Your Professional Reputation: 10 Items To Build Yours

Marie Raperto, The Hiring HubYou’ve heard it over and over, your professional reputation is critical. And your online professional profiles are probably the most important ways to resonate with key stakeholders.It’s your online comprehensive personal brand that influencers look at first. It’s where you will network and where recruiters, hiring managers, influencers and others will find you.Why do you need a strong online professional presence?1. It is your way to show what you have done, what you are doing and what you can do personally and professionally in one place.2. You have total control over your profiles.3. Profiles are live and you can change/update it whenever you wish.4. It is a place where you can share your mission/vision/outlook.5. It is a platform where you can publish articles, blog posts, links etc.6. Platforms have millions of members and they show up on Google searches.How do you build yours? While all online sites are not all the same. When you can:1. Upload a professional head shot. A photo visually anchors your profile.2. Craft a headline that will draw people to you. Every word needs to be meaningful.3. Develop a strong summary. This is where you tell your story, your passion. If you want to speak with recruiters, network or need specific information, ask for it here. Make sure to include your contact information here. Not everyone has access to get this information.4. For each work experience, list your responsibilities and accomplishments. Be specific. Don’t write long paragraphs and use bullet points. You can use links to take the reader to specific projects etc.You can adapt this section from your resume.5. Maximize your keywords throughout your profile. Make sure you use industry-specific keywords in all your sections.6. Join all relevant groups and associations. It’s a good way to network and to be kept up-to-date on what’s going on in an industry.7. Make sure your profile is complete8. Claim your own URL. Visit your site on a regular basis and set the settings so you receive notifications.9. Publish, publish, and publish. Content on is more likely to be indexed on Google than content you post on your own blog. Post and report interesting and relevant articles.10. If you have samples, have an online portfolio and include a link. Link to your blog or personal web site.Your online profile is your Wikipedia. It tells everyone all about you and helps you find what you want.