Dear SafetyXChange Members:

Let's continue our discussion of 21st century resumes by examining a new format that has evolved to supplement the résumé: the online profile.

What Is an Online Profile?

The online profile is a newfangled medium that executives and managers have added to their portfolio of job search materials. An online profile is exactly that: a concise summary of the candidate and his or her credentials posted in cyberspace.

How Do You Use It?

The point of the online profile is to establish a presence on the web and generate publicity and attention to your professional accomplishments on an ongoing basis. Profiles are typically posted in confidential networking directories, such as ExecuNet's member-to-member directory or public networking sites like LinkedIn.

How Do You Create It?

Of course, the online profile will contain much of the same information as the candidate's traditional résumé. But profiles are more concise.

Mark Freedman, managing director of The Resource Planning Group, suggests first listing value proposition and value statements, followed by current career information, a short career history, industry of specialty, education and accomplishments. Add examples of positive feedback from supervisors or peers along with their name and position. Also include a link to a personal website, if you have one.

"Online profiles need to hit the highest and most recent accomplishments as tersely as possible," says Freedman. "Include just enough information to make the reader want to learn more."

Conclusion

One caveat: Not everybody is sold on the idea of the online profile. Many recruiters believe that having a more traditional résumé is enough and question whether executives and managers need online publicity. "Résumés are necessary. Profiles are not," says Mark Jaffe, president of Minneapolis-based retained search firm Wyatt & Jaffe. "Profiles are like movie trailers; they may be interesting, but once you buy a ticket to the movie, they're irrelevant. The purpose of the profile is to get you to read the résumé. The purpose of a résumé is to get you to meet the person."

Next week, we'll wrap up this series with a discussion about how to use keywords to maximize the effectiveness of an online profile.

Wishing you career success online and off,
Lauryn Franzoni
ExecuNet, www.execunet.com

TOP 10 LIST
Worst Interview Pitches

Be good to your mama; but don't bring her to an interview

There are certain conventions that you're expected to follow during a job interview. But you may be inclined to do something a little different in an attempt to distinguish yourself and assert your individuality. Needless to say, when you disdain job interview norms, you're taking a huge risk.

"What is the wackiest or most unusual pitch you've heard from a job seeker about why he or she should get the job?" This was the question that Accountemps, the international accounting-and-finance staffing firm based in Menlo Park, Calif., put to executive recruiters. Here were the top 10 responses:

The job hunter...

Source: Accountemps, www.accountemps.com.

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