Has this happened to you?  You hear that your friend got a great new job, but they didn't even apply for it! Instead, they were contacted by a recruiter or headhunter. 94% of recruiters use social media in their recruitment efforts. When it comes to being noticed by potential employers, you need to make sure you stand out.  Consider the following tips to proactively make yourself an attractive candidate, and get noticed by recruiters:

STAY ACTIVE ON LINKEDIN

In the professional world, it is imperative that you have a LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn has more than 500 million members in over 200 different countries. Their mission is simple: Connect professionals together so they become more successful. Over time, LinkedIn has become a great resource for employers to network with others and to help in their recruitment needs.

In addition to building your LinkedIn profile, you need to become an expert in your field. Recruiters often go after professionals whose work is seen and known in their industry. That's why it's important that you stay active, not just by sharing content, but also by attending conferences, writing blogs, getting quoted in industry publications, or networking within your field. This way, you are able to bring greater awareness to the expertise you have to offer.

MAINTAIN A MATURE ONLINE PRESENCE

Outside of LinkedIn, you want to be sure that your other social media accounts demonstrate a vibrant, mature presence.  93% of recruiters are likely to look at a candidate’s social profiles. Sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram allow employers to get a glimpse of who you are outside the confines of a résumé, cover letter, or interview. That doesn’t mean you have to eliminate the cute pics or funny memes, but your social feeds should be curated as if a recruiter is looking at them.  You want to include content that shows you care about trends and events in your industry, and you have intelligent, constructive views about them. Make sure your profiles are free of typos, the information is coherent, and your photos present you in a favorable light.

Recruiters have had the following reactions to candidate profiles:

                83% Negative - Reference to Illegal Drugs

                71% Negative - Posts of a Sexual Nature

                65% Negative - Profanity

                61% Negative – Spelling or Grammar Errors

                47% Negative – Pictures of Alcohol

                65% Positive – Volunteering or Donations to Charity

CONTACT A RECRUITER (HEADHUNTER) DIRECTLY

If you are really interested in making yourself available for a new career, making a connection with recruiters, like Lofton Executive Search Group, can open doors that you may not have even considered. Professional recruiters make connections with potential employees and build a base of qualified candidates.  Many companies use a recruiting firm to hire executive level, technical, and management positions. Building a profile with recruiters is a great way to let them know to keep you on their radar.

About Lofton: Founded in 1979, Lofton Services offers clients the best of all worlds. We provide the responsive, personal service and flexibility of a small local firm while having the technology, resources, and infrastructure to deliver the benefits of the biggest players in our industry. Lofton Staffing can deliver the right people, with the right skills, right when you need them. Contact us today.