Communications of the ACM
Five Reasons Why Your Online Presence Will Replace Your Resume in 10 Years
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As more recruiters use the Web as a place to search for talent and conduct employment background searches, having a searchable online presence is becoming almost a prerequisite. In fact, more than one-third of companies already feel that resumes will eventually be replaced by profiles on social networks. Your personal website is the core of your online presence and if you optimize it effectively, it will rank number one for your name in major search engines such as Google. Your online presence also should contain profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. By claiming your Web presence, you gain control over how you're perceived online, and thus what employers find out about you when they conduct their search.
Social networking use is skyrocketing while traditional channels, such as email, are plummeting. Although Facebook is often perceived as a generational trend, the highest growing demographic on Facebook is 35+, and LinkedIn caters primarily to that demographic too. Employers are reviewing your profiles to see what kind of person you are outside of work, to whom you're connected, and how you present yourself. Each gives clues to how well you can fit into the corporate culture. In order to find a job, you have to be creative, attract jobs to your website, and network constantly. Applying to job postings, in newspapers and online, won't get you anywhere and are becoming completely ineffective. By building your online presence, employers can find you and thus you have more opportunities.
In the career field, the term "Careerpreneur" describes a professional who manages his or her career like an entrepreneur, always searching for the next big opportunity. More than 35% of Gen-Yers have started their own businesses on the side in order to supplement their income. Another study revealed that 84% of employees plan to look for new jobs in 2011 (up from 60% a year ago). You need to build your online presence before you need it, and constantly look for the new opportunity that will further your personal brand. The good news is that the traditional resume is now virtual and easy to build. Professionals can start using LinkedIn's "Resume Builder" tool to turn their LinkedIn profile into a resume that they can use to submit to jobs. Finally, your online presence communicates, or should communicate, what you're truly and genuinely passionate about. Your best bet is to develop your online presence and focus your job search around what your passions.
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