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Create a polished, professional online persona
Published: Sat 26 Nov 2016, 7:51 PM
Having an online presence on various social media and networking platforms is a no-brainer for most of the millennial generation and recent graduates. After all, the abundance of social media sites and tech-savvy users makes creating and maintaining an online profile nearly effortless. In reality, however, many recent graduates stumble when it comes to creating a professional, employable, and networking-friendly profile. These profiles have different angles to push, different information to highlight, and different tools to utilise.
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Job seekers of all ages and experience levels have the opportunity of building an online profile with an exposure to more than 40,000 employers using online job sites. An online profile can be easily populated based on the candidate's CV and with the aid of many tools and writing support services. That being said, it is not to be forgotten that a professional profile functions as the vanguard of the job application, the brand that is self-promoted, and the main message that is sent across a wide-reaching platform and must, therefore, be in the strongest shape possible.
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In order to ensure that your profile is complete and is generating as many career opportunities as possible, take a look at the three most important questions that your professional profile must answer according to Bayt.com.
What is your targeted job?
You already know how crucial it is to provide information on your previous positions, education, and training. Yet, hiring companies aren't able to see the full picture solely based on that. You need to explain to your potential employer what it is that you aspire to do, where you want to do it, and what type of position will allow you to do it. In fact, the career objective is one of the first sections to be reviewed by recruiters and hiring managers and is, unfortunately, often neglected or stated too vaguely by job seekers.
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his question is especially important for recent graduates as well as those seeking an entry-level position, where the lack of specific targeted jobs may cause a potential employer to dismiss their profiles as irrelevant. Employers do not like guessing an applicant's career path and, most of the time, they prefer having the answer before even asking the question. Having a well-defined career objective will make it easier for the employer and for the candidate to determine the relevance of the vacancy. On your public profile, you can include information about your targeted job including industry, location, career level, and employment type. Listing your targeted industries, locations, and positions will make your profile more search-friendly. Employers searching for specific keywords based on the requirements and responsibilities of the vacant position will easily locate and access your profile if those keywords are present on it.
What do you know about your industry?
Even if you do not have extensive experience in the career you are attempting to pursue, employers still need to know why your profile is relevant and how well you are qualified for a particular position. Bayt.com conducted a survey to find out the one quality that employers look for in a candidate's public profile. The top cited factor was industry knowledge and expertise. Do not be discouraged because you have not memorised an encyclopedia for your desired industry (and you certainly don't need to). Instead, make sure to display the information that reflects your general familiarity with the relevant industry and your awareness of the latest trends and changes. Online job profiles allow you to navigate industry-relevant topics, participate in online discussions, and share your thoughts and opinions where appropriate. Beyond that, you need to familiarise yourself with the general technological, structural, and economic changes of your field of work and be prepared for industry-specific questions.
What industry knowledge can also showcase is your passion and general aptitude as a candidate. Employers enjoy knowing that their young employees are keen on learning and growing more within their organisation.
How committed are you to the job?
Though you will not be able to measure your commitment level and display it on your profile, you need to prove to hiring companies that you are serious about a specific career prospect. Saying that you are interested in a field will not cut it. Young graduates have the most flexibility in choosing and changing a career path and employers will need to know that you are invested in the position you are applying for. In reality, hiring, on-boarding, and training a new employee is a major investment for companies so they need to be reassured that their efforts are not in vain.
Talk about your previous positions where you had to deal with different challenges. Discuss how you struggled in a new industry but quickly managed to learn the new skills and did not retreat. Present the initiatives that you launched and carried to the finish line. Refer to your extra-curricular activities, hobbies, or volunteer experience that complement your career passion. Show the potential employer that you always give 100 per cent and do not quit before the job is completed.