Monday, March 18, 2013

Prep Your Google+ Profile for Career Development


Social media is becoming an essential tool for those interested in finding a new job or extending their professional network. There are endless opportunities to connect with individuals and organizations from all over the world that share your interests.

When you think social media and careers, LinkedIn may be the first place that comes to mind. I, as well as our recent Inside Online Learning chat participants, continue to recommend LinkedIn as a primary account, but it may be time to expand your online reach with Google+ as your next step.

Why Google+?

Donna Svei of AvidCareerist.com answers that, “if you have a profile on Google Plus, and it contains the key words a recruiter is looking for, your profile will pop for them from their Google Search. IT’S THAT EASY. No building a network. No levels of connection. No spendy premium plans. Just simplicity.”

Chances are you are already using Google, whether it’s the popular search engine, Gmail, or one of many Google Apps. If you already have a Google account, log in to check your options for completing a profile and the adjusting the settings for search visibility and privacy. A new post from Mashable proclaims “you will be Googled,” so why not take action to fine tune the part of your digital footprint that is already associated with Google?

Profile Basics

With career development and the job search process in mind, here is a short list of the Google+ profile sections you should consider completing as a form of social resume:
  • Story: This is the primary information that will appear under the “About” tab of your profile (see the screenshot below). It includes Tagline, Introduction, and Bragging Rights (i.e., achievements). What is your story? Use key words relevant to your industry and interests to help your profile appear in recruiters’ searches. Note that while the brief Tagline is public, you can modify the settings for the Introduction and Bragging Rights.
  • Work: In this section of your profile you can add your Occupation, a list of Skills, and details about your Employment history (i.e., company name, job title, start and end dates, job description.) As in the Story section, you can decide which items will be public or private.
  • Education: Create a list of your education and training achievements. The entries are similar in format to what you might include in a traditional resume or job application, such as institution name, field of study, and year of graduation

  • More Tips and The Complete Article 

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