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I'm not a career coach, HR expert or Personal branding guru. I am a marketing professional who in the process of looking for a job, ended up creating stories in the digital space.
At the beginning of this year, I decided I needed to get back to work after taking a 1-year sabbatical.
So towards the end of last year, I met up with a good friend of mine, a regional manager in one of the Energy firms. We became good friends after taking the Project Management course together.
As we were talking he naturally asked how my job hunt was going. I told him it was slow because it was towards the end of the year. Finally, he mentioned that I should get familiar with personal branding and that he too was looking into it.
Honestly, before then I didn't really pay much attention to the topic, so I decided why not.
To simplify the term, personal branding is how you promote yourself using your unique combination of skills, experience, and personality that you want the world to see you. It's your voice to the world.
Long story short, 5 months after putting the knowledge I acquired into practice, I landed a great paying job at a time where companies are sending people home.
I'm not one to believe in luck or coincidence. The reason why I attribute it to personal branding is that the hiring Manager's comments as he was giving me the offer were "I really like your personality on LinkedIn and I think you are a People's person."
So here are my 5 tips that I used to cultivate my personal brand.
#1. Add Value to yourself.
The job market is competitive. Universities and schools are churning out graduates at a faster rate than the workplace can absorb.
It's, for this reason, I decided to do research to find out what skills sets are in demand for my role.
My research all pointed towards digital. So I took all the possible online courses I found relevant and I 'm now a certified digital marketing professional.
Think about it, if you are two candidates, both with similar experiences, your personality and your unique skills are what will set you apart.
#2. Polish up your CV
Ask yourself when was the last time you updated the look and feel of your CV? If you're still using the same CV format that you used when you got your last job, then you need to step up your game.
Update the layout and align your job applications to the latest market trends. Google is your best friend here.
#3. Natural Online Presence
If anyone was to google you, what would they find? It's important to establish your online presence because that's where all the conversations are.
The first step is to build a website which will speak to who you are as a person. Your website can range from a simple landing page with basic information like name and schooling, to a complex one which includes detailed professional experience and portfolio of jobs done.
Websites are easy to develop and add to your professionalism. Include your website details on all your social platforms for visibility.
#4. Get active on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is where all the magic happens when it comes to job hunting.
I completely understand that it's an intimidating platform given its professional nature.
Let's be honest you're putting yourself out there where your former bosses and colleagues will judge you.
That said, you can grow your confidence by being intentional in your approach.
Having an All-Star status is the basic first step.
Secondly, I didn't send requests to recruiters, instead, I followed Influencers in my field and engaged in conversations that are aligned to your field of expertise and network widely.
LinkedIn is an area that you'll need to master, so I have included 3 resources further below who are experts in this field.
#5. Positive Mindset
Like all goals, you'll need to put in the work and stay consistent with your objectives until you attain your objective.
Don't give up even if you notice there's little interaction with your Linkedin Posts or no responses to you job applications.
Instead, keep improving and experimenting with new ideas so as to become better. Ensure you maintain a positive attitude because the fact that you're in transition is a perfect opportunity to learn and grow yourself.
CONCLUSION
Personal branding isn't about presenting a version that will please other people, it's about being authentic.
When you stay true to yourself you'll attract the right, employers and connections. This is because they will use your conversations online to decide whether you are a fit for them.
You can't please everybody, and you aren't meant to please them, so it's important to tell the story that feels right to you.
Recommended LinkedIn Resources
Recommended Books
Package your Genius-Amanda Little John
The Art of Public Speaking-Dale Carnegie
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