How can you improve your online profile for a career change?

1 Identify your target audience

Before you update your online profile, you need to have a clear idea of who you want to reach and what you want to communicate. Think about the industry, the role, and the company you are aiming for, and research their expectations and preferences. What keywords, skills, and achievements are they looking for? What tone and style do they use? How can you showcase your value and fit for their needs?

2 Revamp your resume

Your resume is one of the most important documents in your online profile, as it summarizes your qualifications and experience. To make it relevant for a career change, you need to highlight your transferable skills, your achievements, and your motivation. Use a functional or hybrid format that emphasizes your skills and accomplishments rather than your chronological work history. Include a summary statement that explains your career goal and how you can contribute to the new field. Use keywords and phrases that match the job description and the industry jargon.

3 Optimize your LinkedIn profile

LinkedIn is a powerful tool for networking, job searching, and personal branding. To improve your LinkedIn profile for a career change, you need to make sure it aligns with your resume and your target audience. Update your headline, summary, skills, and endorsements to reflect your new career direction. Showcase your projects, publications, certifications, and awards that demonstrate your expertise and potential. Join relevant groups, follow influencers, and engage with your connections in your new field.

4 Create or update your portfolio

If you are changing careers to a creative or technical field, you need to have a portfolio that showcases your work and skills. A portfolio is a collection of samples, projects, or case studies that demonstrate your abilities and achievements. To create or update your portfolio for a career change, you need to select the best examples that match your new career goals and highlight your transferable skills. Use a platform or tool that suits your industry and style, such as WordPress, Behance, GitHub, or Medium. Include a brief introduction, a description of each project, and a link to your resume or LinkedIn profile.

5 Manage your online reputation

Your online reputation is the impression that others have of you based on what they find online. It can affect your chances of getting hired or attracting clients. To manage your online reputation for a career change, you need to audit your online presence and remove or edit any content that could harm your image or credibility. This includes your social media posts, comments, reviews, photos, videos, blogs, or podcasts. Use privacy settings, filters, or tools to control who can see your personal or professional information. Create positive content that showcases your new career interests, values, and goals.

6 Seek feedback and advice

One of the best ways to improve your online profile for a career change is to seek feedback and advice from others who have gone through a similar transition or who work in your desired field. They can offer you valuable insights, tips, resources, and referrals that can help you refine your online profile and boost your confidence. You can reach out to them via email, LinkedIn, or other platforms, and ask them for a brief chat, a review of your online profile, or a referral to a relevant opportunity.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?