Personal brand: attractive candidates on Social Networks
- September 28, 2017
Although most candidates today use social media, is it always done professionally? Given their level of maturity, any worker and employer should use them to showcase the personal brand, highlighting what they are particularly competent at. We analyze the keys.
“Being” and not “being” on social networks
The real potential of social networks is in helping to create the indispensable network of contacts that connects and supports the experience of a professional. The key is therefore to spend time getting to know and contact other professionals, to build relationships with them that add value. There are many job offers that are not published, but are covered by recommendations.
From asking questions about the work environment or about the company, to sharing information about professional developments, or knowledge of their own, the ways to participate in the global conversation are diverse, causing at the same time the construction of the brand itself. Always with a limit: don’t become a spammer.
Never do anything that you wouldn’t like to be done yourself, like contacting to sell something directly, for example. For the Human Resources and People Management departments, it is the best way to assess the reputation of a potential candidate. Social Media is also a showcase for communication skills.
The way you move inside them shows how you are socially. This is a growing value within the company, which is increasingly forced to start its digitalization process, counting on the employees. So when it comes to starting a career in Social Media, it is important to have a clear strategy of participation.
A seller’s profile
Which profiles are the most interesting on social networks? Those who are not afraid to sell themselves. Direct and motivating profiles, which give the employer the opportunity to know why he should hire them. The best examples on LinkedIn are those with a short but strategic description, with the right keywords to appear correctly in searches, and a clear statement of the value they bring as a worker.
In order to do so, it is essential for the candidate to do an introspective work or to get the help of a Human Resources or Coaching professional, who will help him discover his own strengths and what he is particularly good at.
In team leadership, creativity, project management, contact with suppliers… areas for which one was not always trained or did not have as a work objective, and in which one ended up being competent. This is a good time to ask former colleagues about these aspects through social networks and to get advice on new career opportunities.
It is also important to be clear about what you are looking for, to be consistent. The CV is a historical thread of the training and work experience but a profile shows who you are here and now. It must be changed as often as necessary according to new learning and professional interests. Without forgetting to add a personal image according to what is being sold.
Tools to highlight
Social Networks also offer various tools to contact and highlight in the professional field. Some profiles have been made relevant by selecting good information, sharing it and commenting on it with his contacts. Others have used their own blog to create an area of enriching experience for others. Both strategies require great effort and must be aligned with personal skills.
Participating in professional groups on LinkedIn is also an excellent way to generate interesting contacts and create a personal brand. So is the commitment to specialised online training (free or not) offered on various Mooc platforms, LinkedIn’s Learning section or even on specialised websites and portals.
Following the digital behavior of any candidate is undoubtedly the best way to know his personal brand, his social skills and his reputation. Social networks demand active participation from all agents in the labour market.
People First es un espacio de inspiración donde compartimos contenidos con un eje común: las personas. Desde distintas ópticas y sectores, abordamos varios temas, tendencias y noticias de interés humano.
