​It’s smart to diversify a financial portfolio to spread out risk. In the same way, it’s wise to diversify a job search using different technology to cast the widest net. To increase your discoverability, take these steps to maximize your visibility across the digital spectrum.Spread out your searchManpowerGroup Solutions identified a group of candidates known as Early HR Technology Adopters who use at least three technologies in their job search. This includes a smartphone app, social media advertisement, virtual job fair, text message, video interview, website chat, game or skills challenge test, or voice search via a virtual assistant. This new group of candidates represents the next wave of applicants who leave no digital rock unturned when searching for a job. Learn more.Cultivate your digital footprintWhat do potential employers see when they Google your name? You can help control your digital image by cultivating results with a blog or online portfolio. Setting up a robust online presence will help to build your reputation and raise your profile. It can showcase your expertise, expand your network and give prospective employers an opportunity to see your work. Here are tips for setting up a blog or online portfolio.Set up an online resumeSet yourself apart by breaking free of the format everyone else is using and taking advantage of online tools. Fortunately, there are digital resume services that can help tune up a resume for a digital format without any special coding or technical skills.Keep LinkedIn up to dateLinkedIn has been around for more than 15 years. As the platform matures and evolves, your profile may be showing signs of needing some updates or makeover to keep up with the times. Here’s how to conduct an audit and update LinkedIn to reflect where you are in your career so potential employers can identify you better.As with any technology, often the most work is on the front end. Invest time to set up portfolios and keep your social platforms professional and up to date. Once you’ve laid the groundwork, you can expect a higher return from potential employers searching, seeking and finding your skills.​Ready to start your job search? Click here to view all our job openings.

​Networking doesn’t need to be only in person with coffee, lunches or mixers. With creativity and resolve, connecting meaningfully with others can be done remotely and across geographic and time zone differences. If you’re stuck at home, here are ways to expand and network effectively. Be mindful when selecting a mentorFor many in the next generation, mentorship is key to gaining a foothold for their career and life. A mentor could be someone in proximity in the workplace or at a professional organization. But if the relationship starts out through a digital connection, more thought can be put into the right match, rather than simply convenience. A university alma mater, your current workplace or a professional organization can help match with a mentor that aligns with your interests, needs and personality. Spend time planning who could be your best mentor during this time. ​Connect with “loose ties” Research has shown that while we rely on our strong ties in our everyday lives, but it’s our weak ties (also called an “open network”) that help make leaps when it comes to finding new roles. Because weak ties are farther removed, they know about opportunities we aren’t likely to know about. By identifying and reaching out to valuable connections that you don’t know as well, you can extend your open network dramatically. ​Join social groups at workIf the only time you interact with colleagues is on projects and conference calls in meetings, it’s going to be hard to build friendships. Instead, carve out niches for friendship at work by joining social groups, which can also take the form of Teams / Zoom happy hours, Facebook groups for hobbies and other shared interests. ​Use reconnection as networking Networking doesn’t always have to take place in person or with people you don’t know. In fact, networking is often more powerful when it’s cumulative, and not just a one-off encounter the first time you meet someone. Networking can also mean reconnecting with former colleagues and sending notes of appreciation, congratulations on work anniversaries, or other virtual ways to stay in touch.  ​Start writing on a blog or LinkedIn article One of the most effective ways to build a network beyond your immediate contacts is to start a professional blog on a topic of your expertise, make connections, show thought leadership and get feedback. Here are tips on how to launch a blog and grow your following.It’s less overwhelming when you start to break down the end goal into smaller, individual parts of a routine. Tackle the above categories one by one, and you’ll be able to build on the momentum of each to accelerate the size of your network.

