I was recently let go from my beloved company, along with 15% of my teammates.
Pow. That stinks.
Still, you pick yourself up and start deciding what comes next. You look on indeed.com and LinkedIn for jobs, and you start reaching out to former contacts to let them know of your job search.
But have you given much thought to the “inbound marketing” involved with promoting yourself so that people will find you, and when they do, they’ll be wowed by what they find? Just like businesses want to be found on the internet, so do people for various reasons – to book speaking engagements, to take on consulting gigs, and yes – to find jobs.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately, so I jotted down a few notes to help anyone else get started on their own personal brand.
- OWN YOUR NAME. Let’s say your name is Jean Tarmac. Go to GoDaddy.com and type in your name “jeantarmac.” You’ll see that owning your own name is super easy and cheap. Buy it!! You never know what you’ll want to do with it. Let’s say you have a common name; i.e., Jane Smith. You can just about guarantee that URL won’t be available to purchase. Just add in your middle name in your search – that’ll increase the odds that you’ll find a URL suited for you.
- ROUTE YOUR NEW URL TO LINKEDIN. Now that you own www.jeantarmac.com, forward this URL to your LinkedIn profile.
- START A WORDPRESS WEBSITE. Although this is a tiny bit more advanced, it’s not that difficult to build your own website with WordPress. You can put up basic information, like an overview of your skillset and personality, a copy of your resume, and if you’re feeling really daring, you can start writing your own blog posts, to start showcasing your thought leadership on topics related to the field in which you want a job.
- PAY FOR A GOOD HEADSHOT. You’ll need this for LinkedIn and for your new website. No cropped-out iPhone photos here. Get a headshot expert – it’s well worth the money.
- OPTIMIZE YOUR RESUME. Make sure that the most popular keywords used in your industry are used liberally in your resume. The resume game has changed; recruiters now have access to software that can search all the resumes they receive for specific keywords and phrases. Make sure you show up in those searches.
Hopefully, some of this advice I’m giving YOU will also help ME in my job search! I’d love to know in the comments below if there are things you’ve done to build your own personal brand that have gotten you some attention in your job hunt.
All of these points are right on, Phyllis. One I would add is identifying 2-3 values or characteristics you want as part of your personal brand. Everything you share about yourself online and through social media should align with those values. It’s a great way of making sure your presence is purposeful!
I love this, Maree! People should know what you stand for in your tone, voice, and type of content you produce. Identifying those values is a great personal exercise, too.
“Luck is when preparation meets opportunity”
Too many people don’t think about this until they already need it, which puts them behind the game. I love this idea! I’ve been re-reading the Rich Dad, Poor Dad series and this very much plays into the idea of “minding your own business” that Robert Kiyosaki talks about.
I love that quote, Daniel!
Personal branding is something I’ve enjoyed teaching others and doing in my own career and now do as a Realtor. I find positive qualities in myself that I demonstrate online whether it be via social media posts, verbiage used on my website bio or story, if you will.
Examples relating to my career are hustle, professional, caring, trustworthy, and having industry knowledgeable, are just a few.
I also show my personality and what I enjoy doing in life. I pick a few themes and have a routine or style to share those online as well for others to get to know me.
Examples there are #realtorlife, #lakelife, enjoying activities with my twin boys, husband and my mom. I’m passionate about what I do whether it’s personal or professional.
To see some of these in action, feel free to like Ruwena Healy, Realtor at RealtySouth on Facebook, send me a Friend request or connect with me on LinkedIn.
I became a Realtor at age 55 and have been successful at it and helping families with all their real estate needs. Good luck in your career and job search. Enjoy!
From marketer to realtor to mom of twins – is there anything you can’t do, Ruwena?
Awww. Thank you, Phyllis.
Personal branding for me is about authenticity, consistency and transparency.
Conveying yourself according to your values in an honest and professional manner that will resonate with your target market.
People like people, who are like them.
I still remember the book titled “unpopular” and the author’s take on personal branding. I think having something to say and standing for something whether it’s in your industry or personal theories also shape your personal brand. Being unapologetically and authentically you still holds true to this day I believe