It’s no longer as simple as typing up a resume and faxing it in. The virtual considerations that now go into the job hunt cannot be overlooked. To stay competitive in your job search, you need to consider how technology plays into that search. There is far more to consider now that we have virtual footprints everywhere. Getting ready to look for a new position now comes with a few more steps.

Social Media Outlets

Social media is traditionally where you connect with friends, share fun pictures and maybe write some incriminating posts. But when you’re ready to hit the job market, you need to clean it, make it professional, or ensure that your personal accounts are set to private. In 2011 89% of companies used social media in their recruiting practices. That’s a whole lot of recruiting done via social media. You want to be a part of that.

If you’re confident that your social profiles won’t do anything to damage your chances at a job, you should definitely use them to network. According to a 2010 Right Management survey, of 59,133 clients, 41% said they landed a job through networking. Networking is a vital part of the job search and much of it is done online.

LinkedIn

This is a major professional network that you should spend time building. A recent survey from JobVite found that 93% of recruiters go to LinkedIn to find qualified candidates. When it’s time to search for a job, ensure that you have a presence on LinkedIn by updating your resume and profile information and reach out to people. Make it known that you're in the market for a new job.

LinkedIn is your best online professional networking tool, so use it. Michelle Kedem, a partner at search firm On-Ramps says, “For any job that has an interpersonal component and/or is client-facing, a LinkedIn profile is a must.”

Virtual and Video Resumes

First off, just having a virtual or video resume shows employers that you don’t shy away from technology; You prefer to use it to your benefit. Whether you decide to house your resume on a site, or create a video interview, these both give you the benefit of showing off your personality. They also give you an opportunity to stand out and deviate from the traditional. Here are some great pointers for creating a virtual resume from Ink’d.

Video Interviewing

This technology tool can go both ways. Companies are now saving time and money by utilizing recruiting tools like video interviews. The preparation for this type of interview is very similar to traditional interviews but there are some not so obvious considerations. Lighting, noise, distractions, and ability to smoothly operate the technology are very important to delivering a good video interview. Here are some more pointers onpreparing for a video interview from a reader question we received.

Gone are the days of paper resumes. Technology has raised the bar as far as what employers look for. They are checking what we tweet, scanning our LinkedIn connections, and gauging our knowledge of technology, all during the screening process. Having your virtual ducks in a row when it comes time for the job search is the key to catching any employer or recruiter's eye.

Who do you think will land the position, the guys who mailed his resume in, or the guy who sent over a dynamic and engaging video interview? You can either look at all of these virtual considerations as just more steps in the process, or you can view them as tools to gain a competitive edge over the competition.

Check out other great articles on our main blog!

photo credit: jurvetson via photopin cc