MIAMI -- Miguel Merino's online resume has the usual rundown of work experience and education. But the University of Miami senior music performance major takes it a step further by letting visitors listen to his tracks, read critics' reviews, see a list of upcoming gigs and watch videos of his performances.
"It's the first time I've had my own Web site that I've put some work into," said Merino, 22. And it's worth the $20 a month as a personal promotion tool, he says: "It's super important." Merino was pushed to create the site, migimusic.com, because of a class assignment. But multimedia resumes work for more careers than those in the performing arts. Recruiters say having a professional online presence is becoming more crucial. Vital bits of information on candidates are found through Internet searches as the market shifts to passive recruitment, and Google searches as background checks have become common in the hiring process. Paper and electronic resumes are not extinct, but they are only the beginning. Getting a job offer may depend on social network profiles, personal Web sites, blogs and YouTube videos. It's about your online footprint and the management of your personal brand. Joe Laratro, president-elect of South Florida Interactive Marketing Association, has been hearing the term "reputation management" tossed around recently in marketing circles. Do you know what comes up when you do a Google search on your name? Reputation management is getting the links you want people to see to show up on top. "You don't want someone searching your name and seeing you passed out drunk somewhere," Laratro said.
