Your online brand as a jobseeker

Job seeking in a post lockdown world is different and I appreciate that things will continue to change. Especially in the UAE, the candidate market is busy right now and if you are a job seeker you want to ensure you are standing out to Recruiters and potential employers.

How can you make the loudest noise in an already noisy orchestra? Your online personal brand could be the key.

Personal Brand

• The first place to start with your personal brand is with your social media presence, namely your LinkedIn profile. As a Recruiter, we check 94% of candidates on LinkedIn and regularly search for new candidates on the platform. The Middle East is one of Linkedin’s most active markets in the world and a majority of large employers will search for candidates and advertise jobs on the platform. It’s therefore important to showcase yourself as much as possible.
• Let’s start with a professional photo. Not your favourite one from Instagram, your Tinder picture or I have seen some post their passport photo. It needs to be a professional ‘at work’ photo. According to Forbes, you are 7 times more likely to be reviewed by a Recruiter if you have a photo on your page. Think about how you would like to make a first impression and how you want others to see your personal brand. Having your arms crossed insinuates a serious professional, a big smile and open gestures indicates someone more laid back. This relates to the type of job you are seeking. There is a website called Photofeeler www.photofeeler.com that you can upload your photo to and will give you an assessment of how you come across in the photo.
• Following that, think about your Headline. This is where you list your current or last job title and how you want people to know you professionally. When we search for profiles, this is the main part we see when flicking through profiles so it needs to stand out. Make it relevant, do you cover a region, what is your specialism. For example Digital Marketing Manager specialising in SEO in the Middle East. If you are an active jobseeker, think about putting ‘looking for my next challenge’ or 'immediately available'.
• Next is your summary which is the paragraph underneath your headline. It is easy to fall in the trap of writing in business speak ‘I’m a self-motivated, team player with a proven track record in sales’. These do not get read and essentially mean nothing to Recruiters! Tell your story in your own voice, like an elevator pitch. ‘I am qualified Lawyer with 7 years PQE. I have 5 years working with Private Practice in London specialising in Banking law and have spent the last 2 years with a local Dubai bank assisting with delivering on a recent merge’. Stand out from the crowd and get noticed. Read it aloud and ask your friends/family to read it for you to see if it represents you.
• The rest of your profile should be a reflection of your CV. It’s most important to ensure it is up to date with your current work history. Recruiters will search for key words so make sure your key skills and strengths are scattered throughout your profile and key words you want to be picked up are listed several times. Make sure your achievements are updated in your last few roles, I still can't believe the number of people that leave these blank!
• There is a section at the bottom to list your key skills, there should be at least 5 there. Again, think about what skills you want people to know you for.
• Once you have an up to date profile, get out there, like, comment and share relevant content. Connect with people in your industry and approach organizations that you want to get to know. Change your LinkedIn setting to ‘Open to new opportunities’. Recruiters are more likely to review your profile with this simple setting activated.\
• According to LinkedIn research, an up to date and active profile is 18 times more likely to be found in searches by Recruiters/employers.

A final note on social media...

• You should also think about the rest of your social media presence when looking for a new role. 8 of 10 employers will now check their potential new recruit on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram before they decide to hire. Do not be that person with a bad online presence. Make them all private and remove public pictures that you think show you in a bad light. The best way to check your online presence – google your name!

Good luck with your search!