Ashish Dubey recently joined a Gurgaon-based telecom software developer as marketing manager for Asia Pacific, from nVidia, a chip maker, where he worked as product manager. He was hired through a professional networking site. As in Dubey’s case, social and professional networking online can open up a myriad of career opportunities. Companies keep an eye on potential employees online and are increasingly using this new tool for their recruitment purposes. Here’s how you can make the best use of such opportunities by creating an online identity, says Mahima Puri.
Bring your profile up to speed
Make sure your online profile on such networking sites is complete, and list all the roles you have played in your existing and previous organisations. “You are 12 times more likely to be viewed for potential opportunities if you have more than one position listed on your profile,” says Hari Krishnan, country manager, LinkedIn India. Uploading a photograph is also advised as it makes the individual look more confident and gives the benefit of a better recall value,” says Yogesh Bansal, founder & CEO of ApnaCircle.com.
List out all your recommendations
Get views, reviews and recommendations from your teachers, professors, former bosses and peers. It will help a lot of enhancing your profile online and giving you an edge over the others. “If two candidates have the same qualifications and experience, HR is more likely to choose the one whose profile has more recommendations,” says Bansal.
Cut out the clichés and generalisations
Phrases like ‘extensive experience’ and ‘proven track record’ can appear immaterial to a potential employer and may do more harm than good. According to Krishnan, such terms are among the top 10 terms that are overused by professionals in India.
Check if a company is hiring in the first place
Use the ‘follow’ company feature on sites like LinkedIn to track recruitment exercises of companies you are interested in. Some companies also keep posting jobs on social networking sites like Facebook. Keep an eye on these.
Connect with the relevant HR personnel
In some cases, networking sites provide the facility to search for any kind of job one desires and also allow one to see the individual in charge of such hiring. “It would be appropriate to find people you have in common and if suitable ask them to introduce you,” suggests Krishnan. Sites like LinkedIn also allow one to save searches and keep a record of careers and people that interest you. Utilise such tools to the best of your ability.
(08-04-2011, Mumbai, Economic Times)
Bring your profile up to speed
Make sure your online profile on such networking sites is complete, and list all the roles you have played in your existing and previous organisations. “You are 12 times more likely to be viewed for potential opportunities if you have more than one position listed on your profile,” says Hari Krishnan, country manager, LinkedIn India. Uploading a photograph is also advised as it makes the individual look more confident and gives the benefit of a better recall value,” says Yogesh Bansal, founder & CEO of ApnaCircle.com.
List out all your recommendations
Get views, reviews and recommendations from your teachers, professors, former bosses and peers. It will help a lot of enhancing your profile online and giving you an edge over the others. “If two candidates have the same qualifications and experience, HR is more likely to choose the one whose profile has more recommendations,” says Bansal.
Cut out the clichés and generalisations
Phrases like ‘extensive experience’ and ‘proven track record’ can appear immaterial to a potential employer and may do more harm than good. According to Krishnan, such terms are among the top 10 terms that are overused by professionals in India.
Check if a company is hiring in the first place
Use the ‘follow’ company feature on sites like LinkedIn to track recruitment exercises of companies you are interested in. Some companies also keep posting jobs on social networking sites like Facebook. Keep an eye on these.
Connect with the relevant HR personnel
In some cases, networking sites provide the facility to search for any kind of job one desires and also allow one to see the individual in charge of such hiring. “It would be appropriate to find people you have in common and if suitable ask them to introduce you,” suggests Krishnan. Sites like LinkedIn also allow one to save searches and keep a record of careers and people that interest you. Utilise such tools to the best of your ability.
(08-04-2011, Mumbai, Economic Times)
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