First off, let me give kudos where kudos is due… if you are reading this you are doing a few things right. You have moved your job search online and you are willing to admit there is room for improvement in your job search methods.

Okay now onto the bad news—there is a pretty good chance your online resume sucks. How do I know this? Because most people when jumping online for the first time and posting their resume, simply use their offline resume template. It makes sense, I understand why you do it, but its all wrong…all wrong.

Traditional resumes were all about listing past job experiences and contact information for recommendation follow-ups. This included a whole lot of stiff information (i.e. job titles, primary responsibilities, years spent at a company, supervisor names, contact info, etc.). While all of this is important, it should NOT be the focus of your online resume.

Instead you should be centering your entire resume on skills that separate you from the pack. Give highlights of experiences—yes, but also mention accomplishments, contributions, and link to examples of your top-quality work. In short…use the web to appeal to a web-based audience.

An online resume should not be about your degrees, or credentials. If a company is hiring via online channels, they know how to Google you, and use LinkedIn, so they have access to all of that information already. What they don’t have is the other stuff…the magic juice that is only yours.

For example, do you run a local group of industry enthusiasts? Do you moderate a group online that discusses industry standards? What conversations are you participating in? These are the things they want to see.

I understand some of you aren’t quite there yet. Maybe, right now, you only have a traditional resume…well get it up there, of course. Just be sure to work on building it out for an online recruiter or HR lead. Expand your digital footprint and reflect its breadth in your resume. Link to profiles, blog posts, and comments you are particularly proud of. They give your name a personal touch while maintaining a professional appearance. Together, those are a deadly weapon in the online job search arena.

Remember, these days, it’s not just about standing out from the crowd to secure that new job offer; it’s also about maintaining and strengthening that uniqueness for career longevity and growth.