Like many Americans, I am now recovering from the feast–okay, gluttony–that is Thanksgiving, not to mention spending time with (gasp!) relatives.
When people are asked what they are most thankful for, seldom do they think of their job right off. Why is that? Most of us get stuck in a rut. We get used to the same job, the same office, the same boss, the same duties, the same reports, and, last but not least, the same — but regular — paycheck. Such routine lulls us to a drowsy state of, if not contentment, at least acceptance.
It doesn’t have to be this way, however. I write these articles to help people get unstuck in their jobs or careers — to dispel that drowsiness — and my October column struck a chord with Victoria Sawtell, the Community Manager of zety.com (previously Uptowork).
Sawtell invited me to look through one of her site’s articles and review it for one of my columns. Today I will be reviewing and commenting on “How to Check Your Online Presence before Recruiters Look You Up,” written by Natalie Severt, the Resume Expert at zety.com. Let’s get started.
Introduction
When you open the page, you see the author’s name right at the top, followed by a list of the companies that have mentioned Zety. I know who I’m dealing with right way. Knowing that others have written positively about the work that Zety affirms that I’m choosing a site that won’t waste my time with spammy or scammy clickbait. This site is doing it correctly, and that’s comforting when faced with the stress of job hunting.
The layout is easy to read, skim or scroll, with plenty of images and white space to break up the text. One or two sentences followed by white space that appears to be more than the minimum. My overworked eyes are pleased with this welcoming and inviting layout.
Subheading Layout
Subheadings not only help to visually break up what is otherwise a wall of text, they also serve to organize information, making it easier to skim. This article features large section headings, that, save for the last, are numbered. The heading style features white typeface overlaying darker images as backgrounds. I found them very easy to read and understand:
- How to Check Your Online Presence and Social Media Profiles
- How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile to Impress Recruiters
- How to Check Your Online Presence Against Your Traditional Resume
- Key Takeaway
The headings make total sense, and if you are somehow confused by all the information (there is a lot of it), the core issue you need to understand is summarized at the end.
The Better and Worse of Social Media Sharing
The piece begins by talking about the web and your social media presence. We all have LinkedIn profiles, Facebook accounts, and so forth, right? The author also discusses why NOT being connected at all is a bad idea. Living “off the grid” in a social media sense might make us feel safe, but would really do more harm than good. Read the article to discover why.
Next, the author highlights what you look out to remove, how to go about taking it down, and asking to have it taken down. This is always good to know. Surprising to me was the difference between what you and I might consider objectionable and what Google considers objectionable. They are not the same.
The article contrasts examples of right and wrong in the online world, including social media sharing, resume examples, and LinkedIn web addresses. The author labels the examples as “Right” or “Wrong” by using large, colorful X’s and check marks.There is no mistaking what you should aim for. I like having things pointed out clearly and unequivocally.
Still hemming and hawing around about the need for a LinkedIn profile? Want to optimize your chances of being found and actively recruited? The article answers the basic questions, including why you need one, and how to begin building out your profile. Then it offers a link to a beefier, separate article that focuses on LinkedIn.
Links
On the web, good links point you toward additional sources of information and work to enrich the original article. Links are good for serendipity as well as SEO. You never know what’s out there until you find it, and it sparks an idea for you and ignites your enthusiasm a bit more. Natalie Severt includes some solid, useful links in this piece. I intend to investigate the links with an eye toward reviewing them for future columns:
- Create Your Online Resume Here
- Delete Your Online Presence Altogether (Author’s Note: If your social media accounts are FUBAR)
- CV vs Resume: What Is the Difference? When to Use Which (Examples)
- How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Summary & Profile to Get Jobs
- How to Email Your Resume to Get More Job Offers (Examples)
Conclusion
I found How to Check Your Online Presence Before Recruiters Look You Up to be smartly written, attractively laid out, and bursting with information. I have bookmarked this page for my own future reference.
Have a job-related website you’d like me to review? Have some tips or tools to share with your fellow technical communicators, information developers, and content creators? Let’s network! Drop me a note: HelpFiles@TechWhirl.com. Follow me on Twitter, connect with me on LinkedIn, circle me on Google+ or email me at craig.cardimon@gmail.com. I enjoy connecting with others in the industry.
