Building a professional online presence is vital for everyone. As you graduate, you start entering the job world. At the time of the interview, your online presence will be checked. It is part of screening. However, online presence also benefits you and a new job. Nowadays, many recruiters post their job descriptions on social media platforms. You can miss out on them if you are not present on social media sites.

Back in the day, hiring through social media platforms was limited to photographers and videographers, but over time LinkedIn became the most popular professional platform where companies have also maintained their presence. They hire people for all types of jobs, from marketing to project management, through social networking sites.

Once you have built a strong online presence, you are likely to be shortlisted quickly. In addition, many people use these sites for personal branding. They promote their work and services online and fetch clients. The good thing about maintaining an online presence is that it is inexpensive. You do not have to rely on small business loans for bad credit.

Ways to build a professional online presence

Building an online presence is not an overnight job. You will have to constantly provide valuable and insightful content that people admire. You must have a strategy because otherwise, whatever you do will be a shot in the dark. It will take you nowhere.

• Build a positive online presence

The first impression is the last impression. There are things that you would want to share with people because you may think they are important for people out there to know, but online platforms are not meant for bashing or tearing someone to pieces. Make sure the content you share is positive and respectful. The job world, though, is full of lies, politics and hypocrisy. You are not supposed to calumnies your ex-boss or share someone’s bad experience.

Putting your boss and the company’s culture in a bad light will harm you in the end. Never forget that your recruiters will look at your profile when you put in an application for an interview. Any bad things can influence their opinions about you, so be careful about the content you share.

Valuable content will help you build connections. Here are the five tips for building a positive online presence:

• Carefully evaluating your content does not say bad or negative things.
• Proofread everything before posting.
• Keep your online profiles up-to-date.
• Make sure your resume is attractive if you want to use it for a job purpose.
• Highlight your accomplishments.
• Take advantage of networking opportunities.

You must use the professional platform to showcase your individual skills, experience and achievement. You can attract potential employers by showcasing your skills. If you use it for personal branding, you will be able to grab new clients. Online branding is paramount for graduates. You might have an idea of providing writing or designing services. You cannot get work without demonstrating your achievements and skills. With a good profile, you will be able to network easily with people.

• Choose the right social media site

There are various social media sites where you can create your own profile. Which one works better for you depends on the goals you want to achieve through your online presence. For instance, LinkedIn is a great platform if you want to use it to find a job. You can network with people.

Networking paves the way for you to land a job faster. On LinkedIn, you can talk about your education, internship, volunteer services, part-time or full-time jobs and accomplishments. You can engage people with industry-related articles. You can even join groups of common interests.

Twitter is another popular platform that people use to expand their networking; however, it is not ideal for finding a job, but you can quickly share, tweet and retweet any professional updates. You will more likely get a double advantage when you use LinkedIn along with Twitter.

Facebook and Instagram are good for connecting with people, but they are not meant for professional use. Facebook, to some extent, can be used for finding jobs as a photographer or a freelance writer. Many companies use these platforms to promote their products and services, however.

• Set up a portfolio

You will have to demonstrate your skills to recruiters to get shortlisted. Here comes the role of a portfolio. You can even create a personal website to let recruiters know you are worth your weight in gold to them. WordPress and Wix are the two most popular platforms to create a portfolio.

In the portfolio, you are supposed to include your resume, blog articles you have written or any project you have handled. Writers, graphic designers and interior designers must create a portfolio because it can help them stand out in the crowd. You do not need to spend a lot of money to access the platforms to create your portfolio.

• Communicate with your network online

There is no point in networking with people if you are not in touch with them. People post, and you get notified. Take a look at them. If you find anything interesting, share your thoughts and comments. You will see a thread of comments by people.

You can comment on their comments as well if you have some valuable information. Be active with your approach. Participate in group chats and forums. It will help you achieve your goals faster.

Take message home

It takes time to build an online professional presence. You must have a strategy for the content you want to share. Make sure your content offers valuable insight to people in your network. Otherwise, it will fall out of their favour.

Building an online presence is all about your creativity and quick thinking. You do not need to invest money in it. So, you do not have to worry about taking out a £10,000 loan with a bad credit rating because of a lack of money. You need to invest time and energy in creating a professional presence on online platforms.