Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York

1. Clean up your act! Go home and “Google” yourself as you may be surprised at what you find. It’s important to be aware that potential employers can and will research your public online information. Ask yourself if the images posted by you or your “friends” are really ones that you want on the Internet for all to see. Do any portray you in an unprofessional light? Remember to make appropriate edits – often.

2. Create a new email address with your full name specifically for your job search. Do away with addresses like Sexygirl222@aol.com or anything too “cutesy” or infantile. Your new email will appear professional and work towards your advantage. There are a number of different sites that offer free email accounts.

3. When creating your résumé, be mindful that not everyone is working off of the same software you are. What looks perfect on your screen or when you print at home, may come out quite different if your prospective employer has an older version of the same software, or a different software altogether. For example, margins are wrong, indents are off and the overall alignment just doesn’t look right. Sometimes you can even lose your font! Your best bet is to save your document in .DOC (Word) format, using a universally accepted font such as Ariel, Helvetica or Times New Roman.

4. Start blogging! Create a blog about your professional life and area of expertise. This can be a great way to reach a wide audience. If your blog is written correctly, search engines such as Google and Yahoo! will pick it up and help extend your reach.

5. Subscribe to RSS feeds in your professional field. This will keep you on top of the latest trends and articles, and expose you to contacts you didn’t have before. Again, this is a free service that will be fed directly into your Reader Account and be at your fingertips when you need it. You will be surprised by how many people are out there sharing ideas, bartering and feeding off of the World Wide Web of creativity.

6. The economic downturn we are currently experiencing may be a blessing in disguise. While it may not feel that way, this may be your opportunity to learn some new skills, which will enhance your résumé. There are new careers popping up every day as a result of the surge in Internet use and its widespread availability. Online tutorials are readily available on YouTube and a wide variety of sites, depending upon your interests.

7. Check out your competition! Go online and take a look at your competitors. Look at the functionality of their website. Look at their skill-set. Are your skills in line with today’s job market? Never before has there been an opportunity such as we have today to actually know our competition in the job market! Use this to your advantage and acquire the skills necessary to give you that competitive edge.

8. Poll your friends. Sometimes we work on our Résumé, Blog or Personal Statement so closely we lose our objectivity. Circulate your work to those you respect and trust for a fresh perspective. In today’s online world, this is an easy task! We are all connected in the online community and people are generally all too happy to help. Typos and omissions are so common. Spellcheck and don’t be afraid of your word processor’s toolbox.

9. While you do want to be stringent about monitoring your social networking sites, we should never forget what they are for – networking! By all means, use your contacts. Ask them to post a link about you. Your audience will increase exponentially!

10. Finally, it has never been easier to research your target employer. Once you have dazzled them with your résumé, Blog and get that interview – BE PREPARED! Aside from your physical appearance, communication skills and experience, be informed about your potential employer. Go to your preferred search engine and look up the person who will be interviewing you! Have they been quoted in an article or press release? Are they on a networking site where you can see their work history and background? Get to know the person and the Company as best you can. Who have their Clients been? What is their philosophy? Look at the Company Website and Blog and find out who they are. This will go a long way toward making a lasting impression and shows you’ve done your homework.

Be Creative. Luck has nothing to do with it! You can make it happen!

Donna will be part of Schlessinger Eye & Face's "Stimulus Package Event" being held April 1st in Woodbury, NY. This community event will provide free expert advice on areas such as resume writing, personal marketing, career counseling and nutrition. For more information please visit www.schlessingereyeandface.com

Photo Credit: PMI