Part 3- How to show up and stand out: A guide to personal branding when job hunting

Part 3 – How to show up and stand out: A guide to personal branding when job hunting

While branding is often associated with marketing and business growth, it has also become an essential part of the job hunt. As a candidate, creating a well-crafted, thoughtful personal brand helps you stand out from the dozens of other applications.

In the case of personal branding, the candidate is seen as the solution while employers act as the customer. Through the hiring process, job seekers need to stand out while convincing target businesses that they are an ideal fit.

In part 3 of our branding series, we explore how candidates can improve their personal branding and excel in the job search.

How to build an impressive resume to help with your personal branding

In many ways, your resume sets the foundation on who you are as an employee and what you bring to the table. Remember that Curators and Hiring Managers see dozens of resumes per position, which makes standing out a challenge. For an impressive resume, keep the following in mind:

Write a solid personal brand statement. This is your chance to explain who you are and why you’re an ideal candidate. Include a career goal along with your strengths and skill sets.
Turn job responsibilities into achievements. When listing what each former position entailed, make sure to highlight what you accomplished rather than what you did, and quantify those accomplishments whenever possible. For example, instead of saying, “participated in client-facing meetings,” say, “Fostered positive client relationships, resulting in securing a $1M contract.”
Showcase your online presence. Include your LinkedIn profile along with any blogs or websites you may have. Only include other social media, like X (formerly Twitter), if you have a strong following and produce industry-specific content.
Try something new – if you can. If you’re in a creative field, use your skills to stand out and do something different. Some conversational designers, for example, created chatbot resumes to showcase their bot-building skills.

Like, comment and subscribe – Why social media matters

Social media has become a powerful tool where Curators find and engage with top talent. LinkedIn is a particularly important commodity – a fact supported by recent hiring stats. 77% of curators admitted to using LinkedIn to find candidates, while a survey found that more than 85% of employers said a social media profile is somewhat to very important.

As a candidate, social presence is an essential part of your personal branding, especially on LinkedIn, where industry experts and hiring managers are most likely to see your posts. To properly optimize your social network, ensure your profile is up to date and includes your job history, a profile picture and a professionally written bio.

Take advantage of LinkedIn’s features, such as recommendations, and post often about industry-related topics. It’s equally beneficial to engage with top players in your field through comments, likes and, where appropriate, private messages. This allows candidates to demonstrate their experience and thought leadership while building their brand.

It’s also a good idea to join relevant talent communities, which can be found typically through a company’s job page or website. This allows Curators and Hiring Managers to easily find and communicate with top talent through text or SMS, meaning job seekers will be kept up to date on their progress. Platforms like TalentNet let applicants register in as little as 60 seconds. AI-based technology also matches candidates to open positions based on your qualifications, making job hunting simpler. TalentNet also has a progress feature that lets talent see where they are in the hiring process and whether they’ve been successful or not.

How to nail your job interview

The beauty of building a personal brand is that the interview won’t be a company’s first impression of you, as they’ll already have learned about your skills and achievements through your resume and social media. Still, second impressions are just as vital as first impressions, and interviews are often a make or break portion of the hiring process. When getting ready to shake hands with your next potential manager, make sure you:

Do your research. To sell yourself as an ideal candidate, you first need to understand what the company is looking for. Research the organization and review the job description. Make a list of important keywords, qualifications and traits and be sure to mention them during the interview.
Practice your pitch. You should be able to answer the most common interview questions in a way that showcases your personal brand.
Be aware of body language. This is as much a part of your brand as your resume. Avoid crossing your arms, which may indicate you’re closed off. Don’t slouch in your seat and don’t touch your phone during the interview.

Stand apart from the crowd through personal branding

A well-built personal brand is a valuable asset. Not only does it help candidates stand out from a sea of resumes, it also helps widen your industry reach.

TalentNet works with companies to ensure candidates receive a smooth, positive experience. To learn more, sign up for a demo here.