Steps To Building Your Personal Career Brand
If you are new to the job-searching scene, you already understand how much time and effort goes into finding a potential career. You place your resume all over the Internet, hoping someone, ANYONE, will reach out to you. In our technological society, online submissions of your resume may seem overwhelming. Where does your resume go? It may appear that your resume goes into giant wormhole, never to be seen again, especially if you are not receiving the results you thought you would get.
How do you take control of what happens to your resume while building your career brand and reputation? We will look at the various tools online and how you can improve the possibility of your resume being seen by other professionals.
Carving out your career brand path is essential in attracting potential employers or new, prosperous network connections. Focusing on your career brand, which highlights your network connections and your overall image, is essential when differentiating yourself from the rest of job seekers.
Internet Tools for Job Seekers
1. Professional Website or Blog
Building a professional website is key, especially if you are in a field that is invested in writing, finances, or the arts. What can you contribute to your website? Professional, published articles, graphs, or artwork are examples of categories. Be sure to keep the domain name professional. You can also publish your resume to your website for easy access. A professional blog allows you to showcase your professional, thoughtful opinions on your area of interest. This may give a potential employer insight into not only your personality, but also your expertise in a specific field.
2. LinkedIn
This may seem obvious, but if you are just starting your professional networking career, creating a LinkedIn profile is imperative. LinkedIn allows you to connect with industry professionals and colleagues from all over the globe. The website is perfect for showcasing your experience, projects, expertise, and interests. Many employers check LinkedIn for potential employers and it may help you get introduced to new network connections. Create a LinkedIn profile that showcases your career branding statement and overall resume qualifications.
3. Twitter & Other Social Media Platforms
Twitter is the perfect way to engage with industry professionals and businesses on a daily basis. Twitter allows you to type your status or tweet to other professionals in a concise, 140-character tweet. It is a networking site that can connect you with developing industry news and professional career advice. Creating a Twitter account can help expand your career branding profile. Remember to keep your tweets professional! Facebook, Tumblr, and Pinterest are additional social media platforms in which you can connect with professionals in your industry of choice.
Social networking is one of the first tools that potential employers use to find you on the Internet. While the social media platforms are meant to be used in a social manner, keep in mind it is a way for an employer to track what you say or post. Keep this in mind with your professional website and blog as well. Remember to keep your responses and images professional. It can also be a powerful resource for you; it can connect you with industry executives or potential employers you may not have had the chance to meet in a traditional setting.