My husband happens to work for a well-known online job board, which doesn’t necessarily offer any big advantages for me as I make my next big career move back into traditional employment (he’s not a recruiter). But he does confirm what most already know to be true about the job market – there are far more job seekers than there are job openings.
In a sea of faceless resumes, you must stand out.
I’ve been considering just how to do that and ended up having a horrible nightmare in the process: I was one of the few survivors of the Titanic catastrophe, floating in the frigid ocean water among hundreds of bodies and desperately trying to get the attention of a rescue boat passing a few hundred feet away. But sadly, my lifeless, blue face looked a lot like a dead person so the boat floated away as I sank into the dark ocean.
That’s morbid, I know. But, the job search process can feel a lot like that. If you hope to be rescued from the sea of dead resumes floating around the job market, you’ve got to 1) be seen, and 2) be a viable candidate.
To be seen as a viable candidate, I’m using a number of outreach strategies including VisualCV, a site that let’s you create an internet-based, multi-media rich resume. Creating a VisualCV takes just a few minutes, but you’ll want to invest more time to make yours interesting and unique.
Of course, this begins with developing content that accurately conveys your value to an employer: focus on the tangible skills you offer and the results you create. But what truly makes your VisualCV unique is the ability to create an online portfolio of your representative work such as, letters of recommendations, samples of your work, and video or audio files. You can also add a profile photograph to your VisualCV, which I realize some career coaches and recruiters might discourage due to subconscious discrimination issues that may arise.
But, I added my picture nonetheless. My belief is that a prospective employer that holds underlying or overt issues with my gender, ethnicity or general appearance, probably isn’t a good fit for me anyway. Besides, after more than six years in business for myself I’ve sufficiently pimped my headshot to the point where I’m often stopped by strangers who say, “I know you,” when they really just know the image they’ve seen on Web sites and brochures. Plus, any diligent employer will Google my name and find plenty about me, including my picture. There’s no use hiding who I am!
Other features I like about VisualCV:
- Get a custom URL that’s easy to share.
- Quickly create a PDF version of your VisualCV.
- Create multiple VisualCVs for privacy or specialized jobs
- Oh, it’s free. Music to my ears!
Curious to see my VisualCV (and maybe offer me a great job in San Diego?). Check out my Visual CV here:
By the way, VisualCV isn’t limited to those searching for a job. Independent professionals and business owners can use VisualCV to develop an online presence and market services as well.
Learn more about VisualCV:
Web: www.visualcv.com
Twitter: @visualcv
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I had signed up for this site prior to reading your article and did nothing it. After reading this the other day, I went over and finished my CV right away. And I added a picture although I don’t know if I want to keep it there. Good luck in your job search too.
Thanks Kristina! The versatility of VisualCV makes it a great resource for job seekers and entrepreneurs/independent professionals who want to show off their skills.