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This career advancement question comes up so often that I’ve lost track. It’s about raising one’s visibility in the workplace to climb the corporate ladder that feels more like a wall.

The solution isn’t just demonstrating Executive Presence in the workplace and getting noticed, but also outside of the office.

If you want to advance in your career, one of the best ways to do that is by maintaining a strong online presence.

In addition, building an online presence can help grow your network beyond the office or region where you work.

This will come into use if you are seeking alternate employment or are open to changing your job.

Online communities and social media allow you to interact with others in your field — regardless of location.

These days, employers and recruiters are looking online. Employers use professional networking sites such as LinkedIn to look for job candidates.

For you as a professional, this means 3 things.

Firstly, make sure you have a robust LinkedIn Profile. When someone visits your profile, they will want to know if you have a strong work ethic, positive attitude and a track record of success.

Secondly, be active on the platform, whether through your own posts, commenting on others or participating in relevant groups. Curate content that adds value to your network and shows others you are a valuable connection. Make them want to connect with you. That’s how you raise your visibility.

Thirdly, you need to not only connect with professionals in your area of expertise but also build relationships on LinkedIn even before you need to reach out to your network.

Another way to maintain a professional online presence is to create a personal website or blog.

A personal website or blog allows you to share your work, accomplishments, and thoughts with a larger audience. It demonstrates your expertise and thought leadership in your field.

Besides, your website or blog gets indexed by search engines. What this means is, if anyone types your name in Google or Bing, it will show up adding to your credibility.

Your goal should be to not only appear on Page 1 of the Google Search for your name, but also in the top 2 positions.

According to a study by CareerArc, 92% of companies use social and professional networks to recruit talent. This ranks above employer referrals, job boards and job ads.

With a stronger network in your field, you open yourself up to more job opportunities and visibility in your industry.

So why not create an online personal brand to help advance your career? Creating an online presence can help you stand out from others in your field.

When applying for a higher position, having an online presence shapes what employers and recruiters see when they look you up online.

Some of the best jobs and vacancies aren’t advertised. Instead of doing the hunting, this is an excellent way to get headhunted instead.

Curating an online presence shows creativity and gives future employers opportunities to learn about you beyond a resumé.

The online persona you present online can be someone’s first impression about you.

Here’s how you create a captivating online presence:

Introduce yourself, your values, and your skills

Think about the company you want to work for and what values are important to you.

• What skills can you offer to companies and teams in the future?
• Why do you enjoy working in your field?
• What motivates you to do what you are doing?

Cater your online presence to your employers

Find creative ways to display your skill set & set high expectations of what you can bring to the table.

For example, if you’re a project manager, write case studies about different projects you’ve taken from inception to completion.

Keep written records with monetary and non-monetary value of the achievements you accomplish at work.

Join communities or websites related to your field

You can use the Internet to network, too! By joining communities related to your field, you open yourself up to potential job opportunities in the future or a colleague you can go to when you’re looking for advice.

• Actively participate and network at online seminars in your field
• Find and interact with others in your field on a social media network such as LinkedIn, Facebook or X (Twitter)
• Find an online community, such as a LinkedIn group or Facebook group, where you can network with others, offer support, or ask questions

Create content or personal projects

Displaying content or personal projects shows that you are dedicated to improving your skills. It might also show unique skills, such as problem-solving, sales, or customer service.

Add credibility through testimonials or reviews

Testimonials or reviews give social proof to potential employers of the strengths you can bring to the job. Ask employers and colleagues to send personal testimonials through email or LinkedIn so you can show the assets you will bring to an organization.

The more you invest in your online presence, the more potential employers can imagine how well you would fit within their company culture.

If you’re working in a large organization, you might just get an intra-office offer if your skillsets and expertise are found to be transferrable and valuable. Trust me; I’ve seen this happen before with a handsome pay increment.

What if the only way to advance your career is to find another job?

This is where a well-maintained and updated online presence will help you stand out above the noise.

Everyone who applies for a job vacancy will be submitting a resumé and cover letter.

These display your skills and work experience, but developing an online presence also shows your personality and values.

In a day and age where soft skills are considered as important as hard skills, your online presence will add to your being considered a highly desirable candidate.

By developing an online presence, you have the opportunity to stand out from the rest of the applicants

Future employers can get an insight into your own values, personality, and work ethic. They get to know you on a deeper level than they would just reading your resumé.

The work you do to build an online presence will undoubtedly leave a positive impression on future employers and help you advance in your career!

Whether you’re looking for another employment or choosing to stay in your current job, a strong online presence makes you visible.

Who knows, maybe there’s a future employer out there looking for someone with your credentials and skills. You wouldn’t want to miss out on a great opportunity, would you?