There are so many steps to consider when conducting a job search. Writing a tailored CV for the role you’re applying for is one of the most crucial – but optimising your online presence to impress recruiters has to come second.
In 2017, The Financial Times reported that 70% of employers looked at a candidate’s digital footprint when hiring for a role. Ensuring your online presence lines up with the information you put on your CV is essential in the current job market.
In this blog, we look at how to align your online presence with your CV.
Why is it important to align your online presence to your CV when job searching?
In today’s digital world, employers will inevitably look at your social media accounts either before offering you an interview or the role itself. A strong online presence that aligns with your application and CV will build on their positive impression of you!
This is even more critical when applying for senior and executive-level positions. Employers will be looking at your skills, experience, and values to ensure you are a trustworthy candidate they can rely on to represent their company.
Despite this, LinkedIn profiles often don’t match up with the information on a CV. Even if it’s an honest mistake – you haven’t updated your profile in a while, for example – it could still make employers question your credibility and worry you have something to hide!
This was the case for Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, who was recently called out for exaggerating her time spent working for the Bank of England on her LinkedIn profile. The incident raised some uncomfortable questions for Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer – the kind you want to avoid in a job interview for a senior leadership role.
The Benefits of a Consistent Online Presence
Aligning your CV and your online profiles allows you to develop a stronger personal brand and elaborate on the experiences outlined in your CV.
Where a CV must be a succinct summary of your professional career to date – usually fitting into a standard two or three-page format – your LinkedIn Profile is a chance to go into greater detail about your skills and accomplishments, building on the professional history that potential employers have seen on your application.
Lining up the key skills on your CV and online profiles also emphasises why you’re the right person for a position. By quantifying your key skills with concrete metrics, you can further prove to employers that you are the right fit for their organisation.
How to Align Your Online Presence and CV
- The first step to aligning your online presence with your CV is to take the same steps as recruiters will: Google your name! See what comes up first – is it your LinkedIn profile or a personal social media account? If you don’t want prospective employers to access your personal accounts, make them private.
- Next, compare your professional profiles to your most up-to-date CV. Check the most basic information like your contact details to ensure there is no confusion about the best way for employers to get in touch. Make sure your key skills and previous job titles are the same online and on your CV, and then do the same with your responsibilities and achievements in these roles.
- Think about the keywords on your CV and ensure these are consistent with your online presence: for example, in your LinkedIn headline. This will improve your online visibility and make it easier for recruiters to find your profile.
- Engage with your network and the wider industry. The way that you interact with other users in your industry will give employers an idea of your personality, values, how you would fit in at their company. Post about and comment on industry news, engage with other users’ posts, and share your expertise as much as you can.
In the current job market, your online presence must align with your CV.
Creating a strong impression online and on your CV will help you stand out in a sea of applicants and make a powerful impression on employers.
At The CV Guru, we understand how CVs and online profiles can work together to optimise your job hunt. That’s why our CV Writing Bundles include a bespoke CV, Cover Letter and LinkedIn Profile.
If you’re ready to coordinate your online presence with your CV, get in touch today and find out how we can help you achieve your goals.