By Danielle Mellema, Chief Ghostwriter, Digital Content Manager
Our engage5w team is serious about helping you reach your career goals, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be lighthearted too.
It’s spooky season, so here are the personal branding mistakes that we think are scarier than a haunted house:
“I’m happy in my job, so I don’t need to work on my personal brand.”
[Shudder!] If the tumultuous past few decades in healthcare have shown us anything, it’s that no job is entirely secure.
We’ve all heard the horror stories: People months from retirement who get caught up in merger drama. Newly hired managers who moved cities for an opportunity getting the ax when the new CEO wants to bring in their own team. Long-time staff who love their jobs and serve with dedication who are shocked to be part of the next wave of lay-offs.
As we explained in a recent post, the time to build your brand is when you’re secure in your job, not when trouble strikes. Being proactive ensures you’re ready to make a move—even if it’s an unexpected one—when you need to.
“I hate everything about social media, so I don’t really care about having an online presence.”
[Blood-curdling scream!] Listen, we get it—it can be scary out there on social media. But choosing not to engage online at all is a huge misstep for those who want to advance in their careers.
Recruiters are highly active on platforms such as LinkedIn, and organizations looking to hire leaders for a role with externally-facing aspects would be wise to look online to get a sense of candidates’ abilities to represent the organization well. A lack of digital presence may translate to a missed opportunity.
Online presence doesn’t have to look like constant engagement on social media platforms. A well-crafted, strategic personal website featuring thought leadership articles and videos, highlights from the accomplishments and contributions you’re most proud of, and a detailed resume will help communicate the value you bring as a leader if a hiring manager puts your name into a search engine. Without a current personal website or even a periodically maintained LinkedIn profile, the highest search result a recruiter may get is your personal Facebook profile that you haven’t touched since your mid-twenties. Now that’s really scary…
“I want to make connections and be top of mind for job opportunities, so I check LinkedIn several times a day and post as often as possible.”
[Gasp!] Social media is a space where more is not automatically more. Just like radio silence online is not wise in light of the modern hiring landscape, constant chatter is equally unhelpful. Posting too often can look spammy or even (gulp!) desperate and cause your posts to be ignored.
What is lacking in this scenario is strategy. Leaders with clarity on their personal brand don’t post just to be seen. Each thing they post is showing who they are, what they value, what makes them excited about the organization or community they are part of, and what they bring to the table. Over-engagement may get you noticed, but not in the way you want. Strategic engagement is what will help connections see how you can add value to their organization.
“I want to advance in my career and get why a personal brand matters, but I just don’t think I have anything worth sharing.”
[Shriek!] We’ve not met a person yet who truly had nothing of value to say. Usually, they just need someone to draw it out, ask the right question, or help them to see their experiences or wisdom in a new light (and we’re really good at that). Furthermore, part of being a leader is knowing how to tell a story, how to inspire, how to take what you’ve learned and apply it to new situations. A great way to build that leadership muscle and show that you’re capable when the perfect opportunity arises, is having the courage to communicate your thoughts, wisdom, and expertise where you are in your career right now.
If building your personal brand is your next step in getting where you want to go in your career, but doing it freaks you out more than Chucky in a haunted house, then let us help!