New Media Strategies for New Immigrants
Photo: Standing Out from the Crowd by Jarrod Carruthers on Flickr
Mentoring Connections has many talented clients: designers, architects, analysts and accountants, engineers, marketing professionals, software engineers… I could go on. Many of them are MBAs and PhDs with several years of experience managing large projects and dynamic teams. When skilled immigrants come to Canada they are often advised to hide their phenomenal skills and outstanding experience so that they do not seem overqualified, especially when they seek survival jobs. I do not argue that it is a necessity. I do wish to suggest not an alternative, but a complementary strategy.
Online tools, which include social media, can be used to gain access and leverage. These tools can lead to more job postings, more ideas, and a larger network. They make it easier to connect with people, and show them who you are, what you do, why they should know you, or maybe even hire you.
Our first level of workshops provided online tips to ensure that our clients are using social media in a proper way. We wanted to make sure that our clients limit their mistakes and follow the proper etiquette on social media sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
Our second level workshops focused on encouraging our talented clients to think about the different ways that they can exhibit their talent. We wanted to get them thinking outside of the box, to showcase their skills, and to stand out from the crowd.
Not your average resume…
Not all resumes need to come in the same shape, size and colour. If you work in the design field where the work is visual, you might want to think about presenting your work experience in a way that not only states your talent, but also is a visual representation of your talent and an extension of your personality. Take a look at these unconventional resumes. Maybe they will light a spark in you.
Of course, keep in mind that this strategy is not for everyone.But even if you’re not in the design field, you can still present your experience in a visual manner. Why not compose a chart or bar graph that depicts your achievements or the impact that you made in a company?
Blogging
Blogging is another excellent way to showcase your skills and talent. You can provide an in-depth answer to certain questions that are of interest to your industry or contacts. You add value to your thoughts and establish yourself as a source for interesting ideas and information for your industry.
There are different platforms for blogging. Tumblr, WordPress.com and Blogger are free services – the downside to these content management systems that you do not have access to your blog’s HTML which will limit your ability to customize the general look and feel of your blog. In order to get greater control over your blog’s appearance, try using WordPress.org. Through this blogging platform, you will be able to access the CSS and HTML file to customize your blog to your liking. Do keep in mind though that WordPress.org is not free and it may require more work than the other platforms. When you are developing your blog, pick the platform that works best for you depending on your level of expertise and the amount of time and money that you are willing to invest.
Explore the blogs and personal websites of “Our Talented Participants” on our blog’s homepage and you’ll get a better idea. Gordana Pelic uses her personal blog to express her thoughts and ideas. See how designers Thelma Palma, Monica Calderon and Qingyuan Liu use their personal websites to display their work.
Customize your LinkedIn profile
It’s okay if you don’t have a blog. A great place to showcase your skills is on your LinkedIn profile. In addition to connecting with professionals, LinkedIn is also a great place to show your connections your achievements and honours. Add sections and additional applications to enhance your profile. If you go to ‘Edit Profile,’ and scroll to ‘Add Sections,’ you can add certifications, patents, publications, courses that you have taken, languages that you speak and more. Other applications you can add to your profile include:
- Slideshare – You can upload presentations, documents or videos to show the previous work that you have done.
- Creative Portfolio Display – Present your creative projects and showcase your talent by displaying the visual work that you have done for clients in the past.
- Reading List by Amazon – An excellent way to show your contacts that you are constantly learning if you display that you are reading books related to your craft. Or you can also post non-business related books to show that you have other interests.
New media has changed the way that we can present ourselves to the world. We have more targeted options, alternatives, and complementary strategies that we can use to stand out from the crowd.
To read more about social media tips, take a look at our blog post, Social Media 101.
