7 Steps to Fully Charge Your Personal Brand!

When was the last time you got a job interview? If the answer to this question is "it's been a while," there might be a reason no one is calling you back. 

Ten years ago the idea of personal branding hadn't occurred to many people. The ones capitalizing on their brands were socialites like Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, and Nicole Richie. Now everyone from mechanics to teachers, and even CEOs should maintain a personal brand and an online presence. You need to be your own publicist when it comes to your career. 

Think you don't have to worry about a personal brand? Think again! Competition is tight and there are more people actively seeking work than ever before. This isn't just a result of increased unemployment rates but also due to the fact that longevity on one job is falling by the wayside. Trends are showing an increase in the number of times a person will change jobs during the course of their career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, last year the median job tenure for all demographics was 4.6 years. However, for those between the ages of 25 to 34 that number dropped significantly to 3.2 years. Now is the time to be proactive about our career future before we end up with a dead battery! 

Today the best way employers find job candidates is through referrals. It is crucial for career growth that your name is recognized and your accomplishments are known by as many people as possible. Effectively branding yourself within your industry will help you become the one being sought out for new opportunities instead of the one seeking out new opportunities.

The good news is, with the introduction of TheProfessional.me, MicroTrain's new professional branding platform, and the prevalence of social networking, professional branding is more accessible and easier to achieve than ever before!   

Here are 7 steps to give your personal brand a full charge!

1. Register on TheProfessional.me

The easiest way to take control of your professional brand is register for TheProfessional.me. Developed by MicroTrain, this branding platform features a full suite of career tools, fine-tuned to make mastering your brand as simple as possible. TheProfessional.me targets the main aspects of your professional brand to help you create the kind of content employers love. From our Elevator Pitch Generator to the LinkedIn Profile Analyzer, TheProfessional.me has the tools it takes to make sure you're always putting your best foot forward.

2. Define Your Identity

In order to create a successful personal brand you have to establish who you are and what you represent. I have worked with many clients who are self-professed jack-of-all-trades. While you may have a variety of experience that you would like to showcase, chances are not all of your experience is relevant. Employers want to see a clearly defined image. They should understand how easy easy it will be to collaborate with you. Do some soul searching to find out exactly who you are professionally and where you want to be. Position yourself for the job you want not the one you necessarily have right now. 

3. Establish Your Social Media Presence

With a variety of social media sites available online the ability to increase your visibility within your profession is fairly reachable and can cross over internationally if you so desire. Sites like Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have made a push in the social media arena. Approximately, 80% of job candidates are finding jobs through their professional connections, so it's essential that you maintain your social networks accordingly. Establish a professional page on various social media sites and get connected with others in your industry. Keep it professional and never blend your personal life with your professional image.

4. Maintain a Professional Email Address

Your professional email should be separate from your personal email.  I have worked with clients that have used personal email addresses that have very unique and unusual names.  Remember the goal of your personal brand.  Think of a professional name for your email address and keep it simple.  Things that are too strange or cutesy can leave a bad taste in an potential employer’s mouth. 

5. Create a Personal Website

For as little as $10.00 a year you can make a big impact on your personal brand by establishing a personal website. This is a great way to market your talents and showcase your accomplishments.  Many sites such as GoDaddy.com have website builders that will allow you to customize the look and feel of your website without any knowledge of web design. Once you have created your personal website make sure to add it to your social media pages to gain greater visibility. 

6. Start a Professional Blog

To go along with your website, consider blogging about subject matters you are experienced in. You can set up a free blog site at wordpress.com. Blogging will help establish you as an expert in your field.  You can also link your blog post to your social media sites and post them on various discussion boards.  

7. Get Affiliated with Industry Organizations

Conduct a web search to find out what industry organizations hold the most credibility within your profession. Most industry organizations well allow you to become a member for a monetary fee.  Additionally, many have certifications exams available that will validate your knowledge and expertise in your industry. Keep in mind memberships and certifications can be costly, so doing your research will ensure your investment doesn't go to waste.

I’d love to hear your thoughts!  What are you doing to brand yourself?

Candidates often want to know the best resume format to use when emailing a recruiter, hiring manager. The answer is simple; use whatever format your audience needs. Usually this means using Microsoft Word format.

Some candidates think a PDF is the best resume format because they can use fancy graphics and unique formatting to stand out. This just isn’t the case. You should spend your time polishing the content of your resume instead of adding fancy graphics. Align it with the job description of the target job. You will stand out, and be selected, too.

Unless it’s specifically requested, you shouldn't send a PDF instead of a MS Word document to a hiring manager or recruiter. Here’s why:

1. The employer probably uses an applicant tracking system (ATS). This means they digitally import your resume into a candidate database to analyze against the job description. This process is most compatible with MS Word files.
2. A PDF file includes metadata elements and is a proprietary format specifically designed for security of documents. There’s a good chance this will conflict with the employer’s ATS.
3. PDFs can be difficult to open and usually require paid software to edit. The more difficult you make it for a recruiter or hiring manager to access your resume, the more likely they are to eliminate you as a candidate and reduce their candidate list.
4. MS Word is nearly everywhere. Most people have a copy of Microsoft Office, and most corporations use it as their standard. Alternatively, Google Docs is free to anyone, and reads and edits MS Word Docs.
5. Your recruiter is your agent and advocate. They won’t be able to tweak your resume, fix spelling errors, or make the other refinements necessary to get you in the door if your resume is a PDF.

When choosing the best resume format, think of the recruiter’s and hiring manager’s workflow, time and process requirements. PDF documents make it hard for them to quickly consume your resume or cover letter. Using the right format may give you the edge you need to be recognized as the best candidate for the employer.

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