Who’s Afraid of Job Search Personal Branding?
Why is it that so many people don’t get started creating their personal brand?
Is it lack of time, fear of failure, not knowing what to do?
I don’t get it! Story after story, case study after case study, success example after success example -thousands of stories, case studies, and examples have proven that personal branding works
So – we cycle back to the original question – Why is it that so many people don’t get started creating their personal brand? Brad and I cover personal branding for your job search frequently in our Internet Radio Talk Show. Check out some of the previous broadcasts from our Radio Talk Show Library.
What are known for? What subjects and search terms would employers use to find you on the web?
If employers typed a particular search phrase into Google, would you appear as one of the top 10 listings?
Trends are beginning to show that companies are using job boards less and search tools/social media sites to find candidates. Are you still conducting a job search like it’s 1999 or are you conducting a job search leveraging all the tools now available in 2009?
Tell us why you haven’t started your strategy of personal branding yet – here’s some tactics top talent candidates use in personal branding – are you doing any of these?
- Signing up for accounts on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Delicious, Digg, Friendfeed, Google Reader, Google Profile
- Completely filling out the profile information on each of these sites
- Frequent updates and particpation in group discussions, answering questions, posing questions, offering recommendations and ideas
- Creating a blog and posting everyday about your subject matter expertise
What’s holding you back?
Barry
Tags: FREE Job Search Audio, Personal Branding
Job Search Preparation, On-line Social Networking | Barry Deutsch May 25, 2009
About the Author
Barry Deutsch is a founding Partner of IMPACT Hiring Solutions, co-author of "You're NOT the Person I Hired", and "This is NOT the Position I Accepted". Barry is an award-winning international speaker, retained executive recruiter, and expert on hiring and retaining top talent, and executive job search.
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By smoorefu, May 27, 2009 @ 12:12 am
I’ve actually started a blog for this very reason. But what’s holding me back is that I don’t enjoy writing articles or blog posts (even though I do enjoy the give and take of a conversation, as in mailing lists). Furthermore, it’s difficult to come up with topics to write about, and even more difficult to have some actual content that seems like it’s worth someone else reading it.
I don’t think I’m alone. So that’s what’s holding some of us back.
By James, September 27, 2009 @ 11:16 am
“Signing up for accounts on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Delicious, Digg, Friendfeed, Google Reader, Google Profile
“Completely filling out the profile information on each of these sites”
On Facebook, completely filling out the profile information includes filling out information such as:
a photo of yourself
your birthdate
your relationship status (not just your marital status but Single, In a Relationship, Engaged, Married, It’s Complicated, In an Open Relationship, or Widowed)
your political views
your religious views
your activities
your interests
your favorite music, TV shows, movies, books, and quotations
Why do you want jobseekers to make all this available to all potential employers? Do you put all thyis personal information about yourself on your résumé yourself, or do you just enjoy weeding out qualified applicants for things like their sexual availability, taste in music, etc.?
By Barry Deutsch, September 27, 2009 @ 12:13 pm
James,
Perhaps a further clarification is appropriate.
I would recommend providing profile information that is relevant to your job search and your personal brand as a professional. As a recruiter, I could care less about your interest in TV shows and music. I am interested in the books you are reading – are you reading books that improve your knowledge of your skills relevant to the job, are you demonstrating an interest in learning how to manage more effectively, be a better team player, gain a more insightful understanding of your industry. I look for lifelong learning and thirst for continuous personal improvement. I don’t care (not should I) about your sexual preference, relationship status, or religious views. I am interested in your interests – what are you passionate about, what hobbies do you have? Do you sit in front of the TV when not at work or are you an active member helping others less fortunate at the local food bank? You don’t have to reveal your birthdate – I don’t care about how old you are.
What information is relevant that paints you as a improving, better, differentiated candidate from among the other thousands of resumes employers see for every opening. Your profiles will help. Focus on who you are as a professional vs. the personal information.
Last thought regarding your comment. A photo is critical. Studies in social media/networking show that viewers of your profile will trust you more if you have a good professional looking picture. People want to know what you’re hiding when you don’t show your picture.
By James, September 27, 2009 @ 3:23 pm
“As a recruiter, I could care less about your interest in TV shows and music…I don’t care (not should I) about your sexual preference, relationship status, or religious views…You don’t have to reveal your birthdate – I don’t care about how old you are.”
Great! If only all recruiters and managers had as much integrity.
I’d add that if you’re already using your Facebook account for personal social purposes in which these are relevant, then set your Facebook account’s privacy settings so potential employers and recruiters *can’t* see it. Then either set up a wholly separate Facebook account and only fill out the relevant-to-hiring info instead of completely filling out the profile information, or don’t use Facebook as part of your personal brand (similar to the way you wouldn’t use Match.com).
“A photo is critical. Studies in social media/networking show that viewers of your profile will trust you more if you have a good professional looking picture. People want to know what you’re hiding when you don’t show your picture.”
Especially prejudiced people, who want to know if you’re hiding wrinkles, silver hair, a skin color, turban or hijab, degree of sexiness, etc. that they don’t want in their new hire when you don’t show your picture.
If one of the hiring managers is prejudiced against applicants from some ethnic group, then having the applicants’ photos makes it even easier than just having their names (especially since some women in interracial marriages take their husbands’ surnames, some interracial couples don’t give their sons and daughters names from both sides of the family, etc.) when deciding who to recommend to the other hiring managers.
If the hiring manager just wants a qualified new hire to do the actual job but his or her assistant manager hopes to coerce sex out of the new hire, photos help that assistant decide who to put in the “these are hot, I’ll pass their applications on to my boss” and “these are not, I don’t want any of these to be the new hire!”
By Mark, January 13, 2011 @ 10:49 pm
The trouble with branding people as if we are products is that while cars and shoes don’t have to consider their own personal safety, human beings do have to consider our own personal safety.
Some personal branding advice such as that in Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0 includes these tips:
[shows a marketing web site in which the marketer’s personal appearance, including his graying hair, are very obvious and claims it’s a good example]
“If you have uploaded your picture to ZoomInfo, I know you want to talk to me.”
Meanwhile, better advice that does take into account the risks of discrimination by HR intermediaries who see your photo and think you’re too old/dark/butch/ugly/etc. to hire, stalking by people who see your photo and think you’re too sexy to not date them, etc. are in the article “Why You Should Manage Your Identity Online” at practical-strategy and the article “What’s Wrong With This Picture?” at the blog Great Resumes Fast.