As you embark on your job search, personal branding is what sets you apart. It’s what makes you hirable – or put another way, likable – in the eyes of hiring managers and prospective employers. Make sure your brand is original, consistent and professional across all platforms, including social media and your application materials.
Start by Defining Your Brand.
A personal brand is much more than just a desired job or title. Think carefully about your values, your goals, and exactly what you want to create every day through your work. From here, you can craft a brand statement that will guide your all your career efforts going forward.
- Whatever it is that you excel at in your particular field, define it, own it and prepare to showcase it in the best ways possible. Only after you define your brand should you start working on the collateral tools to support it, such as your resume, portfolio or new headshot.
Overhaul Your Social Media Presence.
Make sure all your social profiles and content related to you reflect your brand. Begin by checking in across all media platforms and removing anything negative or detrimental to your career success.
- After you clean up your social media presence, update your sites as needed. This could mean uploading a new professional photo, adding a brand tagline, sharing some new work, or initiative conversations with colleagues in your field.
- Google yourself. Whatever comes up that you can access, change it to make your brand more prominent.
- Fill in any gaps. A LinkedIn profile showcasing your brand is essential, but it’s not enough. Make sure your professional image is visible and accessible in multiple online places.
Create a Personal Website – or Improve Your Current One.
Your website should give hiring managers a clear look at who you are and at the unique contributions, you could make to their company.
- An effective personal website comes up higher in search results than other online content about you. It readily provides positive, professional information, and hopefully buries any negative information that may still be lingering online.
- You have all the space you need to elaborate on your accomplishments. You can provide more detail on your resume, and you can show off more aspects of your individual personality.
- Having your own site shows how much you care about your career. The image it projects is that of a tech-savvy professional who takes the time to invest in their future. This level of dedication and initiative is enticing to employers.
For assistance in any or all of the steps in building your personal brand, consider working with a career development expert from PrideStaff Fresno. Among the fields we specialize in are administration, customer service, IT, finance, legal support, healthcare, and production and distribution. From brand definition to resume prep, website development and online career strategies, we can help you land your dream job. Contact us today to learn more.