Personal Branding – Social Media

On Facebook? 

So is your interviewer.

If you’re currently looking for a job, it’s helpful to think of yourself not just as a person, but a brand – with a target audience (potential employers) and a product (you!).  To put keep yourself in contention for the best jobs, you must actively manage this “personal brand,” including your online reputation.

First, let’s take a look at how to create a personal brand:

·         Start with some introspection.  Ask yourself the following questions:

o        How would other professionals describe you?

o        What are your strengths?  Weaknesses?

o        What’s your career goal and/or ideal job?

o        What can you offer a potential employer that others can’t?

·         Develop a unique selling proposition (USP) for yourself, which communicates your specialty (who you are), your service (what you do – and how you do it better or differently), your audience (whom you do it for) and your most valuable attribute.  This short (max 30 words), benefits-oriented statement should provide a compelling reason to hire you.

·         Put it to work for you.  Work your personal brand into your social media profiles, resume and more.  Used properly, a personal brand allows you to differentiate yourself from other candidates by occupying a unique, competitive position in a potential employer’s mind.

Once you create your personal brand, you need to maintain it.  Manage your online reputation by:

·         Egosurfing.  It’s not vain – it’s a necessity.  Search your name, using multiple strings and search engines, to catch potential “data spills” – information, videos or photos that are outdated, inaccurate, or that you just don’t want in the public eye.

·         Make frequent updates.  Refreshing professional profiles keeps you on a hiring manager’s radar.  Regularly post updates about projects you’re working on, new responsibilities you’ve assumed, or timely articles related to your industry.

·         Managing privacy settings.  Protect your personal brand with the now robust privacy settings social media sites like Facebook offer.

·         Use common sense.  The internet is forever.  Even “deleted” information is often recoverable online by a sufficiently determined searcher.  As a rule, never argue online or post inappropriate comments or photos.

Today’s search-savvy interviewers will likely be checking you out online.  Make sure you show them exactly – and only – what they should see when it comes to the professional you, by proactively managing your online personal brand.

Looking for great jobs?  PrideStaff has them.  As a national staffing service with offices from coast to coast, we will match you with the ideal opportunity.  Want to check out our brand?  Start by searching jobs with PrideStaff here.