5 Tips for Polishing Your Personal Brand
Recruiters and hiring managers are looking at more than just your resume. They’re googling you. They’re viewing your social media pages. They’re looking at your connections. While your resume needs to be in tip-top shape, your personal brand needs to be polished, too.
Personal branding – how you market and present yourself – gives you the opportunity to control the narrative about yourself and introduce yourself in the best light possible. Without a skillfully crafted brand, recruiters will make their own assumptions about you. Here are five tips and resources to help you effectively market yourself and stand out in the job market.
1. Start with self-exploration
Before selling yourself, you need to truly know yourself. Truity has a variety of free assessments that help you better understand your personality and working style. We recommend the DISC, Big Five, and Enneagram Tests.
2. Craft an elevator pitch
An artfully constructed pitch is a way to share your expertise and credentials quickly and effectively. It can help you build your network, land a job, or connect with new colleagues. Keep it brief – 30 to 60 seconds – and conversational. Keep it flexible and adaptable to both the situation and the audience. Here are a few examples:
Hi, I’m Claire, it’s great to meet you. I have been in the software engineering space for ten years programming with Java. I work on developing software that helps companies save money with better management tools.
Hi, I’m Sam. I’m a web and graphic designer for XYZ company. I create illustrations for websites and brands. My passion is coming up with creative ways to express a message and designing user-friendly and visually appealing websites. I work across a variety of industries including CPG, Healthcare, Tech, and Finance.
3. Own your online presence
70% of employers research job candidates on social media. Do some housekeeping! While you have the right to post anything you’d like on your personal pages, recruiters are human beings with feelings and beliefs, too. Controversial posts and inappropriate photos can be a major turnoff. Even if your social media pages are private, keep in mind that nothing is ever really private. Posts and photos can still find their way into search results.
While you’re at it, be sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date. LinkedIn is a fantastic way to connect with colleagues, and potential employers. Have a professional profile picture and be sure your page reflects a portfolio of your professional career. Post compelling content that will draw in your target audience and keep them coming back for more because your content adds value to their lives.
4. Connect your passion and purpose
This doesn’t mean you have to be a raving extrovert. It just means you need to be able clearly articulate your “why.” Being able to tell a future employer or client about the things you feel passionate about is a way of expressing that you have a fire in your belly. That you’re not just someone who sits at a desk running on autopilot. Start by writing out a simple list if things that matter to you in your career. For example:
Helping and uplifting others
Mentoring the next generation of dev engineers
Learning new skills/continuing education
Process improvement/innovation
Building rapport with customers
5. Network
Put your elevator speech to work at networking events. There are an endless list of professional networking events out there to attend, and many at no cost. Start by googling your local Chamber of Commerce. Most chambers have events, webinars and professional development programs that help create new business connections.
Some people are natural networkers while others feel they have no chance of surviving a networking event. If you’re the latter, we recommend:
Finding a friend or colleague to go to events with. But don’t hunker down in a corner together. Get out there and meet new people.
Dress to impress but be authentic. Check to see if there is a specific dress code before attending.
Bring business cards. It’s so simple yet so many people forget to do this.
Demonstrate your expertise but don’t hard sell. Be an asset to others (i.e. “Hey Tim, you mentioned you’re looking for clients in the healthcare space. I know Sally at ABC company and I’d be happy to connect you with her. She’d be a great resource.”
Connect with new contacts on LinkedIn following the event
Once you grasp a better understanding of your talents, skills and experiences, you’ll find it much easier to compete in today’s job market - not to mention feel much more confident doing so. You’ll find it much easier to sell yourself in job interviews, as well as network with other industry professionals.