Crash Course in Building a Social Media Resume

Since my time in college is coming to a close, I have been on the search for jobs and opportunities within the public relations industry. This process is long and frustrating at times as we are submitting our resumes and cover letters constantly. Now I am here to remind you that there is another way. Social media resumes allow you to distinguish yourself from the crowd. You are able to customize and reflect your personal brand with a collection of social media elements, multimedia attributes, sharing features and of course, your resume.  For all of us enrolled in Social Media for Public Relations, this is what we have been building all semester; our own personal social media resumes.

I read an article on Mashable.com, which provided steps on how to build a social media resume. As my class is coming to an end, I have completed many of these steps.

First you must start with a website, or blog. Some free sites are Bravenet.com, Wordpress.com, and Google Blogger.  Next, make sure you create the perfect URL.  Your URL will be on your paper resume, all of your social media networks, and your business cards and any other marketing materials.  The next step is focused on format and design. Make sure your format is clean and easy to view and design as you please but keep in mind that this is your brand. Recruiters are looking for certain things when viewing your website or blog . Here are some ideas for you use when putting together your personal page:

Press/media, contact, career highlights, distinctions, bio, blog, case studies, about, skills, experience, credentials, intro, consulting, vision, endorsements, resume, newsletters, news & events, volunteer projects, strengths, social networks, interact, demo real, art portfolio, sample projects, personal information, professional information, wiki, speaking events, awards, profile, photos, videos, associations, clubs, technical competencies.

Next step, enhance your page with key multimedia elements. This aspect will make your resume interactive and allow recruiters to connect with you on a personal level, compared to reading your experience on a plain  piece of paper. Some examples of multimedia you could use to jazz up your blog or website could include: photos of you at industry events or business people, a video or MP3 of you answering basic interview questions, your personal podcast, audio testimonials from previous clients or supervisors you have worked with.

Integrating your social network profiles is an important element to remember. First clean up your pages so they are appropriate and reflect a professional feel so recruiters will not be turned away from viewing them. Some social networks to include are: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube.

Lastly, make your social media resume shareable. This will increase your chances with job opportunities as you will create more visibility of your resume. You can use Delicious, Digg, Reddit, or Share This.  

Now your social media resume is complete and you are on your way to new opportunities and hopefully a promising career.