Make your job search work for you by leveraging technology to promote yourself.Maximize your marketability through means of your resume, social channels such as LinkedIn, networking and applying for new roles. If you are seeking to make a move, here are 5 tips to help kickstart your job search.Expand your network  Research has shown that while we rely on our strong ties in our everyday lives, but it’s our weak ties (also called an “open network”) that help make leaps when it comes to finding new careers and positions.  That may sound counterintuitive since we’re so close to our strong ties. But because weak ties are farther removed, they know about opportunities we aren’t likely to know about. By getting slightly outside your comfort zone, you can extend your open network dramatically.  ​Leverage social media  LinkedIn may be the first social network most people think of when it comes to a job search. However, branding through social media can take place on any platform, from Instagram to Twitter. You may want to make certain profiles private, create secondary accounts or start purposefully sharing content that matches the job you are seeking.  ​Update your resume for digital  There are many tools to take your standard paper resume and turn it into a digital version, such as VisualCV. This online tool allows users to add photos or graphics to their resume, select sample templates based on industry type, or outsource their design to a team that will format a CV or resume. Once the resume is finished, VisualCV will generate a URL for the design that can be shared in social media and indexed by search engines.  ​Know your strengths and weaknesses  Bring what you are truly qualified to do to a new role by considering your training, soft skills and personality. To get an objective view of your strengths and weaknesses, consider both getting feedback from peers and managers, as well as taking an online assessment. ManpowerGroup, for example, provides online assessments so candidates can work with informed data when putting themselves into the job market.  ​Spread your search  ManpowerGroup identified a group of candidates known as Early HR Technology Adopters who use at least three technologies in their job search. This includes a smartphone app, social media advertisement, virtual job fair, text message, video interview, website chat, game or skills challenge test, or voice search via a virtual assistant. This new group of candidates represents the next wave of applicants who leave no digital rock unturned. ​The task of finding a new job takes many paths, from crafting the cover letter to casting a wide net when searching. It’s less overwhelming when you start to break down the end goal into smaller, individual parts of a routine. Tackle the above categories one by one, and you’ll be able to build on the momentum of each to accelerate your job search.  

​Right now, it can feel for everyone like we’re preparing for a future of work that may look very different than today, with working from home on the rise and jobs rapidly transitioning between industries. This can make it feel like it’s difficult to prepare for the next phases of your career, but there are foundational steps you can take to bolster your brand. Here are steps to take to build your personal brand that lasts through uncertainty and into the future.  ​Build or update your LinkedIn profile Your LinkedIn profile is essential as a foundation of your personal brand. After you have identified your career mission statement, you can build your digital brand online. Then use it to promote your skills, accomplishments and goals. If you have already taken these steps, use this time to review your content to update any outdated content, photos or text and make your profile relevant for today. ​Harness audio and videoEvery platform from Facebook to LinkedIn supports streaming video directly on their sites. This allows for greater expression of your soft skills like public speaking, leadership and presence. If video isn’t your favorite medium, there are other digital options to spread your message, including the rising podcast industry. Tools like Anchor.fm now make it possible to start a podcast with little equipment or training, using tools as basic as your phone. ​Focus on learnabilityNone of us know exactly what the future of work will bring, but we do know that it will require constant learning on the job. In order to meet these new challenges, learnability is necessary. Learnability is the desire and ability to continually learn and grow throughout careers. Ask yourself, when was the last time you read something from an unusual perspective? When have you taken the time to wrap your head around a new industry? To keep your learnability skill sharp while uncertainty swirls, take the time to find unfamiliar topics, dig beneath the surface and keep growing. Find out your Learnability Quotient.  ​In this time of uncertainty, roles in the future will require adaptability and resiliency. Increasingly, they are about what you are willing to learn, adapt and apply for tomorrow’s needs. By building your personal brand now, you will be able to project these values to the marketplace that needs them. 

