Sharing Good Practice
JOB HUNTING IN THE DIGITAL AGE : REPUTATION , RESUMES & VIDEO INTERVIEWS
BY SIMON NOAKES
Teachers and parents have a pivotal role to play in encouraging pupils to take their online reputation seriously .
Did you know that up to 94 % of employers vet applicants online first ? It is not hard to track down social media footprints of these applicants . If pupils are behaving inappropriately online , they could jeopardise their job prospects .
In order to help pupils , make smarter choices online , teachers and parents should read up on reputation management , resumes and video interviews in the digital age - and then they should make sure that the pupils within their spheres of influence understand precisely what is at stake .
Online Reputation Matters
Three-quarters of recruiters are more than willing to go online to research job candidates . Seven in 10 have rejected candidates based on what they discovered online .
It ’ s important that pupils , who are working towards their degrees and career aspirations , know their online reputations count for a lot .
Reputation-Building Tips
LinkedIn , an online social media site for professionals , is a must for pupils looking to build a solid online reputation . They can showcase their resume and look for job opportunities . LinkedIn has become significant for job seekers in recent years , with some 10 million roles being advertised on the channel .
Profiles 101
Personal profiles should be kept personal . In other words , they should be made available only to select people ; they should not contain inappropriate content ; and should not have usernames that are the same as the account holders ’ real names .
For professional profiles , pupils should include professional photos ; use their real names as their username ; and stick to posting only industry-specific content .
Video Resume
In the digital age , it pays to have a video resume . Pupils should be encouraged to take advantage of video resumes to differentiate themselves from the majority of people who still do resumes the ' old fashioned way '.
Remember , innovation and creativity are fast becoming the top desired traits in new employees .
Personal Websites / Blogs
Having a personal website which showcases the students work and interests as well as their video resume is also an asset . Recruiters will appreciate the ease at which they can access the information they need about the candidate . A personal website also provides a space for the student to showcase their own style and creativity . For students looking to go into ICT or graphics related fields , a website is a great way to build and showcase a portfolio of work over time .
Video Interviews
Many pupils are likely already familiar with Skype , Google Hangouts or other similar video-chat applications . It should not be hard , then , for pupils to grasp the concept of participating in video interviews . Be sure to give them some pointers , though , on making the right impressions - from making eye contact to having good posture to dressing appropriately . A video interview should be prepared for and conducted in exactly the same way you would a face-to-face interview .
A lot is at stake for students in this digital age . But if they use technology responsibly , they ’ ll do just fine in leveraging the power of the Internet to get ahead in a competitive job market .
Source for statistics : https :// expandedramblings . com / index . php / linkedin-job-statistics /
Simon is the CEO and Founder of Interactive Schools . A father of 4 , he founded Interactive Schools in 2006 . He utilizes his experience and passion for strategic marketing , thought leadership , social media , brand values , technology and innovative thinking to assist schools in telling their unique # SchoolStories . Tweet him @ SimonNoakes
Class Time | | Nov - Dec 2017 | 21