The 5 Best Ways to Present Yourself Online

In today’s era of labor shortages, firms are eagerly looking for new candidates. But that doesn’t mean they will always find great candidates — especially if the online presence of potential applicants is weak.

It’s no secret that headhunters regularly use social media to find job candidates. Surveys show that more than half use Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to find new talent, and not surprisingly more than 90% use LinkedIn.

If you want to get noticed, you’ll need to build a strong personal brand online that demonstrates a proven track record in your area of expertise through what you share, what you comment on, and how you present your experience. “We live in a sound-bite world says Zach Peikon, a principal in the Korn Ferry Marketing Officers practice. “The more compelling content you can put out there the better.” Here are five ideas.

Tell a story.

When writing your LinkedIn profile, don’t just list your job responsibilities. Put what you do in context by describing  what results you’ve achieved. Bring your work to life by explaining how you increased revenue or helped your department acquire more customers or why your company just completed a brand refresh. “Think through your work experiences and focus on the most exciting achievements that differentiate you from other job candidates,” Peikon says.

Include data.

Quantify what you have accomplished by including specific metrics to show the scope of your biggest wins, Peikon says. Think in terms of percentages, frequency, and scale when talking about savings, increased revenues, and new customers.

Use keywords.

Many recruiters search for candidates using keywords. The trick is to figure out what the keywords would be for the position you’re seeking. Most keywords focus on specific hard skills or on software programs a recruiter wants candidates to know how to use. Read through multiple job descriptions for the type of position you seek to find the most commonly used keywords, and add them to your LinkedIn profile and your Twitter and Instagram bios. “Think through the key attributes that differentiate a really strong candidate in this role, and use those as your keywords,” says Bradford Frank, a senior client partner in Korn Ferry’s Technology practice.

Share your thoughts.

Whether you’re speaking at a conference, writing a blog post, or giving a TEDx Talk, be sure to share your insights on social media. “This will build your personal brand as a thought leader while demonstrating your knowledge and your willingness to give back to the community,” Peikon says.

Consider the algorithm.

All websites use algorithms to categorize and push out content. While it’s impossible to crack the code for every site, be aware that posting frequently, tweaking your profile often, and searching for jobs on LinkedIn can often get more eyeballs on your content, Frank says. LinkedIn also has a number of features that allow users to post if they’re open to work, the type of roles they’re seeking, and their skills and areas of expertise. The more information you provide in your LinkedIn profile, the more your profile will stand out when recruiters search for candidates. “You want to be the Tom Brady of your function and demonstrate that you’re the best at your job so that people think of you as the go-to expert for that specific function,” Peikon says.