Here is Part 2 in our 3 Part Series on Getting ready for a job search
Online Reputation Management
♦ Google yourself. What’s already out there about you? (Be sure you are logged out of your Google account before you conduct your search.)
♦ Set up a Google Alert for your name, so you can see when information is posted online about you.
♦ Make sure you have a robust, complete LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn profiles show up prominently in Google search results.
♦ Claim your name online. Register your name as a vanity URL domain name. Set up accounts on social media platforms — Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
♦ Counteract any negative information about you online by posting positive content and requesting removal or correction of inappropriate information.
What To Do Next With Your Resume
♦ Don’t just use your résumé to apply for advertised positions. And if you do submit a résumé, increase your chance of securing an interview by networking your way to the hiring manager.
♦ Consider using recruiters as part of your job search. Recruiters don’t work for you, but if you are the right solution for a job they are trying to fill, they can help connect you with your dream job. Identify 2-3 recruiters to work with by asking colleagues or searching on LinkedIn.
♦ A résumé distribution service can get your résumé in the hands of a hiring manager. If you are not conducting a confidential job search, consider using a distribution service.
♦ Use your résumé to update your LinkedIn profile. Include the same accomplishments in your LinkedIn profile that appear in your résumé.
♦ Get a copy of your résumé to all your networking contacts — friends, family, colleagues, people you are using as references, etc.
Leaving Your Job
♦ If you’re thinking about leaving your job, research whether your company has a policy or guideline about resignations — in particular, how much notice you should provide. This policy may be detailed in your employee handbook.
♦ Prepare your work computer for your departure before announcing you’re leaving. Save any personal files to a jump drive or CD before deleting them off the computer. Be sure to also delete any personal emails from your company email account (including your “sent mail” folder). Of course, this is also a reminder not to use your company email account for your job search!
♦ If you are worried about jeopardizing your current employment by looking for a new job, be sure to emphasize to prospective employers and recruiters you are working with that you are conducting a “confidential” job search.
♦ Let your current supervisor know you’re leaving as soon as it is practical — for most jobseekers, this is when they’ve accepted a new job offer. Consider writing a letter of resignation to clarify the details of your separation (including the date you are leaving).
♦ Don’t “check out” of your job before your last day. Make sure you complete any projects you are able to. Be willing to train your replacement, if asked. Document any processes and procedures that will help your successor. Leave a good last impression.
