#UOSM2008 Topic 3 - Reflective Summary

So, it is time to summarize on the Topic 3: ways to develop your professional online profile. Unfortunately, I wasn't lucky enough this time with the number of comments on my post, that’s why the great thanks to George Chiverton, whose comment I had pleasure to read. I will try to do my best next time to improve my grammar and be more exact in the references I make and don’t mix meanings up. As there aren't many comments on my blog, I will go for mentioning the important points, in my opinion, from both, my own blog and the classmates’:

• Firstly, relevant to mention that I have enjoyed reading Alysia Wildman’s post, not just because of the content, but mostly because she have applied everything she have mentioned on her blog to her own online professional profile on LinkedIn. I think it’s a much better idea than mine, but still it is never late for me to do it.

• Secondly, one of the new aspects for me was “video CV” and to be honest, I was quite surprised to read about it (blogs of Emma Meheux and Kimberly Fenton). Despite my interest and surprise, I have concluded to myself that this kind of self-branding depends completely on the area a person is searching a job in, so for example, in the area of my interest, IT, it will not be as powerful as in Marketing.

• The importance of having an online professional profile. As it was already mentioned in my blog, “According to the studies, 75% of HR department are checking their applicants online and 50% of them say that it influences their decision (Microsoft, 2013)”. Not having one, and hiding your yourself from others, will cause more harm than help, as employers might think that you are not a social person.

Last but not least, I just want to state that we should focus not only on the social networks, such as LinkedIn. Yes, certainly it provides more broad and deep insight about a person than any other network, with all various sections and subsections to be filled describing the person. However, the networks, such as Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, etc. represent a person’s inner characteristics not visible on the CV: his/her opinions on different topics, worldview, ability to communicate with others and so on. We never know what a potential employer can be interested in, so why not to be ready from different sides?

Reference

Microsoft, 2013. Online Safety Research. [Online] Available at: http://www.microsoft.com/security/resources/research.aspx#reputation [Accessed 7 March 2014].

#UOSM2008:Topic 3 Building your Online Professional Profile

"Discuss the ways in which an authentic online professional profile can be developed"

Picture source: http://www.webdcmarketing.com/2013/11/four-more-linkedin-hacks-for-insurance-wholesalers/

In the modern world, when our everyday life becomes more and more online, the recruitment sector and employers are not the last people who are using online facilities. On the contrary, they have taken the recruitment to the whole new level where there is no need any more to carry your paper CV with you. However, as a person who has joined this trend around three years ago I had two main questions: Why do you need an authentic online professional profile? And, how do you develop one? In this post, I will answer both of these questions based on the research and my personal experience.

Why do you need an authentic online professional profile? For example, “LinkedIn”:

• Well, the first answer could be: Why not? It is not very time consuming, it is accessible to everyone in every language, it is nearly always for free (unless you want to upgrade your LinkedIn) and you also can have your small portion of data on the Internet in this age of online information overload.
• It is easier to find a job, internship, placement, etc. My close friend, a young web developer, has received two job offers via LinkedIn. The point is, he haven't even apply, as they have found him by themselves.
• According to the studies, 75% of HR department are checking their applicants online and 50% of them say that it influences their decision (Microsoft, 2013). Not having an online profile will cause more questions than answers.

How you develop an online profile:

Better than my words could be just the explanation via picture. Posted below are the pictures that I have scanned from the paper given to me on the Carriers Fair held at the University of Southampton, by ConnectUs recruitment consultancy. However, I will still point out the most important parts of it, in my opinion:

• Have a professional photo. As most of the HRs deliberately do not want a photo on the CV, an online identity with your photo is the only way they can see you. Remember that the first impression is very important (Hyams, 2012).
• Have at least two or three references that have the most amount of positive feedback about you (Hyams, 2012).
• Whatever you are writing, keep it short and sweet, and obviously provide the keywords that you think describe you and are searched by the employers.
• Join groups, both on local and international level. Just creating a profile is not enough, join the discussions, share links and news, increase the number of connections and just stand up of the crowd (Direct Connection, Advertising & Marketing, LLC, 2013).

Picture Source: http://ritasambu.com/projects.html

And finally, don’t just copy your paper CV, but give a bit more information about yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, interests, etc. In LinkedIn you are not limited to two pages of paper as it is in the real world (Guardian News and Media Limited, 2013).

Last but not least, just a quick advice for the post readers: be as authentic and correct as possible in showing your identity! We all have to accept that during the creation of our own profiles, both online and on paper, we often do embellish a little bit the stories about us. It is completely normal, but to the some extend. I personally do remember that on my first CV I have specified various programming languages that I have pleasure to code in without specifying the degree of knowledge for each. I had a very unpleasant situation when during one of the telephone interviews I was asked the very deep questions of one of the programming languages I have specified, that was quite a lesson for me.

Word Count: 620

References

Direct Connection, Advertising & Marketing, LLC, 2013. Four More LinkedIn Hacks for Insurance Wholesalers. [Online] Available at: http://www.webdcmarketing.com/2013/11/four-more-linkedin-hacks-for-insurance-wholesalers/ [Accessed 8 March 2014].

Guardian News and Media Limited, 2013. Why online CVs are essential in your job search. [Online] Available at: http://jobs.theguardian.com/article/4290335/why-online-cvs-are-essential-in-your-job-search/ [Accessed 7 March 2014].

Hyams, C., 2012. Personal Branding on LinkedIn: 10 Mistakes to Avoid. [Online] Available at: http://www.jeffbullas.com/2012/11/09/personal-branding-on-linkedin-10-mistakes-to-avoid/#WByq6jGKiFd0UI49.99 [Accessed 7 March 2014].

Microsoft, 2013. Online Safety Research. [Online] Available at: http://www.microsoft.com/security/resources/research.aspx#reputation [Accessed 7 March 2014].