1. A Resume
2. A LinkedIn Profile
3. A Cover Letter
1. Yes -- You Still Need a Written Resume for HR
The resume hasn't been replaced yet, even with all the different forms of social media, video interviewing and sites like LinkedIn and Facebook that you're connected to.
HR and hiring managers still will be screening candidates and hiring you by looking at one or two pages of your resume that describes who you are -- showing your experience and where you've worked.
- It's essential that you stand-out from the crowd of applicants so -- have your message and abilities be crystal clear and instantly appealing.
- Definitely hire a professional resume designer to produce your finished resume so it looks beautiful. After all -- you are a brand so market yourself and let your resume show who you truly are.
Remember -- A company has a job to fill for a reason. They have a problem to solve. They're looking for something specific and you will want to tell them how you will best fill their needs -- how you will answer their questions -- how you will create solutions and get results.
- Let your resume show why you're the top applicant and how you will add value to the firm.
- Give examples of how you have succeeded in the past and will do it again.
- It helps to have a well-constructed resume, not crowded, so HR will immediately sees the key advantages for hiring you.
Just tell your story and let the facts and your personality lead you to the interview.
2. Absolutely Build a LinkedIn Profile
Your LinkedIn Profile is not a resume. It's a marketing and networking tool to professionally promote you and your talents because once HR receives your resume they will go directly to LinkedIn to see who you are and find out everything they can about you! Don't let them down with a mediocre, unfeeling profile.
Go right ahead and paint a vivid 3-dimensional picture of yourself as a person and professional. Fill it all in on LinkedIn -- the depth and breadth of you. It's crucial for your success. Invaluable and... it's free!
LinkedIn offers an extraordinary opportunity to help HR and other interested hiring folks to evaluate you fully and...in a unique way engage with you before your first in person meeting. It's a top persuasion tool, broadcasting tool, billboard tool advertising you.
- Get a good head shot photo. Not too casual or blurry with sunglasses and 20 people crowded around you in a 'selfie'. Have a friend take some shots with their iPhone in a quiet room with a plain background. Make it real -- showing your eyes and face clearly so people feel they can connect with you. Let it be happy and confident. You want to attract people and make them want to meet you and work with you. Help them to see you working with them.
Make sure you look exactly like your picture. That means naturally you so that when you walk into an interview you are the person they're expecting.
- Make your opening summary statement personal and authentic. Don't just list facts and details about your work but tell a story and write in the first person.
- If you have a blog or samples of your work -- be it pictures, awards, YouTube videos -- put them in. Link to your website if you have one.
- Be generous and fill your profile up and out with content. Make sure your show yourself entirely. Don't hide behind experience.
Use LinkedIn is a portfolio of your work, both personally and professionally. It is a gigantic assistance tool for your resume enabling you to publically show and share your value, richness, nuances, textures, talents and skills.
Let LinkedIn guide you. They help you every step of the way to fill out your profile. Do a little bit at a time and don't skip anything and... don't skimp either.
- Define who you are from the start
- Write like you talk
- Create interesting headlines
- Talk about your passions and how you work
- Focus on key words throughout
- Show variety and give examples of how you solve problems
- Make sure you include your contact information in several places
- Do some research and look at other peoples profiles. Find a few examples you really like. Then use them as a template to build your own LinkedIn Profile.
People want to see the human being you are and relate to you, so... please take the opportunity and use LinkedIn to your advantage. Exploit it and open yourself up. Introduce yourself to the world.
3. Create One Basic Cover Letter
Write a cover letter you can use for every job you apply to. Then you'll become a chameleon for change, adapting and adjusting yourself to the exact requirements and needs of the job description. Make it easy on yourself to fit in. Be flexible.
The purpose of the cover letter is to say right up front why you're qualified for the job and the benefits the company will reap when you're hired.
You have a chance to show focus and organization of thoughts and express what you see as most important for the interviewer to know.
You're not bragging. You're telling the truth to immediately grab their interest and invite you in for an interview.
Write with passion, specificity and confidence. Express yourself!
These three simple tools are all you'll need when looking for work.
Now -- Go and make magic!