​The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has made employers double down on online recruiting, whether that’s job boards or virtual career fairs. For job seekers, it pays to invest time and energy to find a match. Here are tips to maximize a digital job search.Look for new job titles It might be time to audit and add keywords to your job search. Today a growing number of people are opting for alternative models over traditional, full-time, permanent roles. One of the main findings of ManpowerGroup’s Skills Revolution 4.0 report reveals that the jobs of tomorrow won’t look exactly like yesterday, so workers need to keep an eye out for job descriptions that weren’t previously on their radar. Organizations are investing in digital, shifting tasks to robots and creating new jobs. Build your digital brandYou probably have a resume or CV, but a digital brand like a personal website or LinkedIn profile can add another dimension to your personal brand. Your digital footprint gives you an opportunity to have a living career story, complete with career details, accomplishments, skills, recommendations, work samples and more; much more than a normal resume can offer.Network onlineDigital connections can help you get jobs. You can connect/network with people you know, people you want to know, industry leaders, others with similar skills and interest, and the list goes on. There are networking groups on just about every career, industry and topic imaginable. Join a few and contribute to the discussion. You never know who you will meet. These contacts can be your link to your next job.Research target companies Technology can help you learn all about a company, its values before you apply or interview. As ManpowerGroup’s What Workers Want report found, workers are looking for more trust and balance from an employer, and a digital job search can help uncover these traits. Follow the company across social media platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook, and also follow competitors and peers how it compares to others. Sites like Glassdoor can provide reviews and a window into culture. Finally, set up Google alerts to get daily emails of relevant keywords when the company is mentioned in the news, which can show interest and engagement in an interview.  Finally, make sure you prioritize and make a plan. You’re much more likely to achieve your goals when you write things down. Managing your career with the help of a concrete goal will help you succeed and find your right path.

​Right now, it can feel for everyone like we’re preparing for a future of work that may look very different than today, with working from home on the rise and jobs rapidly transitioning between industries. This can make it feel like it’s difficult to prepare for the next phases of your career, but there are foundational steps you can take to bolster your brand. Here are steps to take to build your personal brand that lasts through uncertainty and into the future.   Build or update your LinkedIn profile Your LinkedIn profile is essential as a foundation of your personal brand. After you have identified your career mission statement, you can build your digital brand online. Then use it to promote your skills, accomplishments and goals. If you have already taken these steps, use this time to review your content to update any outdated content, photos or text and make your profile relevant for today. ​Harness audio and videoEvery platform from Facebook to LinkedIn supports streaming video directly on their sites. This allows for greater expression of your soft skills like public speaking, leadership and presence. If video isn’t your favorite medium, there are other digital options to spread your message, including the rising podcast industry. Tools like Anchor.fm now make it possible to start a podcast with little equipment or training, using tools as basic as your phone. ​Focus on learnability None of us know exactly what the future of work will bring, but we do know that it will require constant learning on the job. In order to meet these new challenges, learnability is necessary. Learnability is the desire and ability to continually learn and grow throughout careers. Ask yourself, when was the last time you read something from an unusual perspective? When have you taken the time to wrap your head around a new industry? To keep your learnability skill sharp while uncertainty swirls, take the time to find unfamiliar topics, dig beneath the surface and keep growing. Find out your Learnability Quotient.  ​In this time of uncertainty, roles in the future will require adaptability and resiliency. Increasingly, they are about what you are willing to learn, adapt and apply for tomorrow’s needs. By building your personal brand now, you will be able to project these values to the marketplace that needs them. 

Elevator pitches can help you rise up by focusing you on what you need, who you need to connect with, and how to get to the next floor in your career. Here are tips for how to create your elevator pitch.Elevator pitches aren’t just for elevators. The term “elevator pitch” has become shorthand for this type of concise summary, and it’s worth revisiting at any point in your career. That’s because the idea of creating a concise 30-to-90 second introduction of yourself, your needs and your goals helps focus you on what’s really important for your work. In fact, a well-crafted elevator pitch can still be useful without ever being delivered in person. Here are steps to take to create an elevator pitch for yourself.Define your target audienceThe premise of an elevator pitch is being ready when you happen to get in an elevator with the right person at the right time. What that means is that you’re not just talking to any random person who happens to be traveling to the same floor. Consider who you’d approach in this proverbial elevator. Is it someone who can get you a new job? A promotion? Help with a project at work? Is it someone who works in a particular industry? Picturing yourself in an elevator with the right person for an elevator pitch will help define who you need to connect with at this stage in your career.Make a story outlineNow that you have a captive audience in this elevator, how will you engage them so you don’t simply stare awkwardly at the numbers going up or down? Try telling a story. If you inspect the plot of any movie, you’ll see familiar stages. There’s essentially the problem, the struggle, the solution, and the resolution. You can approach any pitch in the same way. Place yourself in the middle of the script and define what problem you want to tackle, how you can help, what’s your solution, and what will happen after the resolution takes place. Write this out to create a movie in your own head.Take the plungeIf this elevator ride ever does take place, you’re going to need practice so you don’t freeze in the moment or trip all over your words. Hone your pitch by getting in an actual elevator and delivering your dialogue (just make sure it’s empty first). If the right person gets in, you’re ready to seize the opportunity. Your elevator pitch can prove to be useful in other ways, too. Getting directly to the point about what you can offer will be appreciated by any busy person. And by rehearsing a pitch in your own mind, you’ll set your sights on going up in your career. This article is contributed by Right Management, www.rightmanagement.sg, the global career experts within the ManpowerGroup.

