TheLadders Urges Professionals To "Spring Clean" Their Job Search

NEW YORK, March 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Historically, "spring cleaning" is an annual occasion to clean the home, store winter items and uncover the patio furniture. As the first day of spring approaches on March 20^th, TheLadders is encouraging job seekers to use this opportunity to review and replenish their professional inventories. Recently, the online job-matching service surveyed its more than 5 million members to determine their level of preparedness for today's job-search landscape.

"Most of us associate springtime with warmer temperatures and blooming greenery, basically a fresh start," said Amanda Augustine, job search expert for TheLadders. "Job seekers should apply this same sentiment to their job-search efforts and use this opportunity to organize and refresh their personal brands. Revamping your resume, polishing your online presence, and optimizing your professional network will bring any job search to new heights."

While nearly 70 percent of survey respondents proclaimed that their job search was "top priority," many are overlooking key job-search fundamentals that may prohibit them from landing a job. Drawing on TheLadders' survey results, Augustine developed the following tips to help job seekers give their brands a good scrubbing this spring.

• Unclutter Your Resume – If your current resume is not delivering results, it may be time to start fresh. As emphasized by 80 percent of TheLadders' survey respondents, a resume should be no longer than two pages. However, despite 75 percent of respondents' stating otherwise, a resume should go back no more than 15 years, regardless of work history.
• Sweep Your Online Presence – Out with the old, in with the new; it's time to give your online presence a face-lift. Surprisingly, only 36 percent of survey respondents admit to researching themselves "regularly" on Google, and just 52 percent "use privacy settings on personal accounts" and social networks. To ensure employers find the best professional profile both online and in person, it is imperative to actively monitor your brand. Setting up "Google Alerts" for your name and tightening your privacy settings is a great start.
• Pollinate Your Network – In this digital age, it is not surprising that only 7 percent of survey respondents still use a Rolodex to "organize professional contacts." It is time to break out your smartphone to research and re-engage with contacts with whom you have lost touch. Start planting the seeds now to grow a network of relevant contacts by joining professional associations, lunching with former colleagues and engaging with industry-specific online groups. As confirmed by 60 percent of survey respondents, networks are "very useful in landing your most recent job."

On an ongoing basis, TheLadders conducts primary user-experience research and analyzes quantitative data provided by its more than 5 million members to gauge current behavioral trends in the job-search process. TheLadders uses this research to improve the customer experience and provide expert advice to the marketplace.

About TheLadders
With more than five million members, TheLadders is the premier online job-matching service, committed to finding the right person for the right job since 2003. With a unique suite of personalized products and resume services, the company helps job seekers connect with employers and recruiters more effectively and efficiently. Originally recognized as the leading job-matching site for high-earning professionals, TheLadders expanded its services in fall 2011 to all career-driven professionals. In doing so, the more than 34,000 employers and recruiters that use TheLadders to source qualified candidates, now have access to professionals at all levels, free of charge. TheLadders is headquartered in New York City. For more information, visit TheLadders Blog and TheLadders.com. Your career is our job.™

SOURCE TheLadders