We’ll let you in on a
secret. If you are looking for a job, we’ll tell you five things that
shouldn’t be in your application or résumé.
So, without further ado,
here goes: Avoid using the word “innovative” to describe yourself or
your work. Seriously, what was the last truly innovative thing you did,
other than wipe up your noodles with nachos? Ditto for “passionate”. Get
real, no one believes that word has any meaning. Stop saying you are
“motivated”—what’s new? Everyone applying for the job is motivated.
Otherwise, why would they apply? Stop kidding yourself that you have
“vision”. Some of the biggest companies in the world don’t have it. And,
finally, don’t even go near the phrase “have great networking skills”
because the human resources (HR) person is about to google the daylights
out of you and look up everything you have been up to on social
networks. Instead, make sure you demonstrate your networking skills
through a classy, riveting, socially savvy résumé.
If you are not certain
which words to avoid, here’s a way to cheat: LinkedIn publishes an
annual list of the most frequently used words in profiles. Look that up
and banish those overused, tired and abused words from your résumé.
Your social presence is
your unofficial résumé. According to Bangalore-based Anuradha Sharma,
founder of The HR Practice and The Search Practice, those applying for
senior positions need to pay more attention to their social presence.
The HR Practice is an outsourced HR partner for companies like InMobi,
TATA AIG General Insurance Co. Ltd, Cricinfo and redBus. “Companies are
keen to know what your peers and clients are saying about you. They
don’t want to call up a reference provided by the applicant. Who will
believe that reference when the reference can obviously be influenced?”
asks Sharma. “Social media has become the mass reference of choice.”
Listed here are our top five ways to make your application socially savvy. All the best with that job hunt!
Tweet résumé
Blow everyone away with live tweets in your job application or résumé. Turn your résumé into real-time communication using
TweetResume for $34.95 (around
Rs.1,990).
TweetResume allows you to embed your tweets right into a Word document.
Of course, when the document is opened, the user needs to be online for
the tweets to update. In a world where companies are integrating social
technologies right into their recruitment process, get a step ahead by
changing the tweets in the document at each point in the recruitment
process, from shortlisting to actual interview to group discussion.
Using Linkedin
According to a recent research paper titled “Use of Social
Networking Sites for Recruitment” from the Institute of Professional
Studies, Pune, by Prof. Sharayu Patil and institute director G.B. Patil,
83% of firms feel that social networking sites will emerge as a new-age
recruitment tool. Their research shows that after the US, India
contributes the highest traffic to LinkedIn (13.7%). Which means what
you have on LinkedIn is going to be critical to your job application.
Anuradha Sharma agrees. Her advice to job seekers is to clean up their
LinkedIn profiles, avoid getting hundreds of pointless ratings on
various parameters such as “team management” and “business strategy”
from peers, and generally communicate their personalities clearly. Also,
make your LinkedIn profile public so that others can find it in a Web
search. Include a link to your LinkedIn profile in your résumé or
application.
Facebook posts
Clean up your pictures on Facebook (and elsewhere on the
Internet). Look up the pictures you have been tagged in. Remove what you
consider digital dirt. Many recruitment teams look up Facebook to see
if you are actually the fun guy who gets along with people that you
claim to be in your résumé. Then they stumble upon those strange and
embarrassing pictures that make them turn their noses up and junk your
résumé. Facebook has a method of finding all the pictures you are tagged
in and removing the tags. Remember to use this capability before
applying for a job. Then, add your Facebook page to your résumé.
YouTube link
Use YouTube, creatively. Did we forget to tell you not to
use the word “creative” to describe yourself in the résumé? Okay, we
meant to, but it slipped our mind. Instead, make sure you use YouTube to
show how creative you are. Do you have a special skill or hobby, say,
you juggle or go deep-sea diving? Create a small video of yourself,
demonstrating your skill or your hobby—and in the process ensure your
confidence and personality are showcased. It’s a great way to let your
prospective employer meet you face to face. Place your YouTube link in
your résumé.
Quick Reader Code
Create a Quick Reader (QR) Code for your blog (don’t have a
blog? Go to Blogger, Typepad or WordPress). Place the QR Code in your
résumé. QR Codes can be easily generated for any URL using a service
like QuickQR (http://www.quikqr.com/). You can use the QR Code in your
email signature or even your personal card. But a QR Code in your résumé
is bound to make the recruitment officer take a second look and mutter,
“Now this one I have to speak to!”
Arun Katiyar is a content and communication consultant with a focus on technology companies.
Courtesy- Mint
