The increased online presence of millions of people utilizing social media is resulting in a transparency that not everyone is comfortable with. But this blurring of lines between personal and professional profiles is fait accompli. A decision to reject this will only hurt your own brand as the natural presumption will be that you have something to hide.

Internet use and social media continue to evolve as we leave behind an industrial era that created a separate work life from our personal life. Recognition and reparation have resulted in a return to a healthy work/life balance and at the same time, social media has brought our online personal profiles to a public visibility that was previously sought after only for a professional profile. This online merge of private and professional profiles will be a struggle for many but with the resulting transparency, we will have the ability to determine credibility.

In the past many companies have successfully marketed themselves without a personal presence leaving many unsuspecting customers at a loss to follow up with unstatisfactory products or services. Social media has provided a venue for sharing information and the potential to generate global awareness. Soon, there will be nowhere to hide from the most powerful influence in today’s society; word of mouth.

Oprah, Richard Branson and Steve Jobs have all established highly successful brands both personal and professional. Separate entities or brands are becoming less acceptable and in order to validate your integrity and crediblity or that of your business, a commitment to visibly stand behind your personal reputation, product or service will be necessary if you wish to succeed.

For further information on developing your online profile contact Elite Resumes.

Where have you established your professional online profile? Do you have a Facebook page? Are you on Twitter? How about Linkedin, VisualCV or Naymz? No matter where you choose to create your online profile, it is imperative that it is professional, contains pertinent content and shares a consistent message. Here are the top 10 tips for your online profile:

1. What is your name? What is your company name? When creating online profiles always give careful consideration to the user name you are about to enter as it will likely be contained in the URL, which is automatically generated. Take advantage of the option to customize your URL whenever available to eliminate slashes, dashes or extra letters and numbers. Be consistent with the name you choose in every profile. Make an effort to avoid dots and dashes and numbers. The difficulty in remembering your various user names is one problem, the other is not being found by a potential employer or client because you created the user name babs72 which did not consist of the first or last name of their search.   

2. A professional photo or a company logo is required for all online profiles. Do not try to edit a family photo. Available programs are great but it will never look professional. Your personal image or company logo are your opportunity to create a positive first impression. Exude professionalism, confidence and SMILE. Make it good!

3. What is your brand? Establishing a personal brand or company brand is essential to your online profile and key to successful marketing. A genuine and authentic brand with a consistent message will establish a significant visibility and shared recognition.  Oprah, Richard Branson, Starbucks, Apple and Nike are clearly recognized around the world. An excellent example of how not to create a brand is Tiger Woods. 

4. In addition to your brand, your online profile should feature a tagline. A brand statement that sums up who you are, what differentiates you from everyone else and what makes you a valuable contact. “Entices more customers to buy more product more often for more money” or “The human spirit drives everything that I do” ~ Oprah 

5. The more information or content you share, the more credibility you lend to your online profile. It must be professional and accurate. The content must be consistent on all online profiles and free from any spelling or grammatical errors. Be sure to highlight your achievements, display certifications, degrees, awards and include special recognition. 

6. Keep your online profiles updated. Do not let your photo, job history or education become outdated. Most online sites offer quick and easy access to update your status which should be utilized on a regular basis as many display the last date that you generated any activity. It will be difficult maintain the credibility of your profile if it is outdated or you have not been active for the past six months.

7. Ask for testimonials! Posting testimonials on your online profile is your chance to let others brag about you. Some online sites offer secure measures which assure authenticity but for those that don’t, be sure to add the person’s full name, title and possibly a company name for validation.   

8. Networking, make it personal. Online sites are all about building your network and with a simple press of a button and a forwarded canned invitation, you will find it easy to connect with total strangers and lots of them. In order to maintain a reputable online profile, do not send the canned message and do not connect with strangers. Include in your invitation, how you found them or how you know them, why you want to connect with them and most importantly, why they should connect with you. The value of networking is not in the number of connections you have but in who those connections.

9. Add links in your online profile to your website, your blog and other online profiles. Take advantage of the many applications offered, usually found under settings to add status updates from other sites, share your favourite books on Amazon, add SlideShare, post a video.  

10. Share your expertise by joining groups and contributing to discussions. If you believe their is a need for a group representing your industry or interests and you will invest the time to monitor members and discussions, create your own! 

Maintaining a successful career requires a thorough and ongoing analysis. Your success will be influenced by active networking, continued education and a professional online presence. Although all are key elements critical to ensuring your career advancement, there is one task that will have the greatest influence and provide the most important basis for making key decisions in the direction of your career. It is, ”Staying Current”. The demise of many businesses, those “left in the dust”, is attributed to their failure to embrace new and innovative ideas and technological advances. New and evolving market trends have had the greatest influence on the success and failure of many business and career initiatives. Staying current with economic, industry and technological trends will afford you the opportunity to effectively manage your career. Competition is fierce and any inclination to hold onto old school ideas or resist technological advances will take you out of the running. An outdated mindset will have as negative an influence as an outdated appearance.  

