The Art of Personal Branding
Personal branding is creating a unique image and reputation for oneself, which can be a crucial factor in landing a job. Here are some relevant statistics and diverse perspectives to consider when building your brand in the job search.
According to a survey by CareerBuilder, 70% of employers use social media to screen job candidates. This means that what you post online can directly impact your job prospects. It's essential to ensure that your social media profiles reflect a professional image that aligns with your target industry. Building a LinkedIn presence centered on your professional goals and expertise and showing thought leadership in your space through posts and engagement is the #1 way to do this. Consistency is key, and posting at least three times per week is recommended.
Another study found that 75% of employers consider a candidate's brand during hiring. Investing in your personal brand can make you stand out from other candidates and demonstrate your value to potential employers.
In addition to online presence, personal branding can also involve networking efforts and creative job search strategies. For example, building a personal website or starting a blog can help showcase your skills and expertise. Attending industry events and conferences can help you establish connections and gain valuable insights into your field.
It's important to remember that personal branding is not only about self-promotion. It's about communicating your unique value proposition and building a reputation as a trusted and respected professional in your industry. This is best found in how you present yourself in your resume. Create a resume laser-focused on achievements relevant to your field's hiring managers. Keep the resume centered around your end goal. For those of you who may have a work history spanning diverse titles, you will want to consider how to tell that story so it makes sense to the reader. This may mean omitting specific roles or not going into great detail regarding roles irrelevant to the jobs you want to attract. It’s okay to leave work experience off your resume, but you must list all of your work history in the application for background check purposes.
From a diversity perspective, it's crucial to consider how personal branding may impact individuals from marginalized communities differently. Sometimes, individuals may face discrimination or bias during the hiring process, regardless of their personal brand. However, personal branding can still empower individuals to take control of their professional narrative and showcase their strengths and abilities. A few ways to overcome these barriers are to leave photos off your resume, dates from employment beyond 15 years, and graduation dates after five years. Name bias is another factor. Some applicants will use a nickname or what’s considered an “Americanized name” when applying to jobs, and sadly, they have yielded more responses. I do NOT recommend this. If a company will judge you on name alone, is that a company you want to work for? Absolutely not! This is one reason blind resumes are growing in popularity.
By investing in your personal brand through social media, networking, and creative job search strategies, you can differentiate yourself from other candidates and demonstrate your unique value proposition to potential employers.
Sources:
"70% of Employers use Social Media to Screen Candidates, Finds CareerBuilder Survey," CareerBuilder, September 2020, https://www.careerbuilder.com/advice/social-media-survey-2020
"Personal Branding Statistics: 75% of Employers Will Google You," BrandYourself, February 2021, https://www.entrepreneur.com/starting-a-business/22-statistics-that-prove-the-value-of-personal-branding/280371
