiles on social networks1

    More than 1/3 of companies feel that resumes will be replaced by profiles on social networks1

    Resumes will be less common, and your online presence will become what your resume is today, at all types and sizes of companies.

Social networking use is increasing while email is decreasing

More and more people are using social networks to send and receive messages. About 90% of U.S. Internet users visit a social networking site several times each month.

Usage of Web-based email has fallen 10%, with the biggest decline among 12 to 17 year-olds, with an almost 60% drop. Although, you may think of this as a generational trend, the highest growing demographic on Facebook is 35+, and LinkedIn caters primarily to that demographic, too.

Employers are reviewing your profiles to see what kind of person you are outside of work, who you’re connected to, and how you present yourself. Each gives clues to how well you can fit into the corporate culture. When employees don’t fit in the culture, there is turnover, and it costs the organization thousands of dollars.

You can’t find jobs by traditional means anymore

In order to get a job, you have to be creative, attract jobs to your website, and network constantly. Applying to job postings, in newspapers and online, won’t get you anywhere and is becoming completely ineffective.

By building your online presence, employers can find you and thus you have more opportunities. If you don’t have an online presence, you won’t appear to be relevant and you will be passed over for more savvy applicants that have visibility.

You need to be creative in your job search by developing your own product, eBook, viral video, or personal advertisement.

Finally, you need to treat your life as one giant networking event, and meet as many people in your field as you can.

People are managing their careers as entrepreneurs

In the career field, the term “Careerpreneur” describes a professional who manages their career like an entrepreneur, always searching for the next big opportunity.

Over 5 years ago, there was a survey of 1,623 Gen Yers, conducted by Buzz Marketing Group, Scott’s Young Entrepreneur Council, and presented by LegalZoom2, that indicated that more than 35% of Gen-Y’ers have started their own businesses on the side in order to supplement their income.

This shows that younger generations understand that there’s no job security and that they can build companies to offset their low wages.

Also, it’s too easy to get laid off now, which is why you need to build your online presence before you need it, and constantly look for new opportunities that will further your online repuation.

The traditional resume is now virtual and easy to build

Have you ever created your resume using Microsoft Word? You may have, but those days are quickly coming to an end.

Professionals can use LinkedIn to turn their LinkedIn profile into a resume that they can use to submit to jobs.

In this way, LinkedIn profiles can be used passively and pro-actively in the job search process.

Employers use LinkedIn as a search tool to find top talent, and job seekers use LinkedIn to leverage their network in support of their search.

Job seeker passion is now the deciding factor in employment

Your online presence should communicate what you’re truly and genuinely passionate about.

83% of job seekers would rather have a job they love than a job that pays well, according to a survey.3

It's quite possible that you won't be able get a job or stay steadily employed anymore without demonstrating your passion, because there is far more competition than ever before.

Employers like to see people who are enjoying their work because they will be more productive and help foster a stronger corporate culture.

Develop your online presence and focus your job search around what you're passionate about

CITATIONS: 
  1. OfficeTeam Study
  2. Buzz Marketing Group Survey
  3. SimplyHired.com Survey
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About the Author

PABlo Bley

PABlo is an artist, musician, author, inventor, serial entrepreneur and technology evangelist, and has years of experience designing, developing, speaking, and writing about technology. As a prolific blogger, PABlo writes on a regular basis for a number of online communities and learning provider outlets, where he contributes science journalism articles, business-oriented and educational content and shares his expertise in instructional systems design, content-marketing, cyber security, and thought leadership.
 
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