This post is sponsored by OneShift
Most of us are aware nowadays that anything we post online contributes to our ‘personal brand’, and that there is a valuable opportunity to support our careers using these branding techniques on social media.
Although many of us are getting better at it, there’s still much to learn when it comes to social media and raising our profiles in a way that will reflect positively in our fields of expertise – as well as help us to stand out from the crowd.
The fact is that whether we like it or not, our online profiles are associated with our professional personas because the majority of the recruitment process now happens on the internet.
I think this is a great thing – the internet streamlines the recruitment process and opens up far more opportunities to connect and network than you would get without it in the real world alone.
I have reached out to many people online in my time, and have developed a great network through social media channels that have frequently extended into real-life relationships. Similarly, many brief introductions that I’ve had with people have transformed into long-term connections through the internet.
In addition to traditional recruitment agencies practicing much of their business online now, there are also online-only recruitment agencies popping up – think Freelancers.com or OneShift - a new Aussie online job network which matches employees with employers.
Working in the field of PR, in addition to Daily Inspiration Board, I do a lot of social media work and planning. The thing about social media is that although there is best practice scenarios and certain methods that have proven successful in the past, there is no ‘one size fits all’ method and it’s a constant process of evolution.
How you approach social media really depends on your goals. To develop your personal brand and enhance yourself in the marketplace, consider the following questions:
What are your goals – what do you want to achieve through social media?
I will give you an example. If you are a marketing professional (or an aspiring one – even if you’re still studying), then your social media channels should speak to this. Twitter and LinkedIn are the most business and career-focused platforms, so would likely be the ideal focus for you. However, other social media platforms such as Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram are always visible to potential employers and can also provide value for you, depending how much time you have available to spend on them.
If you don’t have a lot of time, stick with Twitter and LinkedIn for building your personal brand and profile. It’s great to have some personality on social media, showcasing your interests both personally and professionally.
Once you’ve established the type of profile you’re looking to build, now you can post relevant content; re-tweet or re-post other professionals in your industry; and engage with like-minded people online. This will help you to create connections and build a community with people in your chosen field.
Who do you want to connect with?
It’s great to connect with people in your field, however it doesn’t end there. Valuable connections can also be found by following suppliers; competitors; industry bodies; news organisations and more on Twitter. On LinkedIn, your network could also expand to recruiters in your field, as well as ‘Influencers’. When it comes to connections on the Internet, the sky’s the limit so make the most of it.
I also love to connect with others who share the same interests as me – blogging, health and wellness, and writing, to name just a few. I also love to follow people I’d probably never get the chance to meet in person – for example, one of my favourite authors Penny Vincenzi, as well as Gretchen Rubin (of The Happiness Project) – who actually replied to one of my tweets personally!
What do you want to say?
The trick is to be authentic. You don’t have to share everything about your life – and in fact, nor would you want to. However, social media is all about showing personality. It’s a marketing tool, but it’s not a platform for engagement rather than one-way communication. Mix up your communications by providing value through sharing interesting content; sharing your thoughts and opinions; and liking and sharing other people’s posts.
How has social media helped your career profile, or provided you with valuable opportunities?
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