Personal Branding may be as foreign a term to you as a SITREP would be to a civilian, but it’s the HOW of an effective job search.
WHY? It’s a strong path to getting the job you want before it’s ever posted.
HOW? When companies promote from within, a job opening occurs. The way to position yourself for those jobs is to create a strong image with the companies. You can conduct a proactive job search using the key elements listed below:
· Identify major brand components – your strengths and value proposition.
· Develop a list of 20-30 companies where you’d like to work.
· Use Social Media – LinkedIn, Facebook, BranchOut, Twitter, etc., to identify the key players at those companies.
· Research the companies (where you’ll also find executives and other important people) using Google Alerts, Reference USA, Mergent, IBIS, etc. (available at university and business libraries) to focus your strategy by learning their challenges, business directions, new products, and leadership.
· Advance your position by identifying where you can meet company personnel (they’re far easier to engage when they’re away from the office). With at least 3 specific outcomes in mind:
o Attend trade shows - visit their booths & talk with the staff.
o Join professional organizations – volunteer for committee work.
o Visit community events – identify charitable organizations they support (through website, FB page, Corp. Responsibilities Report).
· Integrate what you’ve learned to create and implement focused communications that demonstrate your value to the targeted companies.
The concept is to make yourself well known where you’d like to work, that’s personal branding. You don’t want to be reactive with your job search by chasing the same employment listings everyone else does, you need to be proactive! That way, before an opening is ever posted, you have an advanced opportunity.
WHY? It’s a strong path to getting the job you want before it’s ever posted.
HOW? When companies promote from within, a job opening occurs. The way to position yourself for those jobs is to create a strong image with the companies. You can conduct a proactive job search using the key elements listed below:
· Identify major brand components – your strengths and value proposition.
· Develop a list of 20-30 companies where you’d like to work.
· Use Social Media – LinkedIn, Facebook, BranchOut, Twitter, etc., to identify the key players at those companies.
· Research the companies (where you’ll also find executives and other important people) using Google Alerts, Reference USA, Mergent, IBIS, etc. (available at university and business libraries) to focus your strategy by learning their challenges, business directions, new products, and leadership.
· Advance your position by identifying where you can meet company personnel (they’re far easier to engage when they’re away from the office). With at least 3 specific outcomes in mind:
o Attend trade shows - visit their booths & talk with the staff.
o Join professional organizations – volunteer for committee work.
o Visit community events – identify charitable organizations they support (through website, FB page, Corp. Responsibilities Report).
· Integrate what you’ve learned to create and implement focused communications that demonstrate your value to the targeted companies.
The concept is to make yourself well known where you’d like to work, that’s personal branding. You don’t want to be reactive with your job search by chasing the same employment listings everyone else does, you need to be proactive! That way, before an opening is ever posted, you have an advanced opportunity.
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