HR SEO : Online Candidate Attraction Specialists

Some businesses use social networking sites to check out potential employees. Jobseekers beware - employers are increasingly checking out networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to get a feel for prospective employees. Fiona Hewitt, director of Brand YOU, says while some are just “checking out drunken photos on Facebook”, savvy employers are using these sites as a recruitment tool to assess people’s public persona and reputation.

And whether you’re job hunting or preparing for a promotion, there’s never been a better time to define your personal brand and boost your professional visibility. In this “incredibly competitive” market in which there’s plenty of uncertainty, Hewitt says you need to stand out through “working out who you are and showcasing your talents to others”.

Employers want to know how you can strengthen existing client relationships, attract new clients or build new revenue streams. Having a strong personal brand helps them understand who you are and what you can do for them. Hewitt says few people convey their value clearly and concisely in interviews and networking.

Promoting yourself online has become an increasingly important career and business management tool. Having a website in your own name that communicates crisply what you can do, lists your accomplishments and includes samples of your work is a primary way to project your brand. If a prospective employee can refer their interviewer to their website, they will gain a competitive advantage over others and stand out instantly because few job hunters are doing this, Hewitt says.

Having a network of people who can recommend you helps your chances of bagging a job. Online professional networking platforms, such as Linkedin, are another good place to start publicising the value you can offer. But internet marketing expert Debbie Mayo-Smith says it doesn’t pay off if you’re “the kind of person who waits for things to happen”. To benefit, you must be proactive in working tools such as Linkedin. And they still tend to be used by a particular demographic, which may not be your target market.

Many owners of small to medium-sized businesses are too busy to trawl for them through cyberspace, she says. Her approach to Linkedin is to survey the contacts of anyone she connects with, looking for anyone to whom she would like to be introduced. She also recommends joining groups through the site to which potential employers may belong as a means of making a connection and raising your profile.

Social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook also provide public platforms for exhibiting your personal brand, and Hewitt says awareness has grown that potentially, employers are looking at these profiles. “Employers are definitely using social media to check what people do,” she says. Join the www.employersjobs.com jobseekers to receive a free platform to control your personal branding on the job market!