“The mobile device will be the world’s primary connection tool to the Internet in 2020″ This is an excellent video on current and emerging trends. Will this have an influence on your current career path?

When someone calls you and you are not available to take the call, what impression will be generated when they listen to your recorded message? When you call and leave a voice message, what impression do you leave? Do you give as much consideration to presenting a good first impression over the phone as you would when meeting someone face to face for the first time?

A bad first impression is just that and you don’t get a second chance at a first impression. It may be possible to move beyond the negative impression but not without a great deal of time and effort so why not do it right from the start? It is a clearly articulated, confident message that will leave the best first impression. Consider a face to face meeting for the first time; a professional appearance, eye contact and a firm handshake are imperative. This is not so different than that required over the phone. You will not give the same impression if you are sitting in your pyjamas with your feet up watching TV as you will if you are in professional attire, focussed on relaying a clear message with confidence and without distractions.

It sounds simple so why do so many people fail terribly at generating a good first impression over the phone? It is likely because less consideration is given to the impact a phone message or conversation can have. Do you put your best voice forward to generate an impressive and positive first impression?

Call yourself and listen to your voice message. Is it your voice? Does it sound professional? Is it a clearly articulated message that invites the caller to leave a message for you? Is it short and concise or is it so long that the caller will be more apt to hang up than wait for the opportunity to leave a message? 

When you are calling someone, are you prepared? Do you know who it is you are calling and what questions you want to ask? Are the questions valid or was the information available on the website right next to the number you found to call? If you are leaving a recorded message, will your name and number be easily deciphered from your message? Of course you began your message with your name and number but did you repeat your name and number at the end of your message? You did leave a message to explain why you were calling, right?

If you have actually connected with a real person at the other end of the line do you make a point of smiling when introducing yourself? If leaving a message are your words clear and spoken slowly enough for the person to be able to write down your name and number? Did you offer to spell your last name? No one taking a message appreciates, ”he’ll know who it is”. The intended recipient checks in for messages only to be told John has called. Who the heck is John?! DO NOT assume. Even if the person you are leaving the message for has your number, DO NOT say, “she has my number’! Why would you not relay your phone number? You can be assured that the messages with a name and number will be the ones returned first. There is no excuse for not leaving your name and number unless you can say, “it’s his mother”!.

So pick up the phone and call yourself. Listen carefully to your message and respond with a message that you can listen to and evaluate. What impression are you leaving? 

What impression is your resume generating? Receive your free resume critique from a Certified Professional Resume Writer.

Professional Resume Writing 101 is a series of blog posts covering a variety of topics related to resume writing.

The following topics are covered in the last seven blog posts in this series:

Professional Resume Writing 101-26 Detailed Accomplishments

Professional Resume Writing 101-27 Career Path

Professional Resume Writing 101-28 Basic Rules

Professional Resume Writing 101-29 Resume Pet Peeves 

Professional Resume Writing 101-30 Hiring a Professional

Professional Resume Writing 101-31 What not to do

Professional Resume Writing 101-32 Contact Information

We hope you have gained some valuable information from this series of posts, Resume Writing The Basics. Please contact Elite Resumes for a free resume critique or to acquire answers to any other questions you may have on professional resume writing.  

Professional Resume Writing 101 is a series of blog posts covering a variety of topics related to resume writing.

The following topics are covered in these five blog posts:

Professional Resume Writing 101-21 Powerful Language!

Professional Resume Writing 101-22 Professional Image

Professional Resume Writing 101-23 The Truth

Professional Resume Writing 101-24 Keywords

Professional Resume Writing 101-25 Email Address

Is your resume ready? Don’t take any chances. Obtain a free resume critique from a Certified Professional Resume Writer.

There are many professional networking sites which offer an exceptional opportunity to expand your professional network and provide access to a wealth of information. Do not hesitate to investigate the many options available and create your online profile for those you feel may be of benefit to you. However, there is one site that should be considered mandatory; Linkedin the #1 professional networking site. With over 50 million users, Linkedin has experienced unprecedented growth and is listed as the top resource by HR professionals and recruiters.

Establishing a professional online profile is the most influential component of a successful career. Whether gainfully employed or in career transition, a Linkedin profile is critical. Opportunity is the key to success and Linkedin will generate opportunities for you if utilized in a proper, professional manner.

Not unlike your resume, the content for your Linkedin profile must be clear and concise, highlighting your achievements. Status updates should be maintained on a regular basis and received messages should be responded to within 24 hours. Join appropriate groups and contribute to discussions. Always remember that networking online or in person must consist of both giving and receiving. Be confident and honest in sharing what your needs are and what you are able to give back in return.

If there is one aspect of Linkedin that you should pay strict attention to, it is the proper etiquette when requesting to connect with another professional. DO NOT request to add a connection using  the canned text, “I would like to add you to my professional network” without further elaboration. Include an explanation of why you want to add the individual to your network. Advise if  you have met them before. If so, where and when? Give them a reason to connect with you. A conscious decision to connect with strangers without explanation could result in the potential respondent selecting the option, ”I don’t know this user”, rather than accepting your invitation. This will then block you from connecting with this individual again and your rating/reputation will be negatively impacted. 

