6 answers
L
Student
Woodbridge, Virginia
5
Questions
Updated
1397 views
With regards to personal branding. What aspect of personal branding do you look at most when reviewing a candidate or employee? What should shine and what should be avoided?
Starting my professional life in the 00's, there was never a need for personal branding unless you worked for yourself and had a particular skill. Now it seems to be almost as important as a resume. From me starting out professionally with employers saying "you may not want to get a Facebook account because it can be held against you when getting a job" to " you might not get a job if they can't find you on any social media" is a pretty big change. What makes or breaks a candidate with personal branding? What looks best? Should it incorporate a person's profession or is it better to see someone's passion projects and persona shine when personal branding?
6 answers
Jennifer Bloomquist- CIPP/US/E, CIPM
Risk Specialist for Privacy and Confidentiality Impact Accessments
16
Answers
Clarksville, Tennessee
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
I'm not a recruiter or manager, so take my response with that in mind. I have helped with interviews on various teams and have also helped with international interviewing for various roles in different languages and cultures globally.
Sound judgement is the thing I think is most important. Keep LinkedIn professional. Use it in a way that will help you shine. Comment with good judgement on other people's posts in your field so your name is seen well before you start applying for jobs. Depending on your chosen profession, there may be a much smaller subset of people than you realize with whom to network, so this can be invaluable. Show curiosity with sound judgement. What sound judgement means will vary by profession. Some are more buttoned up and some are less so - think accounting vs. a career in the creative arts. Write articles that add value in your line of work like solutions to new problems. Let your voice come through your writing so it doesn't appear completely AI-generated.
Keep your LinkedIn picture up to date so that if you have an interview, you look like your profile picture. Keep Instagram and Facebook locked down with as many conservative privacy settings as you can. Avoid politics. If AI or a recruiter can find it because it's not locked down, it can hurt you. Don't write anything that will doxx you if you're on a platform like Reddit. Even there, write with sound judgement. If you have a long history on a platform like Facebook in which you've been tagged in embarrassing photos from your younger years, and you can't lock that stuff down, try asking the poster to remove the tag. If they won't/can't/don't respond, be prepared during a job interview to speak to how you've grown since the time the photo was taken. Growth and learning from mistakes can work in your favor because nobody is perfect.
Sound judgement is the thing I think is most important. Keep LinkedIn professional. Use it in a way that will help you shine. Comment with good judgement on other people's posts in your field so your name is seen well before you start applying for jobs. Depending on your chosen profession, there may be a much smaller subset of people than you realize with whom to network, so this can be invaluable. Show curiosity with sound judgement. What sound judgement means will vary by profession. Some are more buttoned up and some are less so - think accounting vs. a career in the creative arts. Write articles that add value in your line of work like solutions to new problems. Let your voice come through your writing so it doesn't appear completely AI-generated.
Keep your LinkedIn picture up to date so that if you have an interview, you look like your profile picture. Keep Instagram and Facebook locked down with as many conservative privacy settings as you can. Avoid politics. If AI or a recruiter can find it because it's not locked down, it can hurt you. Don't write anything that will doxx you if you're on a platform like Reddit. Even there, write with sound judgement. If you have a long history on a platform like Facebook in which you've been tagged in embarrassing photos from your younger years, and you can't lock that stuff down, try asking the poster to remove the tag. If they won't/can't/don't respond, be prepared during a job interview to speak to how you've grown since the time the photo was taken. Growth and learning from mistakes can work in your favor because nobody is perfect.
Nosheen Javaid
Blogger
1
Answer
Sahiwal, Punjab, Pakistan
Updated
Nosheen’s Answer
When I review a student or candidate, I don’t care about flashy logos or how many followers they have; I look for consistency and proof of work. If you say you love a skill like writing, coding, or design, your online profiles should clearly show your practice projects, school assignments, or what you are currently learning—that is exactly what needs to shine.
On the other hand, you must avoid using fake titles like 'expert' or 'guru' when you are just starting out. Keep your profiles positive, stay completely away from online complaining, and let your real human voice and genuine effort speak for itself.
On the other hand, you must avoid using fake titles like 'expert' or 'guru' when you are just starting out. Keep your profiles positive, stay completely away from online complaining, and let your real human voice and genuine effort speak for itself.
I really like the approach of genuine, simple, and proving work not claiming titles. Thank you for your response!
L
Eva Ruiz
Program Manager
4
Answers
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Eva’s Answer
Identify what makes you unique. While we often share similar skills with others from our time in school, it's important to highlight what sets you apart. Emphasize the qualities and strengths that define you. Throughout your career and life, you'll keep learning new skills, but leveraging your strengths can open up more opportunities. So, focus on what you do best!
This was super helpful, thank you!
L
Ana Ramos
Financial analyst
4
Answers
Guadalajara
Updated
Ana’s Answer
Being genuine is important, but it's also crucial to stay professional on social media. I try to share only what reflects who I am and how I want others to see me, no matter who views it.
