Personal Branding in Today's Digital World

Estimated read time: 6 minutes

What’s in this letter 📧

• Weekly questions from job seekers

• What is personal branding and how to take advantage of it for better career prospects

Questions from Job Seekers…

How do I transition from consulting to in-house roles taking a step down?

Treat your experience as if it were all in-house. That means:

• Avoid consulting terminology such as “clients”.

• Focus on tasks that resonate with the inhouse team. Usually that is at the core of what you do (i.e., if you’re a software developer, that would mean focusing on what you developed and how you developed it, rather than on what you did to land new gigs).

What is the best format to use for your resume? Is a fancy format better than a traditional one? What is the best format optimized for the ATS System?

Generally speaking if you’re applying online through a company website (and especially if it’s a regional, national, or global company), use a more traditional single-column format to avoid the possibility of issues with the applicant tracking system (some older ATS don’t play nicely with fancy formatting).

If you have a question you’d like me to answer, email it to [email protected].

Personal Branding in Today's Digital World

In an increasingly digital world, your online persona plays a pivotal role in your career and personal life (no pressure, right? lol).

Personal branding is about defining who you are, what you do, and how you do it.

Having a well thought out brand can open doors whether you’re an employee looking for your next role or a freelancer looking for your next gig.

Here are 5 actionable steps to reinforce your personal brand in today's digital landscape.

Step 1: Define Your Personal Brand

The first step in personal branding is defining what your brand is. This is the part where you take a long, hard look in the mirror and ask yourself, "Who am I?" Not in a midlife crisis kind of way, but in a skills, experiences, values, and personality kind of way.

Think about how you want to be perceived by others. Then write it down somewhere.

This will be the foundation of your personal brand.

Step 2: Optimize Your Social Media Presence

Your social media profiles are the front lines of your personal brand - this is where employers and clients will see you.

Whether you’re on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram, your profiles need to be professional, consistent, and engaging. Consider what your audience will think when they see your content.

• Professional: Use a high-quality profile picture and fill out all sections of your profile with relevant information.

• Consistent: Make sure the messaging across your profiles is consistent.

• Engaging: Regularly post content that aligns with your brand, and engage with your followers by responding to comments and messages.

Step 3: Create a Personal Website or Blog

Having a personal website or blog is like having a home in the digital world. It's where you can invite people over, show them your accomplishments (or your cat), and share your thoughts on topics you're passionate about.

• Choose the right platform: Platforms like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace make it easy to create a website, even if you're not tech-savvy.

• Design your website: Your website should visually align with your personal brand. Use colors, fonts, and images that reflect your brand's personality.

• Content creation: Regularly publish blog posts or articles that will actually be valuable to your audience

Step 4: Be Consistent and Authentic

Consistency in personal branding is like consistency in your coffee order. If you're a cappuccino person on Monday, you can't suddenly become an espresso person on Tuesday. Keep your messaging and visuals consistent across all platforms. And be authentic - people can spot a phony from a mile away (just like you can spot decaf).

• Visual consistency: Use the same profile picture, colors, and fonts across all your online platforms.

• Message consistency: Make sure your posts and interactions align with your personal brand.

• Authenticity: Be genuine in your interactions. Authenticity builds trust and makes your personal brand more relatable.

But wait, what does “align with your personal brand” even mean?

In a nutshell, it’s ensuring that your online activities should reflect your professional identity, core values, and areas of expertise.

Here's what that looks like in practical terms:

1. Content: The content you create and share should match the image you want to project. For instance, if you're branding yourself as a digital marketing expert, your content might include blog posts about the latest SEO strategies, social media marketing tips, or insights into consumer behavior.

2. Posts: The posts you share on social media should also align with your brand. This includes the articles you share, the photos you post, and even the people or organizations you choose to follow or interact with. For instance, if your personal brand is about promoting sustainability, you might share news about renewable energy, tips for reducing waste, or posts from environmental organizations.

3. Interactions: This refers to how you engage with others online. If you're branding yourself as a friendly, approachable expert in your field, you might respond to comments on your posts, answer questions in a helpful manner, and engage in discussions in a respectful and positive way.

Step 5: Engage in Online Networking

In the world of personal branding, networking is king. It's all about building relationships, not collecting business cards. Join relevant groups, connect with influencers, and provide value in conversations. And remember, just like at a party, nobody likes the person who only talks about themselves.

• Join relevant groups: LinkedIn and Facebook have groups for almost every industry. Join the ones relevant to you and actively participate in discussions.

• Connect with influencers: Follow and engage with influencers in your field. Their followers are likely part of your target audience.

• Provide value: Don't just promote yourself. Provide value by sharing insights, offering help, or sparking meaningful conversations.

Your personal brand is a living, breathing entity that evolves with you. Regularly review and update your online presence to reflect your current goals and values.

Remember, not everyone will agree with you, and that's okay. Use criticism as a tool for growth and improvement.

Hope that helps!

About the Author

I’m James, Cofounder of Final Draft Resumes. I’ve been in the career consulting space for 13 years, and before that, I was a recruiter for AECOM.

I’ve helped thousands of job seekers, from industries like software engineering, IT, sales, marketing, manufacturing, and more generate job opportunities through well-written resumes that translate unique backgrounds into coherent narratives.

If you’re struggling with your resume for whatever reason, reach out - I just might be able to help!

If you’re more of a DIY person, then check out Resumatic, my free-to-try resume builder.