It’s common knowledge that once the mainstream media pick up on a new trend, it’s old news to those of us “in the know.” That’s why I was gratified to see a posting on Web Guild Silicon Valley touting a recent story broadcast on The Today Show about how to “De-Age Your Resume With a Web Presence.” What a novel idea! What’s interesting is that the blog notes that The Today Show segment was targeting job seekers over 40 who are, supposedly, new to the social networking scene. The recommendations should be familiar to you: set up an online profile, use LinkedIn and Facebook, set up a professional blog if you have the time, and basically build out your presence online:
In the story, an out-of-work reporter featured was finding it hard to get call-backs and went onto Craigslist and hired a “young, hip, web designer” who designed a blog for her. She listed the blog at the top of her resume and got two jobs offers. As one expert in the piece put it, the “workplace has been completely transformed by the internet”.
All of this should be common sense if you have been reading The Executive Update regularly. 
But how many of you have had the time and energy to build your online presence? There are tools you can use, like the LinkedIn Profile, to help you start an online resume, but most of those are fairly stiff and static. Some more innovative online tools are evolving for personal marketing. One I have been toying with recently is VisualCV, which lets you set up a comprehensive professional profile, including work samples and a career portfolio. You can even set up different profiles for different target audiences.
If you have the time, resources, and inclination, I recommend maintaining a web site with work history, biographical data, samples, and other professional materials. It’s an ideal way to give you a three-dimensional persona and create depth that you can’t offer in a resume or biography.
If a Web site is too much for you, consider blogging about your professional experiences. Offer insights and opinions about your industry, events, and related topics. However, keep it professional, and be careful what you post. Remember that most recruiters are scouring the web these days, looking for the good, the bad, and the ugly about candidates. So don’t post that drunken YouTube video.
An interesting addendum to the Web Guild post was a comment offered by Jill Park who noted that Web portfolios are great for the social networking crowd, but what about industry such as banking, construction, or food preparation. Many employers like to hire employees who can maintain confidentiality when necessary, so “blabbing on the Web” might not be perceived in the best light. And if you are a blogger, you could be perceived to have too much time on your hands.
Jill has a point, but I think the benefits outweigh the downside. The key is to make sure you keep your posts on a professional level. Blog responsibly, and demonstrate you know your stuff, and are willing to keep the secrets of the trade. Also, never bash the competition or embarrass someone online. You never know when you may be asking that company or hiring manager for a job.
