How can candidates go about creating an effective personal brand? What are the main channels for doing this? (eg, social media accounts, CVs, LinkedIn profile, blogs, other web presences)
How can they ensure they present themselves in the best light/make sure there is nothing that could do the opposite (eg, social media comments/photos)?
Personal branding through social media is the strategic act of communicating what you can contribute to your future employer. Your personal brand influences how prospective employers view you and a negative personal brand can impact your employability.
Stand out from the Crowd
Your personal brand should make you stand out from the crowd for all the right reasons, you are aiming to highlight your value as an employee, in a market that is flooded with candidates it’s now more important than ever to stand out from the crowd.
The use of social media is higher than ever before, with 30million Brits alone actively using Facebook. What’s more, thanks to smartphones and watches, we are constantly connected. Social media has become an intrinsic part of our lives; we log on and overshare without a thought to the digital footprint we’re creating.
Of course, it can’t be expected that millennials log of social media, but when 91% of employers use social media to screen their candidates, it’s worth looking into ways in which you can optimise the platforms you use to enhance your employability. Employers aren’t typically looking to catch you out, simply gain insight to your personality and see if you’re a great fit for the company.
Top tips for creating a positive personal brand through social media:
- Establish your brand persona. Are you creative, an innovator or an industry expert? Where do you want to be positioned?
- Use online specialist social media guides to learn how to optimise your social media profiles specific to your job search.
- Once your brand persona is established, use LinkedIn and other social media sites to share examples of your previous work, blog posts or industry news.
- Become active in industry groups and create new connections.
- If your personal profiles are public, avoid uploading damaging photos such as alcohol fuelled nights or posts with offensive language or change your privacy settings.
- Use sites like Reppler to monitor your “social media score” This will help manage how you’re perceived across your various social media accounts.
- If you are creating a social media account solely for the purpose of employability, consider what channels is most relevant to your industry and focus on those, rather than spreading yourself thinly over multiple platforms.
- Go cold turkey – if your social media accounts cannot be salvaged, it may be worth deactivating your accounts during your job search.
Ideal for collecting resources and visually showcasing your ideas.
Perfect for following experts in your field and being first to hear breaking industry news.
Use this platform to join and communicate in industry groups
Post interesting content relevant to your career ie; blogs and whitepapers
Highlight your creative flair through curated images
About the Author:
Suzanne Vallance is a social media expert from Glasgow Scotland. She uses her knowledge to encourage people to use social media to drive their careers and businesses forward. She currently works for http://www.yoursocialmediaguide.co.uk/