Find that next job or advance your career by developing your own personal brand. With the explosion of social media, your personal brand takes center stage. As recruiters and companies are now finding their next employee on social media sites, potential candidates now understand the importance of having a resume online. However, it's now a matter of taking control of your online presence. Everything you participate in, whether it's leaving comments on articles or blogging or tweeting, contributes to your online footprint.
Recently, a close friend emailed her new website: she had purchased her name online (having enough foresight to purchase the 'dot com') and developed the site to creatively show her resume and body of work. Now, you might think she's an artist or a photographer, but she's actually in marketing. Simply another exceptional idea to add to your job-seeking arsenal, especially if you're currently in the market looking for work.
A critical first step is to create your own personal brand statement. Outline and define your personal mission statement, which provides the basis for the career you will choose. Once you've finished writing your statement, here's 5 tips to help get you started on developing your own personal brand – the new resume:
1.) Completely fill out your LinkedIn profile and start networking with people you already know
2.) Create your Google profile, providing as much information as you feel comfortable with
3.) Buy and design the website of your own name, especially since it's an affordable option that will show up in the search engine results page
4.) Actively participate on social media sites – follow the top career people, network or tweet to find a job, join various groups of interest
5.) Begin writing a blog (a search for 'blog tips' will give you plenty of tips for writing a good, focused blog)
Companies worldwide invest both time and money on cultivating their brand; take the time to enrich your own online footprint. Regardless of whether it's networking for a job online or creatively coming up with additional ideas to participate in social media, make sure to join in on the conversation – your personal brand is now your new resume.
