Your digital footprint includes everything that can be found about you online - such as LinkedIn profiles, social media accounts, websites and reviews.

Employers use your online profile to assess whether it's worthwhile pursuing you as an applicant. Your digital footprint should provide an accurate representation of who you are.

1. Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

An effective LinkedIn profile is an essential element of job searching. It showcases your professional brand and sets you apart from other candidates by including professionally taken photos, an informative summary, detailed work experience and education information, professional skills as well as recommendations from coworkers or clients that highlight your abilities and achievements.

Consider that when reviewing your profile, recruiters or potential employers may only look at highlights of your work history and qualifications. They'll first notice your picture; ensure it depicts clearly shows your face while reflecting a level of professionalism appropriate to the industry you operate in.

Recruiters and employers also look at how many connections you have. A network with 50 or fewer connections could indicate any of three things, depending on who's viewing you: (1) you don't know many people; 2) technology/social media aren't something you care for much; or 3) LinkedIn wasn't used much by you as an investment vehicle. LinkedIn recommends at least 100 connections.

Do not forget to provide contact details in your profile so that anyone viewing it can easily get in touch with you. Including phone and email numbers is permissible, while multiple addresses or cell numbers should not be. Including any website/blog addresses might also prove beneficial.

2. Update Your Social Media Profiles

When hiring managers search your name online, what they see should support their decision to hire you. If they see an unprofessional profile that fails to showcase your work or falters on this point, it could undermine your job search altogether - that is why creating an impactful and professional digital presence is of such great importance.

At LinkedIn, job searching is most effectively accomplished through social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Make sure your profiles are updated with professional images. Also consider creating separate accounts for personal and professional uses if necessary - for example if you're a designer it might be best to set up an online portfolio account on DeviantArt instead of sharing personal photos on Instagram or Facebook.

As part of your job searching preparations, the first step should be conducting an intensive Googling of yourself to assess what's out there and close or make private any nonprofessional accounts that appear. If keeping any open profiles open is still appealing, ensure all aspects (display name, handle, headshot etc.) match. Also review privacy settings to make sure any recruiters or hiring managers might come across portrays you in an ideal light online.

An effective online presence can make all of the difference when it comes to interviewing and landing that dream job. By following these tips, your online presence will tell a narrative that supports your job search process - helping secure that next great opportunity.

3. Optimize Your Website

As consumers study brands' websites, social media content and credentials before making a purchase decision, job hunters often scrutinize candidate online presences before considering hiring them. Your online profile could either hinder or help your chances of landing your next role - it all comes down to perception!

Hiring managers often conduct an initial Google search before inviting you in for an interview, which can reveal a wealth of information. It is recommended to remove any unprofessional accounts (does anyone really need that Myspace page from 2004?) and set all active profiles to private, to ensure all content aligns with what the job involves.

An optimized website is also key, and having one that's configured correctly for SEO and provides a consistent candidate experience across platforms is of equal importance. An organization with an effective online presence will be prepared for an increase in applicant interest during any period of economic expansion and can prepare its workforce accordingly.

When competing in a competitive job market, every edge counts. Other candidates with positive and professional online profiles could end up getting hired over you.

4. Optimize Your Online Reputation

Job seekers need to realize the full power of the Internet's advantages when using it for job searching purposes, and by following a few straightforward steps it is easy to optimize their online presence for recruiters and make themselves more visible to recruiters.

Hiring managers use the internet to find and evaluate candidates, with your online profile serving as one of the first impressions they will form of you beyond resumes and applications. In today's post-pandemic job market, it may even determine your chances of employment!

LinkedIn can serve as an effective and concise resume, while professional social media accounts allow you to showcase industry knowledge and abilities. Finally, claiming your domain name and building a website provides another professional online home to showcase your expertise that is appealing to hiring managers.

Be proactive about maintaining a positive online image by checking in regularly with your online presence and setting alerts that notify you whenever something new pops up online. This will allow you to ensure that what people see represents who you really are in real life and that any misrepresentations can be addressed quickly before it becomes an issue.