Where is the line drawn between the two? Is there a difference between someone building a brand for their professional career compared to a student who is looking to build themselves to get into the job hunt or internship?
It all depends on your launch point. The launch point for every personal brand is what is going to change the perspective and the means of what a person does with their brand to attain their means.
Student Launch
The student launch is a very unique one. By starting yourself up in the branding world firstly it is not just about blogging! The fact that you have a blog is just a place for you to express your knowledge/concerns/life, whatever you please! What really matters in branding is the way you portray yourself to others in the online and offline world!
Take the following as an example,
In the United States and U.K., recruiters and HR professionals surveyed are likely to
research candidate behavior online and report markedly high rates of candidate
rejections based on their findings. Comparatively, only 7% of U.S. consumers surveyed
believe information about them online affected their job search. In the U.K., only 9% of
consumers surveyed believe online information had any impact on their job search,
while 41% of responding recruiters and HR professionals have rejected candidates based
on information they found online.
Source: Microsoft Online Reputation Research
What does this mean for you as a student brand? If you think your boss would disapprove of in the workplace, don’t put it online, or keep it disguised on enough of a level so that they don’t find it (Think Facebook lists where you can control privacy settings!).
Otherwise, by using tools like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, the simple fact that you are on a social network making yourself known is a huge step above many other students. The problem is by just having a handle on Twitter, or a name and resumé on Facebook isn’t enough! There must always be a level of participation and interaction within your social networks. After all it’s why they’re social networks.
Professional Launch
The professional launch is one that differs only slightly. As someone who is expected to have a level of knowledge or expertise in a field, you are definitely better off having a blog! A blog as a professional resource increases your visibility and chances of being found incredibly. You may not be looking for a job or to hire clients, but as a personal brand (should you decide to take it on) is a way for people to know and understand you. Without the ability to show and consistently write about what you enjoy, your personal brand will have nowhere to go.
Should you decide to, as a professional personal brand, is separating your personal from you professional personal brand. This helps prevents problems with employers, friends, family, recruiters, etc.
In the US 38% of surveyed consumers use multiple profiles, 31% keep all or some profiles anonymous, 57% restrict who has access to their sites, and 43% don’t share publicly what sites they use (multiple answers used, will not sum 100%). Source: Microsoft Online Reputation Research
Now that’s just a basic breakdown, but should you decide to venture on your own personal brand send me an e-mail I’ll be happy to help you out or answer your questions! greg[at]gregdelima[dot]com or leave a comment!
Image by Graceº