When networking for a job, ask specific questions about the company and their open positions so that you can assess whether you're a good fit. These questions will help your identify opportunities for your career.Networking for a job is one of the most important things you can do to help achieve your short term career goals and to ensure you have a long and rewarding career. Few people stay at the same company for life any more. That means, networking for your next job should be a continuous endeavor. Attending networking events is one way to keep yourself in front of potential employers and keep your career moving forward.Here are five questions to ask potential employers at your next job networking event.Is your company hiring right now, or are you looking for a future hire? Just because a company sends a representative to a networking event doesn't mean they're hiring right now. Many human resources directors go to such events to keep their company in the spotlight for potential employees. Asking this question will help you identify which employers are hiring right now, and which might have job opportunities in the future.Where do you see your company being in 5 or 10 years? In today's rapidly-changing world of work, job security is never guaranteed. But, it's often more likely with a company that has a clear vision for the future. This question should reveal the organization's plans to remain sustainable and to better understand the kind of opportunities that might be available.What is a normal career path for someone holding that position? By asking this question, you can evaluate your own career path to see if you are a good candidate for a particular position. It's also a great way to learn about potential directions you can take your career in the future.What should a person read before taking that position? This is an important question that reveals the values of the company, and the person in front of you. That could be important if the person at the networking event is also the hiring manager.Are there any special preparations, career steps, or job/educational qualifications necessary for that position? If a position requires any special education or career prerequisites, you want to know that up front. If you aren't qualified today, you can determine whether or not that position is important enough to you to pursue the right qualifications.Job networking events give you an opportunity to match your current skills and qualifications with open job positions right now while evaluating where your career can be in the future.​This article is contributed by Right Management, www.rightmanagement.sg, the global career experts within the ManpowerGroup.

Don’t limit yourself to a narrow definition of professional networking. Learn how to expand your approach with these creative networking tips.  The term “networking” may have connotations of the golf course or a mixer in a bar after work. But networking really means increasing and strengthening your connections, which can be accomplished in a variety of ways. If you broaden your horizons, creative networking can be done in any number of settings tailored to your preferences. Here are five tips to go beyond collecting business cards.    Network at Work  You don’t even have to leave your office to start networking. Go to coffee with a colleague that you don’t know well, and you can open up the possibilities in your own workplace. In the long term, it can lead to meeting new people within your organization, opportunities to apply or develop your skills or even a promotion. In the short term, this has an added benefit of getting to know and understand your colleagues better.    Use Reconnection as Networking  Networking doesn’t always have to take place in person or with people you don’t know. In fact, networking is often more powerful when it’s cumulative, and not just a one-off encounter the first time you meet someone. Networking can also mean reconnecting with former colleagues and sending notes of appreciation, congratulations on work anniversaries, or other virtual ways to stay in touch.    Create your Own Networking Club  Don’t wait for a professional organization to dictate the rules of networking -- create your own! Successful networking can revolve around any shared activity, such as book clubs, foodie groups or whatever interests you. Silicon Valley investor Greg Gretsch, for example, uses his love of cycling as a way to meet other to work with. “Connecting with people is important to what I do, and you can learn a lot about a person, and from a person, on the bike,” Gretsch told the New York Times.    Network through Volunteering  Sometimes, networking can feel like it’s about gladhandling and backscratching. But you should be able to provide something of value to others when you network, which is why volunteering can be such a valuable benefit to everyone involved. In addition to helping you meet community leaders, volunteering can be an opportunity to experience another work sector, develop new skills and take on a leadership role as a trial next step within your organization. Volunteering can be good for more than the soul.     This article is contributed by Right Management, www.rightmanagement.sg, the global career experts within the ManpowerGroup.