How to build a strong personal brand
When you are thinking of taking your career to the next level it’s essential to have a strong personal brand.
Your personal brand is what you want people to think about you; whether they meet you for the first time at a networking event or stumble across your social media profiles online. How you brand yourself needs to be consistent and authentic.
In a digital world this is more important than ever as employers use the internet to search for new staff and research potential candidates. You want them to get the best impression and a sense of who you are.
If you are considering applying for a new job or have been turned down for a job and are unsure why, then it’s time to conduct a personal brand audit. Here’s how:
Audit your social media profiles
Most people now have at least one social media profile, maybe several. While you may not use Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for work, you still need to be conscious of what you are posting there.
Even if you set your social media profiles to private it can still be possible for some information to be seen, particularly your profile picture.
Review what details are publicly available, adjust your privacy settings and make sure your profile picture is consistent with the personal brand you want to promote.
Next, consider what you are posting on your social media. What impression would it give a potential employer? Even if your profile is private, it’s best to self-moderate the things you share.
Optimise your LinkedIn profile
LinkedIn is one of the most useful online tools you have as a job candidate. If you don’t already have a profile then now is the time to set one up.
Spend some time making sure you perfect your LinkedIn profile. You need to include:
- A professional profile picture.
- A compelling headline about you – this should say what you actually do and specialise in; not just your job title. Share your industry and your skills.
- Fill out the personal profile and skills sections. Don’t be shy, include everything people need to know about you. The more you write, the easier it will be for employers to find you when they search LinkedIn for people with particular talents.
When you have created a strong personal brand on LinkedIn:
- Connect with people you know.
- Ask your contacts for endorsements.
- Post to your timeline about the projects you are working on, news within your industry, and resources that you think would be useful to others. And engage with other people’s posts.
- Find and join LinkedIn groups related to your industry and career interests. This may be where you connect with your next employer.
Promote your expertise on a blog
Blogging makes it possible for everyone to share their expertise online. Think about the skills and bank of advice you have built up during studies or in your career that others will find useful. Create a blog to share this and build a strong personal brand.
If the thought of setting up your own website sounds complicated, don’t worry. LinkedIn allows you to post articles from your profile and Medium is an easy and free to use blogging platform.
Finding a new job
If you interested in building your personal brand because you are looking for new opportunities, then take a look at our services for candidates. Ocean Edge has nearly 20 years experience helping candidates find the perfect job in the affordable housing sector.
You might also find our blog posts on CV writing, interview skills and finding the perfect job helpful.
To find out more about our recruitment consultancy services in London and Southampton get in contact: call 023 8000 1153 or email info@oceanedge.biz.