Hello, virtual workers and employers.Well-presented projects can draw more bids than an employer expected, and still the best workers know how to make sure their talents are recognized. The process begins with a professional identity, and in the world of virtual work, that largely means your online profile. Today, the vWorker blog gets a visit from outsourcing blogger and successful vWorker.com user West Loh, who offers a virtual employer’s perspective on what impresses and what doesn’t impress in worker profiles.
Take it away, West...
Five Killer Strategies to Massively Increase Your Chances of Getting That Job!
This article is for the workers of vWorker. I see so many good people with excellent potential, but too many make initial mistakes that keep them off my shortlist. In my experiences of hiring, I’ve often had to probe for key information that was left out of the initial profile. Pay close attention to the tips in this training article to give yourself the best chance of getting a job and that steady monthly income your talent deserves.
Tip #1: Show your professional face. You’re showcasing not just your skills but also your professional identity so no putting pictures of you half-naked on the beach. If this were a dating site, great; but this is a workplace, where you want to represent yourself as a professional from your first impression. Use a picture of you in business attire or, at the very least, crop a headshot so people can clearly see your face. Glasses are a “Don’t;” so are hats and anything that covers your face. One more thing—SMILE! When your photo looks like an inmate’s mugshot or gives off anything less than great energy, don’t expect an interview.
Tip #2: No one is an expert in everything. Don’t claim to be. I have seen profiles where a person claims one year of experience yet is an expert in forty-seven different areas. Immediate write off! Isolate your main STRENGTHS, two to three of them, and describe of how those strengths will help the person who hires you. For example, if you are looking for a virtual assistant position and you have better English than most applicants, then that’s a strong selling point: really highlight it. Show employers your rating, the topics you’ve written on, positions you worked in and study you’ve done that separates you from the other thousands of VA’s out there.
Tip #3: Nurture Your Profile. Please, please, please pay very close attention to your profile. It’s the only thing we have to judge you on so if it’s riddled with spelling errors, bad English, grammatical atrocities or even lack of information, you are going to get the boot instantly. Have your profile proofread by an English-speaker if needed. Use up most of the profile page space—this is prime real estate you can use to promote yourself! Provide links to your portfolio, to past employers’ references and to sample articles you’ve written. Make it EASY for an employer to find out about you! One more thing—it would be really helpful if you give a MONTHLY expectation of salary. These days, most people are looking to hire per month, not by hour.
Tip #4: Show Yourself. This tip I think is a great one, but it does require some equipment and a little knowledge of how to use free software. I’m always looking for that personal touch in profiles and rarely see them. How do you create that personal touch? Include an AUDIO message or even a personalised VIDEO in your profile (or link to one) that immediately tells an employer you are versed in social media, and you will build rapport faster than you ever could through email. Talk a bit about who you are, your skills and why employing you is a good decision.
Tip #5: Be Proactive. Keep an eye on new members at the site and start friending employers. Tell them a bit about yourself in a private message and offer to work for them at a lowered cost (via a small bid price) for the first project to see if you are a fit. Too many people are waiting for opportunities to come to them. Why don’t you go out and take control of your own path?
About the Author: West Loh teaches business automation and outsourcing strategies at his blog on Success Strategies. At WestLoh.com you’ll find useable strategies and proven ideas you can implement in your business right now, plus a free report revealing the results of his interviews with over thirty multi-millionaires (and one billionaire!).
Image copyright 2010 Dawn Ippolito
