Personal marketing is so important in today's hunt for a job or internship. The ability to sell yourself to an employer is what might win you an internship over the person sitting next to you in class. I've collected some tips that professionals have given me.
So what can you do to improve your personal marketing?
So what can you do to improve your personal marketing?
- Always keep a current version of your resume. If someone you meet (at a job fair or a friend of one of your parents) asks to see your resume, you can send it to them right away instead of frantically editing it.
- Have an engaging LinkedIn profile and make as many connections as you can. Employers do look at your LinkedIn and it's a great way to find people who work at a company that you'd like a job at.
- Speaking of LinkedIn, have a professional photo as your icon. Don't use a an outdated photo or one taken in bad lighting. It doesn't have to be a professional headshot, but it should be a flattering and appropriate photo.
- Have business cards. It might seem strange, but have some business cards made (my school does them for free several times a year!) and carry them with you just in case.
- Make a professional Twitter and take your last name off of your personal one unless you're willing for employers to see it. This is particularly true for anyone seeking employment in the communications industry. I shadowed at a PR firm last year and one of the women recommended that I make a professional Twitter that I can show to employers if I'm seeking a job as a social media editor.
- Write a blog. If possible, have a blog that pertains to something that you're very interested in (whether it's in your field or not) that you keep up consistently. This is a great thing that you can put on a resume to show employers as a sample of your writing and/or photography skills.
- Practice an answer to the inevitable "Tell me about yourself" question. It should be professional (please don't just tell the story of your life!) and purposeful. Tell about your education, past job experiences, and what you would like to achieve in the future.