November 19, 2015

5 Things That Make Your Profile Look Unprofessional

November 19, 2015/ Christie

Being that your professional profile and resume is the first thing that recruiters see, you definitely don't want to give off an impression that you are not an ideal candidate. Don't let the little things ruin your chances of gaining a job. So make sure you have these five things that make your profile look unprofessional in check:

#1: Email Address

If you are still using the same email address you created back in high school, make a new one immediately. Get one for your professional life and work, because nobody will take you seriously if you are prettyprincess85@gmail.com. (Save it for personal use, instead.) You can easily set up a new email on Google, Yahoo or Hotmail.

#2: Poor Grammar and Spelling

Misspelled words and bad grammar are big giveaways that make you seem unprofessional. Be sure you give your profile a second look and also ask others to proofread it for you.

#3: Phone Number

It is best that you provide a personal contact number, like your cellphone, rather than a home number. You do not want hiring managers to call you at your house number, and have a family member or roommate pick up. Just make it easier for your prospective employer with a mobile number, so they can reach you anywhere and anytime.

#4: Profile Photo

You want to provide a good first impression to the hiring manager even before you meet at the interview. You can do so with a professional, business-appropriate profile photo. Do refer to Tips for a Professional Profile Photo for more in-depth advice.

#5: Unnecessary Personal Information

It's nice to share a bit about your personality and hobbies away from work, but keep it to a reasonable amount. In case you didn't know, oversharing may actually hurt your employment prospects. So no need to share overly personal details and/or photos. Topics that you can possibly discuss about are clubs, associations or organizations you are a part of, or volunteer work that you are engaged with.

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October 06, 2015

Tips on How to Build Your Online Reputation

October 06, 2015/ Christie

The Internet and social networking play a bigger part in our everyday lives than you think. CareerBuilder found that more than half of hiring managers research applicants using search engines, and 52 percent said they used social networking sites.

It goes to show that you need to be careful of what you put out there on the world wide web. However, you can use these online profiles to help you stand out and distinguish yourself from others in the talent pool.

Here are a few ways you can create a better online reputation and impress your employer:

#1. Exhibit skills and experience.

You can provide your work history in a generic format, but that's just boring. Enhance your profile with graphics or other stimulating visuals to highlight your progression and career growth. You can create an infographic or timeline for greater support. On Harri, you can tag your profile with specialty keywords of your skills and experience, including "POS Systems", "Advanced Knowledge of Cash Registers/Money Handling", amongst many more.

#2. Display your craft.

Share files or links to your personal website and portfolio. This helps break up the amount of reading that your employer may have to do, and increases your memorability factor. Examples of popular types of imagery that are uploaded on Harri include coffee/latte art and beautifully presented/plated dishes.

#3. Show your personality through videos.

Show off your character with videos. Film yourself in your working environment, may it be working in the kitchen or behind the counter. If you like to get more personal, you can also share a short clip of you enjoying your favorite activity or hobby. You can easily import videos in the Gallery portion of your Harri profile.

#4. Provide professional references.

Include professional recommendations and references to boost your online reputation. It acts as written proof to employers of your capabilities.

With these few additions, you can raise your online presence to a greater level. Just make sure that you maintain a professional mindset when you manage all your channels, so that it doesn't hurt your chances of getting a job.