Thank you for giving me advice.
L
Terry Helm, ING. MIM, MTM
Solution Manager - Technical Consulting
21
Answers
Ballwin, Missouri
Updated
Terry’s Answer
The way employers evaluate job candidates has changed. They now rely on your online presence to assess your credibility and consistency. Recruiters often look you up online before or early in the interview process. If they can't find you or don't like what they see, you might not move forward in the hiring process.
The best personal brand is not about being an influencer. It's about being easy to understand, trustworthy, and memorable. This means having a clear professional identity with a touch of personality.
What makes a strong candidate:
- Consistency: Your resume, LinkedIn, and interview story should align. Job titles, dates, skills, and roles need to match up.
- Clear value: Instead of listing traits, show how you solve specific problems for certain teams.
- Proof of skills: Projects, work samples, and certifications are more convincing than vague claims.
- Professional visibility: A complete and active LinkedIn profile is crucial, as recruiters use it for discovery and screening.
- Authenticity: People prefer genuine perspectives over generic content.
- Judgment: Your posts reflect your thinking style, maturity, and self-awareness.
What can hurt a candidate:
- Discrepancies between your online profile and resume.
- Lack of online presence or outdated profiles.
- Poor judgment in posts, such as offensive or negative content.
- Generic branding with buzzwords and no real substance.
- Trying too hard to create a brand that seems fake.
For most candidates, the ideal setup includes:
- A strong LinkedIn profile with a credible photo, clear headline, concise summary, and measurable achievements.
- Evidence of your work, like portfolios or project links.
- Thoughtful posts or comments that show your perspective in your field.
- A professional digital presence that is balanced and not reckless.
Your profession should be the main focus, while passion projects can set you apart. Employers want to know if you can do the job, represent the company well, and if there's something memorable about you. Your profession answers the first two questions, and your passion projects help with the third, as long as they support your professional story.
If you're in a traditional field like operations or finance, focus 80% on professional content and 20% on personal. In creative or entrepreneurial fields, you can showcase more of your personality and passion. Passion projects that highlight transferable skills like leadership or creativity are beneficial, but they shouldn't overshadow your professional image.
The goal is to show what you're good at professionally and what kind of person you are to work with. To improve your online presence, search your name, review your LinkedIn profile, compare it to your resume, remove any red flags, and add one solid proof-of-skill asset. This approach is often more effective for employability than posting content daily.
The best personal brand is not about being an influencer. It's about being easy to understand, trustworthy, and memorable. This means having a clear professional identity with a touch of personality.
What makes a strong candidate:
- Consistency: Your resume, LinkedIn, and interview story should align. Job titles, dates, skills, and roles need to match up.
- Clear value: Instead of listing traits, show how you solve specific problems for certain teams.
- Proof of skills: Projects, work samples, and certifications are more convincing than vague claims.
- Professional visibility: A complete and active LinkedIn profile is crucial, as recruiters use it for discovery and screening.
- Authenticity: People prefer genuine perspectives over generic content.
- Judgment: Your posts reflect your thinking style, maturity, and self-awareness.
What can hurt a candidate:
- Discrepancies between your online profile and resume.
- Lack of online presence or outdated profiles.
- Poor judgment in posts, such as offensive or negative content.
- Generic branding with buzzwords and no real substance.
- Trying too hard to create a brand that seems fake.
For most candidates, the ideal setup includes:
- A strong LinkedIn profile with a credible photo, clear headline, concise summary, and measurable achievements.
- Evidence of your work, like portfolios or project links.
- Thoughtful posts or comments that show your perspective in your field.
- A professional digital presence that is balanced and not reckless.
Your profession should be the main focus, while passion projects can set you apart. Employers want to know if you can do the job, represent the company well, and if there's something memorable about you. Your profession answers the first two questions, and your passion projects help with the third, as long as they support your professional story.
If you're in a traditional field like operations or finance, focus 80% on professional content and 20% on personal. In creative or entrepreneurial fields, you can showcase more of your personality and passion. Passion projects that highlight transferable skills like leadership or creativity are beneficial, but they shouldn't overshadow your professional image.
The goal is to show what you're good at professionally and what kind of person you are to work with. To improve your online presence, search your name, review your LinkedIn profile, compare it to your resume, remove any red flags, and add one solid proof-of-skill asset. This approach is often more effective for employability than posting content daily.
Isida Mici
Cash Accountant
106
Answers
Tirana, Tirana County, Albania
Updated
Isida’s Answer
Hello! Your inquiry has gone through my weekly mail. From my international perspective, because I live in Southeastern Europe, personal branding is important for those who have understood which social media to use more in a rationalized way, and have decided to have an account. Personally, I use LinkedIn for my personal branding, is the best platform out there for professional reasons. The others have been inactive or deleted. Regarding personal branding, I am following baby steps. Hope it helps! Blessing
Thank you for the advice.
L
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