First of all, what is personal branding and which social media platforms should you use to build it? Essentially, you are creating an identity for yourself in the working world. It refers to how you promote yourself and it combines the skills and values that make you unique. LinkedIn is the best platform to build your personal brand, but Twitter and Instagram can be beneficial as well (we suggest you create a business/work account so you keep it separate from your personal account).
There are many reasons why you should consider building your personal brand, we have listed some of the benefits below and also noted how it can help build your future career.
Stand out from the crowd
Not everyone will have a personal brand for business purposes, so this is a great way to make a name for yourself when applying for job opportunities/apprenticeships. The early careers space is very competitive, which means you need to have something on your CV that will make you stand out to employers, this is a great way to do it!
Builds your CV/Portfolio
When you’re a student, you might not have a lot of experience to add on your CV, and that’s okay! It can be challenging to gain work experience or have a part time job in the industry/sector you’d like to go into, but there are ways you can build your CV to show potential employers what you are capable of and what you can bring to the role. If you post about new skills you’ve learned or discuss current topics from your desired field, it can be added to your portfolio.
Defines who you are
Staying true to yourself when building your personal brand is key. It can be very powerful and you can build trust with your connections if you keep your content authentic and original. You don’t have to share personal/private information for your network to stay engaged, but being honest with your audience gives people a better understanding of who you are as a person. Additionally, it will give future employers a clearer image as to whether they can see you working at their company or not.
Expands your network
Connecting with employers (especially on LinkedIn) from your desired field will put you in a great position when you start applying for jobs/apprenticeships. You can connect with fellow teachers and students, but also push yourself and do some research of employers that interest you and connect with them as well. It all helps build your personal brand and you create trusted relationships which is a great advantage.
Get noticed by your top companies
We are sure you will have a list of your favourite companies and who you want to work for (and if you don’t, now is the time to make one!), so why not follow them! It’s also worth connecting with the right area of the business, for example if your dream role is in marketing, follow their marketing team on LinkedIn! Who knows, one day they might notice you and acknowledge your passion and love for their company and you could end up working for them!
Exposure to industry insights
You can learn more about certain sectors through the profiles and posting habits of those within that industry. Following hashtags is also a great way to find out more about the field you wish to go into. Learning more about the industry can reassure you that this is the right career choice for you, or make you realise it isn’t and you need to reassess your career choices.
As a student, it can be tricky adding something else to your plate, so before you start working on your personal brand, please look at your schedule and see when/if you can fit it in. But if you can find the time to build your personal brand, it will be worth it! The earlier you start building these connections for the future the better.
