Job Search: Google+ As A Complement To LinkedIn

When it comes to social media and job hunting, everyone immediately thinks of LinkedIn and rightly so. A great LinkedIn profile (which we can accomplish for you here at The Imagemakers, Ink!)  can go a very long way towards giving a prospective employer a good overview of your skill sets and abilities. So while we can all agree that LinkedIn is a must, you should also be aware that there’s an up and comer that can help you in more ways than you may have thought of  when it comes to conducting a job search. Who’s the new guy? Well it’s Google+ and here’s how it can complement your LinkedIn Profile.

 In a word, “personality”, which when you think about it, is the one aspect that LinkedIn lacks with it’s Dragnet like “just the facts mam” way of doing things. I’m not saying that’s necessarily a bad thing, it’s just not a complete picture of who you are and what you bring to the table.

I would argue that a well manicured Google+ profile (with smartly placed public posts and photos) can act as an complement to LinkedIn that can shine a little light on your fun side, intelligence and interests that LinkedIn has a hard time with because of it’s obvious “business” mission. Of course when I say “well manicured” I’m talking about a public profile and posts that stay away from controversy and nonsense (save those posts for your “close friends” circle) and that paint a positive picture of you to anyone on the outside looking in.

In the case of job hunting that would be any HR professional or decision maker who Googles you (and yes, they do Google you) looking to find out more about you other than just what’s contained in your LinkedIn profile. Add to that the fact that Google+ is tightly integrated into the rest of the Google ecosystem (Google docs and other business tools as well as it’s own cool features) and I believe that it can be a very real complement to LinkedIn when “they” go searching…and trust me…”they” will. So give them some fun stuff! Give them some intelligent stuff! Give them some interesting stuff!

Who knows, it may be just the right “stuff” that gets you the job!

~Stu

The Cloud-Based Career Campaign

Did your mother ever tell you to get your head out of the clouds? Well, I’m here to tell you it’s time to get back in the Cloud. Whether you want to find a new job, climb the career ladder, or start your own business, it’s no longer just how you look on paper, now looking good in the Cloud is also a must.

Back in the day looking for a job or starting a business meant creating marketing materials like resumes and brochures. You still need to have tools to market yourself and your business,  but in today’s high tech world it’s time to think and create your own virtual reality, one in which you’re the expert.

Ground-breaking technology is providing cloud-based solutions that, when used correctly, will ensure a successful marketing campaign, be it for a new position or a new business.  At The Imagemakers, Ink! we’ve embraced the latest and greatest to help you market yourself.

Here are some of the things you’ll need in addition to your classic marketing materials:

1. Web-based Resumes and Bios that enable job candidates and savvy new business hopefuls to quickly and easily get your resume or bio in front of key decision makers or customers by simply sending a link.

2. Personal Domain Webpages that enhance your web presence and add to your credibility. Owning your own “name” domain complete with a professional Personal Domain Webpage is a great way to show off your skills and assets to the world.

3. Google Apps for your domain. These are essential if you’re thinking of starting your own business or  becoming a consultant. Google Apps include a suite of tools like email, docs, calendar, voice and much, much more.

4. WordPress Blog. A WordPress blog (on your own domain) can make you an “expert” in your field in no time and dramatically expand your web footprint. This is an excellent technique to showcase your expertise and get the attention of prospective employers or customers.

At The Imagemakers, Ink! we often work with clients who are taking a two pronged approach to their career; not only are they looking for a move up, they’re also looking to move out. For this reason, we provide the aforementioned technology solutions to complement our already robust products and services, all to help you achieve your career goals. If you want to capitalize on the Cloud, check out or Technology Solutions, we’ll have you winning on the Web in no time.

Linda

Quick Tip: LinkedIn For Life

The Imagemakers, Ink! LLC

Most people turn to LinkedIn when they’re looking for a new job or for new clients, but using LinkedIn should be a lifelong occupation, part of both your short and long term career or business strategy.

For the short term you can be adding to your network, joining groups and actively using LinkedIn’s advanced search to find companies and people you may want to target. In the long term, if you’re like most of us, you’ll be changing jobs and even careers multiple times during your life. Having a network already in place when you need it will give you a head start.