You are ready to start your job search, and the first place you are probably going to look is on the Internet. Interacting with people offline and online creates and builds an image of yourself. If the company you have applied for carries out an online search of your name, what will they find? How will you be perceived in their eyes? Is your reputation impacted by misuse of social media accounts or regrettable photographs, blogs, comments, or other information?
In this chapter, you will learn about using social media to reach out to recruiters.
Let’s take a look at how you can promote yourself to boost your chances of getting noticed.
Improve Your Personal Branding
What is personal branding?
When we talk about personal branding, we mean using your profile as a vehicle to define who you are and what you are about. It requires careful consideration of how you present yourself online, including your profiles, content, interactions, and public statements, to ensure consistency and authenticity in how you are perceived by others. Effectively managing your personal brand can enhance your professional reputation, attract opportunities, and build a network of valuable connections in your industry or field of expertise.
Who Are You?
Understanding and defining oneself is indeed a challenging task, especially in a professional context where recruiters seek candidates who align with the company's culture and values. Here are some insights on how to identify and portray your desired image effectively:
Personal Branding: Define the image or persona you want to project professionally. Consider traits like outgoing, friendly, trustworthy, honest, and experienced, as in Samantha's case.
Authenticity: Be genuine and true to yourself in how you present and communicate your personal brand. Authenticity builds trust and credibility with your audience.
Professional Image: Pay attention to your online image, including profile pictures, bios, and content shared. Ensure they align with your desired professional image and values.
Consistent Messaging: Use consistent language, tone, and imagery across the different professional platforms that you use.
Content Creation: Share content when you feel that it is relevant to your expertise, interests, and achievements to showcase your skills and experience. Write blogs, share industry insights, participate in discussions, and highlight relevant accomplishments.
Engagement and Networking: Actively engage with industry professionals, join relevant groups and forums, and participate in networking events to expand your connections and visibility within your field.
Seek Feedback: Request feedback from colleagues, mentors, or trusted contacts on how you are perceived professionally. Use constructive feedback to refine your image and communication style.
Value Proposition: Communicate the unique value and benefits you offer to employers, clients, or your target audience. This includes highlighting your expertise, accomplishments, and how you can meet their needs.
By aligning your self-perception with how you want to be perceived professionally, leveraging online platforms strategically, and engaging authentically with your network, you can effectively portray your desired image and enhance your professional brand.
Use LinkedIn to Improve Your Visibility
Deciding which social media platforms to use depends on your goals and target audience. However, if you are seeking an apprenticeship or professional opportunities, LinkedIn is highly recommended. Consider these facts about LinkedIn:
There are more than 67 million companies using LinkedIn, providing a vast network of potential employers and opportunities.
Every minute, approximately 6 people are hired through LinkedIn, highlighting its effectiveness as a professional networking and job search platform.
87% of recruiters actively use LinkedIn to search for high-quality candidates, making it a valuable tool for jobseekers to connect with potential employers and recruiters.
LinkedIn's focus on professional networking, job searching, and industry insights makes it an ideal platform for building your professional brand, showcasing your skills and experiences, and connecting with relevant professionals and companies in your desired field. For more details, see this LinkedIn article.
Here are steps you can take to leverage LinkedIn effectively.
Create Your Profile
Start by crafting a concise and engaging biography that summarizes your professional background, skills, achievements, and career goals.
Consider the following to leverage LinkedIn effectively:
Profile photo
A professional LinkedIn photo should convey your professionalism, approachability, and suitability for the professional environment in your industry. It should create a positive first impression and align with the image you want to project to potential employers, colleagues, and professional contacts. Here are some key characteristics of a professional LinkedIn photo:
Attire: Wear professional attire that is suitable for your industry. This may include business formal (such as a suit and tie for men, and a professional suit or dress for women) or business casual attire (neat and professional clothing without being overly formal).
Avoid Distractions: Remove any accessories or items that may distract from your professional image, such as hats, sunglasses, or excessive jewelry.
Expression: Smile naturally or adopt a friendly yet professional expression. Avoid overly casual or dramatic facial expressions.
Quality: Use a high-resolution photo taken with a good camera or smartphone camera in good lighting conditions. Ensure that your face is clear and well-lit, with no shadows obscuring your features.
