Connecting Your Resume to Recruiters

If you are unemployed, or just unhappy in your current role, and are looking for a new opportunity then you need to create a path that will help recruiters and staffing agents find you, online.

The path is a digital footprint that includes information about your work history, your job skills, and your value as an employee. There are several steps to accomplish this task, and it will take time but your effort will pay off.

One of the first things you should do is update your resume, and the second is to create a personal website. The website will work as a marketing tool, 24/7, and is a great way to showcase your past accomplishments. The following are seven ways you can develop your online footprint:

- Update your resume with industry-related keywords and job-related accomplishments

- A personalized website to share your accomplishments

- If you are in the Creative world, include a link to your portfolio

- Job search tools that work for you

- Search Engine Optimization to tie your digital footprint together

- Branding

- LinkedIn and other social media platforms.

If you haven't updated your resume in a while, there have been many changes regarding layout, skill sets, and content. You don't need to include professional references, your home address, or GPA. This information can be shared when a potential employer requests them, but they take up valuable space on your resume.

You should include a short objective statement, a list of your Core Competencies, relevant software, and hardware, and other applications that demonstrate your abilities. These items can be listed in one section or can be worked into your professional work history.

I was laid off in 2008 through a Reduction in Force (RIF), due to the economy. I decided fairly quickly that I would need a way to set myself apart from other job candidates because the job market was very tight. I wanted to build a personal website that would work for me 24/7, without a babysitter.

This digital real estate provides incredible value because I have optimized it with a process called Search Engine Optimization (SEO). My website includes keywords that recruiters use, in conjunction with search engines to locate candidates for specific roles. One of the benefits of managing my own website is that I can update the content on an as-needed basis.

A personal website will give you more room to expand upon your professional contributions and skillsets than Linkedin will allow. It also gives you space to be creative and break out of the limitations of a 2-page resume.

The website name should be a combination of your first and last name. There are a number of websites where you purchase a personal domain, but you don't have to use that site to build your website. I use GoDaddy as a single source to manage my domains, websites, and email addresses because everything I need is in one place, and it's easy to manage.

I created my own website so that I could highlight my professional skills and provide an easily accessible resume for recruiters to download with a single click. I can easily add new pages to highlight my resume, my writing or a creative portfolio, professional recommendations, and a Contact page.

Recruiters are my audience, and my personalized website is part of the digital footprint to help them find me.

It is imperative that job-specific keywords are included in your resume to help search engines and recruiters find your website and your resume.One of the easiest ways to upgrade your resume and to ensure that it can be found is to compare it to your resume to a current job description.

• If you are in banking, does your resume refer to your loan officer experience?
• If you are in marketing, does your resume express your knowledge about email marketing, social media and internet marketing?
• If you are an engineer, does your resume reflect the technical aspect of your skill sets?

An easy way to get started is to open a current job description based on your industry and your field of expertise. I use Google for nearly 100% of my online searches, but for employment purposes, I use indeed.com because Indeed is an aggregator. In other words, they curate job posting from other job boards and post them on the website. My background is in marketing, so I use a couple of different searches set up on their website, and my resume is posted there as well.

If you click on the link for Advanced Job Search you will notice additional criteria that can be included in the job search. You can include or exclude specific words, select job type from a drop-down menu, include an annual salary, distance from your home and the number of results displayed on a page. I suggest running the search without any selections from the Advanced Job Search. Then, based on jobs that are returned you may include or exclude specific keywords and also exclude annual salary.

When the search returns the results you requested, you can see new options in the left navigation menu. This will allow you to further refine your results based on location, distance, and other criteria. Once the search returns the type of results you want, then save the search. You can set up a free account on this website and post your resume as well.

Once you find a job description to match your experience and skill sets, it is important to integrate keywords into your resume, your website and Linkedin. The reason for this is called Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and it allows other users to find you based on specific keywords they use in an organic search. For example, a recruiter may conduct an online search for someone with experience in email marketing, developing web content and database marketing. if that is your technical expertise, then each of those terms must be included within the space of your online footprint.

Review several different job descriptions from career sites and review the key terms. Integrate those same industry terms into your resume and then post your resume on different job boards. There are generic job boards such as Monster, CareerBuilder and there are specialty job boards such as those for Finance, IT, Human Resources, Programming and Graphic Design. Each job board requires a user ID and password to log in.

I do not recommend posting your home address or phone number on any job board. You can control how people reach you through the various job boards, by controlling the information. Providing your email address is a sufficient way for a recruiter to contact you.

In 2014 I decided to create another website to capture recruiter interest, and to expand my personal brand positioning statement. I purchased the domain HireThisGirl.Me, and I used a GoDaddy template to build the page content.The new website is linked to my resume website and to Linkedin.

Then I ordered custom business cards from Vista Print. I was so excited about the cards and the new brand that I posted a screenshot of the business card on LinkedIn. The image was viewed by more than 300 people across first, second and third-degree connections. I also created a twitter account and use it to connect with recruiters, career experts, and corporate brands in order to grow my audience.

A few hours after posting the image on Linkedin, I was contacted by the President of a liquidation company in Austin, Texas. He liked the image and wanted to speak to me about a position on his team that he thought might be of interest to me. I did like the opportunity and spent some time researching the company, but at that time I was not interested in moving to Austin.

Social Media is one of the fastest evolving communication channels in history. It has replaced email, and telephone communication, and it is not going away. There are so many different types of channels, and you don't have to be on all of them. Social media marketing allows you to position yourself through branding and creates an opportunity to connect with recruiters and staffing agencies without stalking them on LinkedIn.

If you don't have a LinkedIn profile, you need to create one ASAP. LinkedIn is a social networking website for professionals and brands. Recruiters and staffing agencies use LinkedIn to post jobs and search for qualified candidates.

You will need to complete all sections on your profile in order to create an All-star profile. Becoming an All-star takes time and dedication but it will set you apart from other job applicants. If you are a creative type, then take advantage of creating a portfolio that demonstrates your expertise.

You can also create tutorials that can be shared on Youtube, Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin. SlideShare is a platform for sharing presentations and is another opportunity to gain an audience, based on your expertise.

If you are searching for a new job, it is important to be knowledgeable of different types of marketing channels where you can demonstrate your value and expertise to potential employers. Your digital footprint should be a carefully created set of assets that work for your benefit and provides a pathway to the right people.