Gone are the days when first impressions are made as you enter a room or on answering that initial question in an interview. In today’s digital age, first impressions are made online.
They are formed well before you meet with a recruitment consultant or potential employer and can halt your progression to the interview stage, based simply on how you present yourself in the online world.
The power of your digital profile is precisely why job seekers today should invest time in building their personal brand. It is the ideal way to ensure that the first impression you make aligns with how you want to world to view you, and your work history.
Personal branding may sound like a marketing cliché but in reality, it is just a way of consistently demonstrating who you are and what you stand for. Think of yourself as a brand. What values and attributes do you want the world to think of when they see you? Take Apple for example. They are associated with innovation and out of the box thinking, while Harley-Davidson represents freedom and independence.
The first step to creating a strong personal brand is deciding what attributes you want to stand for. It could be expert knowledge in a certain area or extensive industry experience. Being a critical thinking, hands-on leader or results-focused project manager are other examples.
Once you’ve defined your key attributes, the next step is ensuring that all your online profiles, engagements and conversations reflect these. Consistency is the key.
Here are five top tips to get you started on the path to creating a strong personal brand.
1. Switch all social media profiles to Private…now!
Switch your Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat profiles to private as soon as you finish reading this blog. Why? Because checking a candidate’s social media is the first thing most recruiters and potential employers do after reading a resume, or when independently searching for potential candidates online. Photos of you looking messy on a night out, semi-dressed or engaging in something illegal are never going to endear you to a potential employer. Instead, they make you a high-risk choice and are likely to land you in the ‘No’ pile. Also, be watchful of friends tagging you in posts. Remember, every post has the potential to impact your personal brand, regardless of who posts it.
2. Increase your LinkedIn recommendations
LinkedIn recommendations are the digital equivalent of referrals and testimonials. They increase your credibility and support the brand story you are presenting by confirming you excel in the areas you list as your skills and strengths. It is definitely worth taking the time to reach out to your network and actively ask contacts to add a recommendation on your profile.
3. Get active in LinkedIn groups
LinkedIn groups are another fantastic way to build your personal brand. While your LinkedIn profile is static, groups give you the opportunity to engage on a personal level and showcase your skills, experience and personality. They are a great platform for knowledge exchange and for positioning yourself as an expert in a certain area or skill set. Groups also foster genuine connections which can lead to business and personal opportunities emerging that align with your personal brand.
4. Add relevant keywords into your online profiles
Posting a job ad and waiting for candidates to apply is a thing of the past. Backend searching is one of the main tools recruiters use today to find top talent to fill a role. This involves the use of keywords to identity ideal candidates that have a high percentage fit with a particular role or job description. It’s important to get clear on the keywords that best match the role you are looking for. Then make sure these keywords are peppered throughout your LinkedIn and Seek profiles. Using keywords significantly increases your chances of being found.
5. Tell your business and personal story online
As humans, we all crave personal connection. Feeling you have something in common with another individual or identifying with part of their story creates an instant sense of connection. Telling your business and personal story online is one of the best ways to build your personal brand. But beware. Storytelling is a powerful tool that can also damage your personal brand if not done well. The key is to be authentic and ensure the information you share is relevant. For example, members of a LinkedIn group focused on project management will want to hear about your experiences that led to great results or revealed a new way to approach a problem. They do not want to hear about your passion for running marathons or your skills as a potential MasterChef candidate. Keep it relevant and on brand.
It is well worth taking the time to sit down and get clear on your personal brand. Once you know what message you want to communicate with the world through your online profiles, it is relatively easy to ensure you make a great first digital impression. One that leads to opportunities to cement that impression in the physical world.
13 Mar 2025