Top 10 Tips to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile​1. Make the most of your professional headline.The most important part of your LinkedIn Profile is the section directly below your name. Get the most out of this space by writing a compelling and concise professional headline sharing who you are and what you do. This is a recruiter’s first indicator if you’re a potential fit for a position. Example: Contact Center Representative in Seattle area.2. Make your profile 100% complete.A complete profile improves your LinkedIn search ability. Make sure to include the following critical information:Accomplishments:Don’t be shy about your accomplishments. If you’ve received awards or other recognition, include this in your profile under the Awards section.Contact Information:Be sure to include your email address within this section. Most recruiters will contact you via email.History:Add all relevant positions you’ve held throughout your career, highlighting your contributions and accomplishments (avoid just a laundry list of duties), along with your educational background. Also be sure to upload a current resume. Don’t forget to include any professional organizations or volunteer work that you may be involved with.Skills:When listing skills, include keywords that would increase your chance of being found by a recruiter. Examples: Customer service skills, data management, outbound sales, etc.Summary:Fill out the summary to include key highlights of your professional self. Include hard skills (i.e., Excel proficiency), soft skills (i.e., communication strengths) and any examples that show the impact you had on the organizations you’ve worked forDon’t forget personal branding!Since your LinkedIn profile is your only online representation, take time to make your best impression and draw attention to what sets you apart from others.3. Build your network.The more connections you establish, the more likely your name shows up to those key decision makers as someone they should be in touch with. Ideally, you want your number of connections as close to 500 as possible, but make sure you are getting quality connections. That means connecting with your “Real World” network, or those people you’ve worked with closely, know your work ethic or can vouch for your soft skills.4. Get recommended.Recommendations are invaluable to enhance and add credibility to your profile. To get recommendations, you’ll most likely have to recommend someone first. When selecting the recommenders, it’s ideal to ask individuals with solid knowledge about you professionally and personally, so they can provide a relevant, insightful recommendation.5. Connect with companies.By following companies you’re interested in, you’ll be able to see updates on open positions, as well as view who works within that company. This gives you the opportunity to connect with key decision makers.6. Connect with professional groups.LinkedIn Groups are one of the best ways to make connections and find actual jobs. Join groups in your niche, as well as groups that are specific to careers and job searching.7. Be active.The more effort you put into your LinkedIn presence, the more you’ll get out of the social site. Whether you’re adding connections or providing updates, you’ll increase your chances of showing up on network pages.8. Add a photo.Upload a photo that presents you professionally. This helps add to your social media credibility.9. Share status updates.Whether it’s a link to a business article or a bit of your own wisdom, your thoughts should be shared on your LinkedIn profile. Any updates should place you in a respectable light, so keep them professional. An update rule of thumb is to share a posting up to three times a week.10. Establish your own URL.Set up your own URL on LinkedIn to make it easy for recruiters to find your profile. You can accomplish this by going to the settings tab within your profile. You can add this URL to your resume as well. An example of a custom URL is http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/johnsmith./li>Why is a LinkedIn profile important?LinkedIn has gained major traction over the last few years within the social media industry, becoming the world’s largest professional network with over 120 million members in over 200 countries and territories. Because of this. LinkedIn has changed the landscape for recruiters and job seekers forever. Now over 80% of companies use social media for recruitment, with 95% of those organization using LinkedIn.Still not convinced that you have to create a LinkedIn profile? Hopefully the following will help you out.LinkedIn standardizes job search information to make it easy for recruiters to find your profile. Users with complete profiles are 40 times more likely to receive opportunities through LinkedIn.LinkedIn creates your first online impression with a potential employerHave you ever Googled your name? Hiring managers and recruiters usually do. By joining LinkedIn, your LinkedIn profile will show up as one of the first search links, guaranteeing accurate (and professional) information.With over 900,000 LinkedIn groups, you can participate in discussions covering a range of topics, peruse job boards and get regular news updates.If you relocate or change phone numbers, you can frequently update LinkedIn to ensure that you are always aware of any potential job opportunities.Connect with us on Experis LinkedIn