Don’t you ever wish your dream career would just fall into your lap one day? Thanks to the majestic ways of the internet (and a little due diligence on your part), that fantasy could be a reality. Read on to see how marketing your expertise online can lead to bigger and better opportunities finding their way into your career.
(Photo Credit: GotCredit/Flickr)
Everywhere you look online nowadays, people are offering their two cents about anything and everything — unfortunately, it usually comes ill-mannered and drama-laden. Why not put this effort to good use to further your career and showcase your expertise in a positive light online so that you can attract the likes of recruiters, rather than trolls? Here are three ways to effectively market your professional skills online to become an influencer in your industry and also a recruiter’s dream come true.
1. Sharing is caring. There are several online forums and social networking sites that allow members to lend their expertise for a plethora of industry-specific topics. A couple of great places for professionals to begin their conquest are LinkedIn Groups and Quora. By joining the discussion and contributing valuable insights, you better your chances of being discovered by recruiters who scour LinkedIn and other credible Q&A-style boards like Quora in search of passive candidates to fill job vacancies. Your contributions online should be professional and non-offensive, because recruiters/employers aren’t too keen on confrontational, arrogant know-it-alls who don’t know what they’re talking about. Therefore, watch your words online and focus on adding value to the discussion, rather than arguing for argument’s sake.
2. Blog your heart out. If you enjoy writing, then blogging is a great way to showcase your interests online. If you have a blog of your own, then be sure you are promoting it on your social networking accounts, such as your LinkedIn profile, so that recruiters have easy access to your work (i.e. your expertise). If you don’t have a blog, then look for gigs as a guest blogger or ghost blogger to start out and promote your posts on your social networks. Conduct some research on top blogs in your industry of choice and send each inquiries with story pitches. You might have to start small at first, but it’s better than nothing.
3. Create an ebook. You don’t necessarily have to be an author or storyteller to write a decent ebook that serves your audience. All you really need is a topic you’re well-versed in and an comprehensive ebook template, such as these from HubSpot. In doing so, you’ll be lending something of great value to your industry and your audience, while also validating your proficiency in a given subject manner.
The takeaway here is to never underestimate the power of exhibiting your skills online. Nearly everything you say online (good and bad) is searchable, so choose your words wisely when you post. More importantly, recruiters know all the tricks of the trade when it comes to scouting out worthy candidates, so if you have a questionable past that is traceable online, then be sure to eradicate as much of it as you possibly can before it ruins your chances at a respectable and prosperous future. Play your cards right and that dream career may just find you, thanks to your efforts online.
Tell Us What You Think
How else do you exhibit your expertise online? Share your thoughts with our community on Twitter.
Thanks for the tip,