As with any organization, there are rules and proper etiquette that should be respected and adhered to in establishing and maintaining your professional profile. Don’t miss out on the unlimited opportunities on Linkedin, the #1 professional networking site.

Have you established your professional profile on Linkedin? For further information regarding an online presence contact Elite Resumes.

Professional Resume Writing 101 is a series of blog posts covering a variety of topics related to resume writing.

The following topics are covered in these five blog posts:

Professional Resume Writing 101-16 Information NOT to Include in Your Resume

Professional Resume Writing 101-17 Start Bragging!

Professional Resume Writing 101-18 Time and Research

Professional Resume Writing 101-19 Who and What is Reading it?

Professional Resume Writing 101-20 Sell!

Do not send your resume out without first receiving a free resume critique!

If you are interested in advancing your career in 2010 your number one task should be a thorough research of emerging career trends. Even if you are not one of the hundreds of thousands of executives who found themselves unexpectedly thrown into a career transition in 2009, you may be influenced by your research to voluntarily consider a career transition in 2010!

Maintaining a successful career is dependent on a healthy, growing industry and acquiring those skills which are in highest demand. Following career trends and positioning yourself in a growing industry will increase the probability of career advancement. The transition into a more secure industry may not be as difficult as you may think as many skills are transferable. A project engineer will have a greater opportunity for career advancement in the aerospace industry than in the automotive industry.

Career trends are influenced by many factors including our environment, social evolution and our economy. Although our economic recession has had a dramatic impact over the past 2 years resulting in unprecedented job losses, it is a temporary influence as many of the hardest hit occupations, architecture and engineering are expected not only to recover but forecasts show continued growth through 2018. This is not the case for production supervisors and managers where the decline in employment, experienced over the past ten years is expected to continue into 2018 as North American manufacturers struggle to survive moving their production overseas to cut labour costs. Environmental concerns combined with new legislation have provided a wealth of “green jobs” and Generation Y are demanding a balanced work/life career influencing change in the workplace. Many companies are providing more flexible work schedules, increased vacation and further training and educational development programs. Canada’s Top 100 Employers is published annually and includes the reasons these companies were selected, providing a valuable glimpse into emerging trends in the workplace that will impact career trends.

Be smart and stay informed. The dramatic increase in our aging population has resulted in thousands of new jobs within the health care industry despite the recession. This is an industry that is expected to see continued growth in  all sectors. The demographics of our aging population, new and emerging markets, predicted skills shortages, recruiting practices, company benefits and industry lay offs all have an impact on career trends. Following these trends will provide you with the knowledge you need to maintain a viable career path and ensure the maximum potential for career advancement and continuing success in your future career. 

For further job search strategies, career coaching or to obtain a free resume critique from a Certified Professional Resume Writer contact Elite Resumes.

As a member of Career Collective, I’m pleased to share the professional job search advice from the following members:

@KCCareerCoach, Career Chaos, “The Art of Being Gracious: Much Needed in Today’s Job Search”
@heathermundell, life@work, Kaizen and the Art of Your Job Search
@barbarasafani, Career Solvers, Looking Into the 2010 Careers Crystal Ball
@resumeservice, Resume Writing Blog, The Resume and Your Social Media Job Search Campaign
@kat_hansen, Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters Tips Blog, New Year: Time to Assess Yourself and Your Career
@keppie_careers, Keppie Careers, Help for job seekers in a rut
@heatherhuhman, HeatherHuhman.com, Job seekers: 5 tips for making the most of 2010
@DawnBugni, The Write Solution, Ya, but
@ErinKennedyCPRW, Professional Resume Services, Advice to Job Seekers in 2010–learn Yoga?
@Chandlee, The Emerging Professional Blog, Starfish, JobAngels, and Making a Difference
@ValueIntoWords, Career Trend, Is Your Job Search Strategy a Snore?
@debrawheatman, Resumes Done Write, Making the most of a new year
@walterakana, Threshold Consulting, Starting anew – tips for truly managing your career
@careersherpa, Hannah Morgan: Career Sherpa, The Year of the Tiger
@WorkWithIllness, WorkingWithIllness.com, Dogs Can Do It, Can You?
@JobHuntOrg, Job-Hunt.org, Lifelong Learning for Career Security
@AndyInNaples, Career Success, What Are You Getting Better At? Make This the Year You Become the Best You Can Be!
@GLHoffman, A Flash of the Blindly Obvious 

Professional Resume Writing 101 is a series of blog posts covering a variety of topics related to resume writing.

The following topics are covered in these five blog posts:

Professional Resume Writing 101-11 Time Gaps

Professional Resume Writing 101-12 Look Outstanding!

Professional Resume Writing 101-13 Is Your Resume Computer-Friendly?

Professional Resume Writing 101-14 An Advertisement for a Job Interview

Professional Resume Writing 101-15 Is Your Resume Ready for the Internet and Posted Online?

Contact Elite Resumes for a free resume critique today!