The document provides guidance on using online profiles to benefit one's career. It emphasizes that employers now use online profiles to screen candidates and verify resume claims. It recommends building an online presence, managing profiles to highlight skills and achievements, and promoting one's personal brand online. Specific platforms like LinkedIn and tips on monitoring profiles, privacy settings, engagement, and establishing expertise are discussed to help readers optimize their online profile.

1. Your Online Profile
Giving You The Edge In Your Job Search
Your online profile now plays a key role in you career. As the world continues to
develop into a more digital, mobile and social one the way in which you are perceived
online has increased in importance.
Employers and Recruiters like ourselves now use social networking sites such as
LinkedIn and Xing to screen potential jobseekers and to verify claims and so forth
made on CVs. A recent study showed that almost 80% of recruitment consultancies
use search engines to discover more about candidates so you can see how important
your reputation online can be.
We’ve brought together this brief guide to help you make a start on creating, enhancing
and managing your online profile. As all circumstances are different, our experienced
team at Eurostaff are more than happy to offer a personal appraisal and some
suggestions as to how to get the best from your skills and experience and portraying
them online.

2. How Your Online Profile Benefits You
Making You Stand Out To Employers
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Build An Online Presence
Online search engines are one of the first places to go when people are trying to find out
information. This is the same in the recruitment process. If your presence in the digital world is
limited, or even non-existent then you are potentially missing opportunities that you did not know
exist. Whether this is from the point of view of people finding you or from your efforts in finding a
new job.
Manage Your Profile
By managing your profile online you are able to influence and add value to your applications and
truly position yourself as a specialist in the market and industry you operate in. For example,
a professional LinkedIn profile which outlines your achievements and demonstrates your
knowledge of a particular skillset via statuses, membership of groups and so forth will help you
stand out from your peers. Show you are contributing to the industry you work in. How do you add
value and insight? How are you passionate? Are your views trusted and appreciated?
Build Your Brand
If you take some time to build your online profile and highlight your previous companies, your key
skills and your achievements to build a strong reputation then you could well be a step ahead of
other applicants when it comes to the point of you looking to move jobs. Your personal brand is
important in today’s world – you need to manage, monitor and make the most of it. The benefits
and value an excellent online profile creates outweigh the potential risks.

3. Five Things To Remember
Your Online Profile
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1. Monitor
It is essential you monitor your online profile. What’s professional? What’s personal? Is there any
difference? News spreads fast in the digital world so it is crucial to keep abreast of what you are
saying about yourself and what people may be saying about you! Run searches under your name
on the likes of Google and Twitter on a regular basis. Not happy about what you find? Take the
appropriate measures to rectify it.
2. Privacy
All of the various social networks have different privacy settings that are continuously changing
and can be confusing. Check the privacy settings on your photos on Facebook (they have their
own settings) and untag yourself from any photos that don’t portray you in the best light. You can
protect your tweets on Twitter, if you have a personal account you may want to use this option. If
you believe your tweets are appropriate and give a positive insight into your character then you
can of course keep it open – just remember though: if you wouldn’t say it to your colleague or a
boss, don’t put it online!
3. Get the basics right
Ensure that you have a picture of yourself and are involved in conversations. Having a dormant/
inactive profile is possibly worse than having no profile at all! Make sure you get the basics right
– A picture, tell people what you do, check for spelling errors, consistency across profiles, contact
details (if necessary)!
4. You don’t need to be everywhere
If you take some time to build your online profile and highlight your previous companies, your key
skills and your achievements to build a strong reputation then you could well be a step ahead of
other applicants when it comes to the point of you looking to move jobs. Your personal brand is
important in today’s world – you need to manage, monitor and make the most of it. The benefits
and value an excellent online profile creates outweigh the potential risks.
5. Promote Yourself
If you believe that your online profile makes you stand out from the competition, shows off your
expertise and adds value to your personal brand then shout about it. Include links to profiles,
blogs, commentary where your name appears on your CV/covering letters for job applications.
Having these ‘extras’ show you in a different light to many people so why wouldn’t you want to be
one step ahead?

4. Looking For A Job On Social Media
Why? How? Where?
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Why?
• A credible profile creates a great first impression if potential employers are searching you out.
• Your exposure and visibility is increased greatly compared to simply placing your CV online.
Friends, former colleagues and companies will all be able to assist you in your job search.
• You are able to show ‘you’ a lot more. An online profile gives an insight into you as a person. If
managed well, this will give you a real edge in the recruitment process.
How?
• Make sure your profile is recent and relevant, there is not much worse than a stale profile. Be
active, update your statuses, tweet (if necessary), make sure any blogs have new content on
them
• Keywords are essential. What would recruiters or employers search for if they were looking for
someone like you? Make sure you include those keywords in your profile!
• Is there an opportunity for references/testimonials (on LinkedIn for example)? Ask your former
colleagues/suppliers/customers for some comments – it adds credibility to your personal
brand
• Be connected to relevant people. Although not 100% true, “Who you know” plays a significant
part in the recruitment process.
Where?
Some networks that are great for finding your next job are listed below. Remember though, as
stated in our ‘5 Things to Remember…’ – you don’t need to be everywhere so just choose what is
most relevant to you and your market:
• LinkedIn
• Xing (Germany)
• Viadeo (France)
• Twitter
• Wordpress (for your own blog)
• Visual CV
• YouTube (the power of the video CV is quickly growing!)

5. Communicating Your Expertise
Social Media
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Why?
• The digital world means it is easier for industry influencers to see and hear you.
• There are huge platforms such as forums and networks for you to publish content and insight.
• Being seen as an expert and be able to educate your peers can establish you as a real
thought leader which opens a number of doors to help you progress your career.
How?
• Fish where the fish are. Get involved in social network discussions that are relevant to your
industry – answer questions; challenge opinions and position yourself as a thought leader.
• Pop up social conferences are common now, get in touch with the organisers and see if you
can speak and/or deliver a presentation. You will benefit from the promotion as well as the
networking opportunities at the event itself.
• It’s easy to set up a blog (try Wordpress), if you have an opinion then talk about it. You don’t
have to write essays and whitepapers (unless you want to!) but informal commentary that
shows your knowledge is a great way to build up followers.
• React to industry news if you can. Twitter is an excellent platform for this, see what is trending
in your market and voice your opinion.
• Technology means uploading videos is easier than ever. If you want to put a face to your
opinions then start ‘vlogging’!
Where?
You can showcase your expertise in a number of places. There will be many platforms that are
specific to your industry and skillset but the ones listed below may be a good place to start (and
then research the more niche mediums to promote yourself).
• LinkedIn
• Xing (Germany)
• Viadeo (France)
• Twitter
• Facebook Groups
• Wordpress (for your own blog)
• Quora & Stackoverflow (great for answering questions)
• YouTube