Background: Choose a simple and uncluttered background that does not distract from your image. A plain backdrop or a professional office setting works well.
Professional experience
List your professional experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role.
Highlight key accomplishments and responsibilities for each position using bullet points to make them stand out.
Resume
Upload your resume as a PDF document to provide additional details about your experience, skills, and qualifications.
Professionalism
Be mindful of the content you post, comments you make, and photos you share on LinkedIn.
Present yourself professionally and positively as employers and recruiters may review your posts and interactions.
Start Networking
Networking involves engaging with individuals and sharing information via online platforms, as well as through participation in business and social events or projects.
By actively creating and expanding your network, you cultivate a valuable pool of professional contacts. This network proves indispensable during job searches, facilitating connections with industry peers and increasing the likelihood of learning about job opportunities. Furthermore, it ensures that recruiters are aware of your career objectives.
LinkedIn serves as an excellent platform for building a virtual network of contacts. You can reach out to professionals individually or join groups with shared interests or professional backgrounds. It provides a space to exchange insights, seek advice, and share experiences. Engaging in these groups allows you to gain knowledge, contribute to discussions, and establish connections.
Once you have created your LinkedIn profile, initiate contact with acquaintances such as former colleagues, schoolmates, or members of your social and familial circles who also hold professional roles.
Once you've established initial contact, nurture these relationships to further expand your network. For contacts you know well, consider proposing a virtual coffee chat or suggesting a meeting to discuss professional matters. Building and maintaining these connections can yield benefits, as your contacts may endorse your skills, offer insights, or even refer you to their own networks.
Activate your Job Search
LinkedIn has over 15 million open jobs posted at any given time, so it is a great place to look for your next role! Over 35.5 million people have been hired by someone through LinkedIn.
You can filter jobs according to:
Your location
Your experience
The date of the advertisement
You can also create notifications so that whenever a new job is posted, you will be notified.
Research companies
Since LinkedIn has over 55 million registered companies, the chances of finding the company profile you’re currently interviewing for are high! LinkedIn is a great tool to learn about companies you may not have heard of before. You will learn about their culture, mission statement, current affairs, job vacancies, and so much more. You can also find and connect with their employees.
Communicate to get noticed by recruiters
If you attend social networking events or attend online discussions about topics that interest you (or are related to your field), don’t forget to ask for introductions. Connect with the other attendees on LinkedIn to develop your network and increase your chances of getting noticed by other professionals.
Use LinkedIn to case study your own projects and professional experience. You can post a story, share an article, or comment on other people’s posts (just be sure to keep your comments in line with your professional profile).
Your Turn!
Kickstart your LinkedIn journey:
Create Your LinkedIn Profile: Begin by setting up your LinkedIn profile if you haven't already.
Add a Professional Photo: Upload a professional and high-quality profile picture that represents you well in a business context.
Craft Your Personal Statement: Write a compelling and concise summary that highlights your key skills, experiences, and career goals.
Complete Experience and Activities: Fill out your work experience, education, certifications, and any relevant activities or projects.
Expand Your Network: Connect with colleagues, classmates, mentors, and industry professionals to expand your network.
Request Recommendations: Reach out to former colleagues, supervisors, or clients to request recommendations that highlight your strengths and contributions.
Seek Endorsements: Request endorsements for your skills from connections who can validate your expertise in specific areas.
Upload Your Resume: Utilize LinkedIn's feature to upload your resume. This can help recruiters and hiring managers quickly understand your professional background and experience.
Set Job Notifications: Create job alerts based on your job preferences and industry interests.
Engage and Participate: Engage with your network by liking, commenting, and sharing industry-related posts and articles.
By implementing these strategies, you can optimize your LinkedIn profile, expand your professional network, and enhance your visibility within your industry or desired job market.
Let’s Recap!
Effective personal branding can help you stand out in competitive environments,
Ensure that your profile is consistent with your career aspirations,
Standardize all your online resumes, ensuring they are up-to-date,
Cultivate your professional network by making connections and regularly communicating with your contacts.
In the next chapter, you will be learning how to organize your apprenticeship job search.
