#1 Use The Cover Letter
If you're applying for a new job, be mindful of the fact that the prospective employer knows absolutely nothing about you. A CV is only a piece of paper, a document. That's why you need to show more of who you are as a personality to your potential employers.
The cover letter is one tool that allows you to express yourself in words and talk about the things your CV doesn't cover. It's your chance to shine and make your application unique while addressing all of the employer's selection criteria. Leverage this tool to talk about anything specific to your application that might help you stand out.
While a cover letter won't help you be found online, it'll help you customize your job applications, so they are taken more seriously. That's why you need to write great cover letters!
#2 Build A Website For Personal Branding
If you want opportunities to find you, rather than the other way round, you need to think of yourself as a brand, as well as a product or service. It's not just about who knows you; it's about who finds you that gets you the right opportunities at the right time. I encourage you to build a website online that showcases who you are, what you've done, and what you're working towards. An application like About.Me helps you do this by creating a one-page website that tells your audience what you're all about.
You can even include videos talking to your audience on your website, so you add a face and a personality to your online presence, which a CV doesn't do! You can also showcase your portfolio of work to give people the chance to see what you're capable of doing. You're giving yourself a better chance of being perceived positively, like someone who's genuinely interested in their career advancement and being taken seriously.
#3 Make Use Of Social Media
You know it. You're being tracked online almost all of the time. Your current employer, future employers, headhunters, recruiters, mentors, and collaborators are always interested in knowing more about you by stalking you online. That's precisely why your social media profiles need to position you for success. They should help you 'catch' the moment when someone is browsing your profile and entice them to connect with you instantly.
Depending on what field of work you're in, you should pick the social platforms relevant to you. Not only will this help you build your personal brand online, but you'll also have the opportunity to grow your network by mingling with social groups.
Make sure your online profiles are 100% complete. Ask for testimonials from people you've worked with to show some proof of your abilities. State your goals clearly on your social profiles, including what career opportunities are of interest to you and who you're looking to meet. All of this goes a long way to ensuring your social profiles are geared towards working for you.
#4 Build Your Network, Online & Offline
Once you've put in the time and effort to build your brand online, it's time to start meeting people. You should hopefully be in a place where you understand your why and can clearly articulate your purpose and what you're seeking to people you meet. People want to know what you can do for them and who you are.
Joining social groups online is a great way to be part of vitally essential conversations in your life and career. Pitch into online discussions where you can add some value and be seen as a 'thought leader' in your space. You can set up online alerts for keywords included in these conversations and then follow them by answering people's questions.
But staying online will only showcase your 'online personality. You need to get out of the house and start meeting people offline. Carry your business cards with just a link to your online website, and shake hands with people who're in your industry. Mingling with the top minds of your space might help you find a mentor of your dreams who is ahead in the journey you're treading on. Experienced mentors who've already built their brand and been successful in their careers can help you fast track your progress like nothing else.
Make the effort of finding industry events on platforms like meetup.com, Facebook events, LinkedIn, or Eventbrite and show up to them in person. You are how you carry yourself at these events, so make sure you're always making a great first and last impression to get ahead.
Wrapping it up
A video ad can never be the same as test driving a car. A job description can never match the experience of meeting the hiring manager. A short trailer can never tell you how the whole movie is going to be, and a cover page is never indicative of how great a book really is.
It's the same with resume's.
They're just too inadequate to communicate with the most relevant people to your life and career. So don't leave personal branding to chance. You're way too interesting to let yourself be unfound, unidentified, and unseen. Let your inner light shine, share your story.
