Personal Branding

Introduction

Personal branding, building and managing your reputation online and offline, is another increasingly important skill in today’s hyper-connected digital workplace, whether you’re a student, job seeker or employee climbing the ladder.

You need to control and manage what others, especially potential employers, find online and think of you. The great news is that there are some opportunities for you to manage your digital footprint and build an impressive brand image.

We offer three simple steps to manage your reputation. Here are the steps you should follow throughout your professional career.

Step 1: Search for yourself on Google about your Personal Branding

If you want to create a brand image, you must start by asking yourself a simple question: if a future employer searches you online, what would they find?

Nowadays, the majority of companies do a search on you on Google or elsewhere online before inviting you to an interview.

So it would help if you make sure that your online presence reflects an image of you that will allow you to optimize your chances of landing the job of your dreams or a promotion.

It’s pretty simple to clean up your digital presence. Start by checking out the social media platforms you’re active on. What skills, abilities and attitudes set you apart from the competition? What makes you stand out from the crowd for positive reasons? If you don’t have a LinkedIn or Twitter account yet, it’s time to consider creating one seriously.

Step 2: Get involved on social media for Personal Branding

It is very beneficial to create and maintain LinkedIn and Twitter accounts. LinkedIn is simply the largest professional network in the world. It has more than 425 million active users.

It is an online planetary where you can build a professional network, share and find information, join communities of interest, create and control your professional profile and even see a job. As a Cisco Networking Academy student, you can join the Networking Academy LinkedIn Group and chat with your counterparts and preferred employers.

Twitter is the ideal platform to find all the news and share information. You can also create a professional brand image on Twitter by tweeting about news and innovations related to your field and following the companies you are interested in or thought leaders in industries you want to learn more about.

To create an excellent personal brand image online, you must mentally build a list of items you post or react to. First, think about a secret formula or motto. A phrase that highlights what you want to be recognized for. What do you want others to think of you when they see your profile? Is there a subject or area where you want to highlight your expertise? What attributes do you want to promote? What image do you want to project?

And here’s the critical question: would you gladly accept that a future boss reads your posts or descriptions on LinkedIn or Twitter? If in doubt, abstain.

Also, don’t forget that social networks are, in essence, social. So it would help if you were active, interacted, explored your interests and stayed authentic.

Step 3: Never stop learning

To be part of the conversation, whether online or offline, you need to have something to say. And, to do this, you need to inform yourself.

Social media and the internet are great ways to find out what’s going on in your field, the global economy, the job market, and the companies you’re interested in.

By joining groups on professional networks, you can stay in touch with your peers and discover the opportunities available to you. Still, you will also be able to fill your lack of professional experience.

You can join the Cisco Learning Network for free. You will be able to forge a good brand image as a candidate with strong technological skills. And also, you will be able to showcase your practical skills and knowledge. And you will also be able to participate in debates and the writing of white papers to demonstrate your technical expertise and your relational and writing skills, which are in high demand by employers.

For a long and successful career, you must never stop learning. Take the opportunity to improve your skills with webcasts, meetups and other meetings. Prove that you are an appreciated resource to your current or future employer by sharing your new knowledge with others.

And don’t forget to sing your praises from time to time. Take the time to document your accomplishments, so you’re always ready to update your online profile and talk about the assets you bring or could bring to a business.

Strengthen your personal branding and professional brand image, and show that you are ready for the next step in your career.