Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring: Take Charge of Your Career, Find a Job You Love, and Earn What You Deserve

Chapter 50. Beyond Monster.com: Making the Most of the Web When No One's Hiring

In addition to creating a simple career web site or job search blog, you should also give some thought to what my colleague Eric Kramer calls Online Identity Optimization (OIO). Due to the flood of electronic resumes and the ability to easily search the entire Internet, companies and recruiters are becoming more proactive in searching out top candidates, rather than waiting for good candidates to contact them. The question is: when companies and recruiters search to find good candidates with your experience and expertise, how likely is it that they will find you?

When no one's hiring, having a strong web presence is a great way to differentiate yourself. You'll stand out as a technology-savvy, smart self-marketer. Surveys by job placement firms show that recruiters like candidates whose online identity reflects a professional image, well-rounded skills, and a personality that fits their clients' corporate cultures.

Note

When no one's hiring, having a strong web presence is a great way to differentiate yourself. You'll stand out as a technology-savvy, smart self-marketer.

There are numerous ways to become more visible on the Internet— some as simple as developing a free page on a networking web site like Facebook (www.facebook.com) or LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com). More complex tactics include building your own web site optimized for drawing keyword-targeted traffic. Once you decide on your level of interest, ...