10 steps to get a job in 2009

Photo by SOCIALisBETTER

The last time I interviewed someone, I knew whom he'd worked with, and had already talked to some of those people.  Not because he told me, but because I Googled him. I had an opinion about him before he knew who I was.  Whether or not this is fair, this is the way interviews work now.  Here's how to use the web to put your best foot forward.  Let's pretend you're new to the web, so we can start at the beginning. And even if you aren't new, review these steps--and do them if you haven't already.

Step 1   Sign up for LinkedIn, because you need to show you're experienced.  Fill out your basic work history.  Use the tools they have to connect you to people you've worked with in the past, because you need to show that you're connected.  Showing the links to other people gives the social proof that you did what you say you did.

Step 2  Sign up for Twitter, to show that you are industrious. Twitter is a great platform for showing that you are busy and thoughtful.  You can read my longer 10 Twitter Tips, but here are my top 2 rules:

1. Don't talk about things that other people can't experience. This is the "don't talk about what you're eating" rule. If you're describing how to make a bacon martini, that's a different story. A restaurant recommendation is also kosher (unlike the bacon martini). But things like "eating toast" will just annoy your followers.
2. Link to interesting content, but give people a reason to click on the link (don't go: "Cool!  http://bit.ly/De45e") 

Step 3   You need to be creative, so sign up for a service that's about expression.  Don't worry, you needn't be an artist.  If you like:

• Pictures:  Sign up for Flickr and post your photos
• Writing:  Sign up for Blogger and share your passions
• Reading:  Sign up for Shelfari and share your favorite books
• Browsing the web:  Sign up for StumbleUpon to find things, and Tumblr to share them. 
• Blogs:  Sign up for Google Reader and share your favorite posts

Step 4  Sign up for Nombray and buy your domain name--your own website with your name--(such as ChrisLunt.net or SeanCOMalley.com), to show that you are savvy.  Pull in your LinkedIn profile, Twitter profile, and the site you picked in Step 3.  The site gives people a place to find all these things about you in one place. Plus, having your own name as a domain name helps you to appear at the top of the Google results.  It also gives you a short and personal URL you can give to people to find out all about you.  Here's another chance to show you're connected: choose some key people to connect with.

Step 5  Show that you are distinctive.  People value scarcity.  Create a portfolio of your work and post it on Slideshare. Here's a great example from Dave Cortright called Designing with Vision.

Step 6  Be informed.  What are the forums used by people in your profession?  Search for groups you might be interested in on Yahoo Groups and Google Groups. You don't need to contribute, but it doesn't hurt--on a couple of occasions, I've hired engineers who answered a question we posted in a forum.

Step 7  Come recommended.  Ask one person from each job you had to write you a recommendation on LinkedIn.  Offer to write them a recommendation in return. When you can, ask for a recommendation from the person with the biggest title, but only if they can really comment on your work. I've given damning-with-soft-praise references for people who begged me to give them a reference when I didn't really know their work.

Step 8   Be visible.  Get out there--check on your college's alumni site for local events.  Search on Meetup for things you're interested in. Be aware that conferences are an industry that puts their own need for revenue above your well being, and you should be reluctant to spend money to go--do the free networking events first.

Step 9 Be consistent with your message. Add your Nombray domain to your email signature. (You don't want to do too much in your signature--if you put things like personal mottoes in, you'll come across as smarmy or self-obsessed.) Link back to your domain from your other profiles. This boosts your position in search results.

Step 10  Be discreet.  You don't want to look perverse or promiscuous.  Don't use your real name if signing up for an adult sites.  Limit your Facebook connections to real friends, and act like every photo you post is public. (For that matter, everything you ever do is public now that everyone's phone has a camera. Consider Michael Phelps' bong photo.)  Be aware that putting your resume up on some sites (HotJobs) will draw a cloud of recruiters.

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The site gives people a place to find all these things about you in one place. Plus, having your own name as a domain name helps you to appear at the top of the Google results.