When interviewing for a job, what do you think the recruiter is observing? Work ethic, availability, image, or even dedication? While all those things are important, your personal brand rings in at number one. While most people try and build their own brand, do they know just how important it is?
For example, most working-professionals, today, have a LinkedIn profile. Knowing this, it makes sense that 87% of recruiters will look at your LinkedIn profile before you even make it into the interview room. That’s a lot of pressure riding on one social media page. At Steady State Media, we understand a thing or two about building a personal brand as a professional, and we want to help you with yours.
Say Cheese
While we all want to look professional in-person, it’s just as important that we look professional in our LinkedIn profile and website photos. It’s been said for years and years, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” This means, don’t crop yourself out of a group photo of you and your friends or colleagues in lieu of investing in a true headshot. Additionally, if you haven’t updated your headshot in – dare we say – TEN YEARS, chances are, you look different. You should update that.
In the meantime, in order to prepare you for your upcoming headshots, we recently shared a useful article on the dos and don’ts of being on camera. Use this as a resource if you need any help when it comes to, on-camera, makeup or wardrobe choices.
Website or Portfolio
Let’s face it, you most likely spend some of your time online during your workday. Whether it be reading the latest marketing news or checking out the latest features of your favorite Adobe product by watching YouTube.
So, the next time you log-on, try creating a digital portfolio or website. It is a terrific way to showcase your creative side while also offering up information about yourself and your work experience.
Take time to create something that really embodies you and what you want to represent. There are thousands of websites to assist you in creating a website. We like to suggest Wix for those who are looking to begin a professional, online portfolio.
Plus, with Wix, there is no coding experience needed to create a great online portfolio with ease!
Use Social Media to Your Advantage
Surprisingly, we are not specifically talking about the LinkedIn platform just yet. The art of creating educational podcasts and blogs has been on the rise for the past few years. It is a wonderful way to get your name out there, while also giving the world a more in-depth look at who you are as a professional. These don’t have to be 30-minute vlogs or anything like that. The content can be as simple as writing one blog per week or making a 10-minute podcast about something you love that can also be useful to others.
Additionally, creating an online portfolio of your professional work – even if it’s just a hobby when you create! – is a great way to showcase your skills. Just be sure you have permission to publicly publish any work you may have done for clients. Check to make sure any contracts do not limit you from sharing your work done for them for proprietary reasons. You don’t want to get yourself into a sticky situation!
If there is one social media platform that you take seriously, let it be this one. As we mentioned earlier, LinkedIn is often a platform that recruiters look at before you ever hear back from them. So, you may be asking yourself, how do I make my LinkedIn profile more personal and professional.
- Headshot – take the time out of your day and grab a nice photo. Never use a selfie as your cover photo as that can make you seem unprofessional.
- Summary – no one has the time to read a dense summary about your entire life story. Keep it short and to the point while including keywords to the industry you are in. Quick Tip : Utilize bulleted lists!
- Headline – It often gets overlooked, but the title under your name is often how people find you. Make sure it is a phrase or title that describes your personal brand – Something you would like people to remember you by.
As a Marketing Professional on LinkedIn
Overall, there are many other tasks involved in creating a professional, yet personal brand for yourself online. However, the ones mentioned here are a great place to start in the interim in order to get the ball rolling on your personal brand.
