By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter
EP 3103 The reality is simple: Recruiters and Hiring Managers yes Check you online before they even think about interviewing.
This episode gives you the hard facts and the concrete, actionable steps you need to audit and clean up your digital presence, especially on LinkedIn and other key platforms. Don’t let an unmanaged digital footprint sabotage your job search. Learn how to create a strong, professional online presence that opens doors instead of closing them.
Why do so many interviews?
So, you’re looking for a job, right? You may have spent hours, or even days, getting your resume perfect. But what if I told you that the game has completely changed? Let’s get started. Because you want to make a first impression? Well, this all happens before anyone sees your resume.
Okay, you’ve perfected it, you’ve triple-checked it, and you’re finally having trouble with that app. You feel good. But what exactly happened in that moment? The recruiter or hiring manager will see your name.
Let me give you a hint. This may not be what you think. Yes.
Before they open your beautifully crafted PDF, they’re already online. This is not a possibility. This is pretty much standard procedure now.
They will absolutely research you on LinkedIn, and you better believe they’ll Google you. They try to get a quick sense of who you are professionally before spending time processing paperwork. So, let’s just call it that.
Check before interview. This is a completely new step in the hiring process. Did you know a firm handshake used to be the first impression? Well, today, your digital footprint is a handshake.
This is the silent introduction you make before you even speak. For a long time, the entire job search world revolved around one document. Your resume.
This was the focus before. But what about the new reality? It’s much bigger. This is your entire digital footprint.
From your profile to what you share and what others are saying about you. That’s the whole thing. Okay, so where are they actually looking? Well, it almost always comes down to two key places.
LinkedIn’s #opentowork post
First, your LinkedIn profile. This is a given. They want to know your history, your connections, and what kind of things you’re talking about.
Then they’ll do a quick Google search to see what else there is. The key is to make sure what they find is appropriate for the job you want. Okay, we’ve established that they’ll be looking for you online.
Now, the goal is more than just maintaining a clean image. No, no. The real advantage lies in actively using this to your advantage.
It transforms your profile from a static, boring page into a dynamic portfolio that truly showcases how you solve problems. That’s the absolute core of the strategy. Every company is hiring to solve problems.
That’s it. Therefore, your first goal is to show how you solve such problems. You want the hiring manager to look at your profile and immediately think, oh wow, I could totally see them doing this for us.
So how do you actually do this? It’s broken down into three very simple steps. First, curate your presence. Seriously, Google it yourself.
Take a fresh look at your LinkedIn profile. Does what you see actually match your career goals? to be honest. Second, start posting relevant content.
You don’t have to write a novel. Share an interesting article. Add quick insights.
These things can greatly increase your visibility. Finally, use this feature section of your LinkedIn profile. This is prime real estate.
Pin your best work to the top. This is your personal highlight reel. You see, all of this, your online activity, your posts, your profile tweaks, it all serves a greater purpose.
A critical blind spot in the executive job search
It builds your personal brand. Look, branding sounds like some intimidating marketing term, but it’s not. It’s really just a modern word that refers to something that’s always been crucial, your professional reputation.
Let’s demystify the whole personal brand thing for a moment. It’s not about being an influencer or having a cool logo. It’s quite simply your reputation.
That’s what you’re famous for. When someone in your industry mentions your name, what is the first thing they think of? That’s your brand. This brings me to a big question.
Take some time to really think about it. What are you famous for? If a future boss asked your colleagues about you, what would they say? Perhaps more importantly, what do you want them to say? The answer is the absolute foundation of your brand. We can divide this big question into four main parts.
Your brand is built on who you are, your professional identity. It’s what you do, your skills and your expertise. It’s your success, the proven, tangible results you deliver.
Perhaps the most important point is how you succeed. Your unique craft, your secret weapon. If you can tell a powerful story in these four areas, you’re golden.
Make no mistake, this is more than just some feel-good exercise. Your brand makes a real, tangible difference. It shapes how potential employers view you from the first click.
A strong, clear brand tells them you are a professional who knows your worth and can achieve your goals. It set the tone for everything that followed. This is what I want to leave you with.
Your digital footprint is there, 24-7, building your reputation whether you’re managing it or not. So the only question left to ask yourself is, is the story it tells helping you or hurting you?
Executive Job Search: The Intangible Market
About Big Game Hunter Jeff Altman
People hire “Big Game Hunter” Jeff Altman to provide no-nonsense career advice around the world because he makes so many things in people’s careers easier. Those ones Matters may involve job search, recruiting more effectively, managing and leading better, career transition, and advice on solving workplace problems.
He is the producer and former host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 job search podcast on iTunes with over 3,100 episodes.
Layoff Posts: Your Secret Weapon on LinkedIn
You’ll find important information to help you with your job search on my new website, Job Hunting.Community In addition to video courses, books, and guides, I answer members’ questions about their job search every day. Leave your job search questions and I will respond every day. Becoming an Insider+ member gives you everything you get as an Insider+ member, plus you can connect with me via Zoom call to get your questions answered. Become an Insider Premium member and we offer individual and group coaching.
Recruiters know something you don’t: They won’t fill that many positions
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