Social media resumes have become an excellent way to draw awareness to your credentials. Instead of just submitting your resume, it allows a way to be found by recruiters and hiring managers. It’s also the perfect way to create an image of yourself that truly reflects your personal brand. So how do you do it? According to Dan Schawbel, there are six steps:
The first step is to start a website or a blog; both are free and easy to create and maintain. Bravenet.com is a free option for building your website. If you are willing to pay Bluehost, Godaddy and Microsoft Expression Web are also available. WordPress.com and Google Blogger can get your blog started free of charge. Typepad.com (which I can recommend!) is a great paid option.
The next thing to think about is your URL. Using your domain name (yourname.com) is the most recommended but you could also go with yournameresume.com or something equivalent. The purpose is to create something easy to remember that you can promote on your paper resume, other social networks you may use, and your business cards.
Then it’s time to decide on the format and design of your website or blog. The easiest way to start is by using your paper resume as a guide. You can use each section as a separate tab (education, work experience, etc.). Including sections for awards, speaking events, volunteer experience or other such activities will add dimension and more depth to your personal branding. Also think about the colors and fonts that you choose, they will create different impressions. Whichever colors, fonts, and headings you decide on, be sure to keep them consistent.
Now you can take full advantage of your social media website and add multimedia. This is where paper resumes are truly lacking; multimedia can make your website or blog more fun and interactive. You could add a video or MP3 describing yourself and your credentials, a video of a recent speaking engagement, or professional photographs of you at conferences. This is the most effective way to convey your personal brand, use it to pitch yourself to any hiring manager or recruiter that may be watching.
The next step is to link your blog or website with your other social network profiles. First be sure that anything you are linking to is professional and appropriate. If you prefer to keep your Facebook account for personal use and friends, keep it separated from your social media resume. If your other profiles support your professional branding, link them up. Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter allow you to create profile badges that you can embed on your website or blog. You can also put a link to your social media resume on your Facebook or LinkedIn profile. Be sure the image you are creating with all your profiles is cohesive and supports the same personal branding message.
You’ve finally made it – the last step! Make your resume shareable. The top three sharing utilities are Share This, Add to Any and Add This. You can embed these onto your social media resume and allow your website or blog to be easily shared. This will ensure maximum visibility and career possibilities!