Beyond a Suit and Tie

What Robin has learned about personal branding

2013-05-10T17:00:00.000-07:00

What have I (Robin) learned about personal branding? I could list up all the topics we as a group have covered throughout the semester, but I will use my last blog post to describe how I will use my new knowledge in the future.

In my blog post “What content to have in your online portfolio” I was emphasizing that online portfolios were not exclusively for designers, photographer and such. However, before starting this blog project that was exactly what I thought. Oh, have I learned! Though I will not develop an online portfolio right now, I have gained a lot of useful knowledge that I have already used and will use in the near future.

First of all, I have changed the way I interact on social media sites - for me that is Facebook and LinkedIn. I have become way more conscious about what I post in regards to pictures, status updates and commenting. I believe my account has become more professional than it was four months earlier and though there is still room for improvement (old habits die hard), I am confident that I have nothing to worry about if I show my account to a potential employer.

Networking is another tool I have found very insightful and useful. Though I am an exchange student and will leave the U.S. in a few months, this experience have been great, and I have become more confident in talking positive about myself to potential employers or connections and in general to interact in a business minded environment, something I have definitely lacked in the past. To see how alumni engage with current student was a very positive surprise – Thank you, PLU alumni!

LinkedIn is definitely something I have to improve in the near future. Soon I will start looking for jobs and my LinkedIn account is nowhere near being decent. Nonetheless, this blog project has taught me how important LinkedIn is and when I return to Denmark, improving my account will be first on my list. The good news is that I know exactly how to do it!

Soon I will be looking for a job, whether that be a full-time or a study job, all my new knowledge about common job hunting mistakes, what to put and what not to put in a job resume will also become very useful knowledge and something that will help me optimize my chances of getting a job.

For now I will keep my personal brand as what you find on my Facebook and LinkedIn accounts (some will argue Google search as well). As mentioned, this project have made me more conscious about how I interact on my social media sites, and with that more professional and that is the outcome I am very happy about.

What Heather has learned about personal branding

2013-05-06T17:00:00.000-07:00

This week’s posts are the last ones required by the emarketing course Colee, Robin and I (Heather) are enrolled in at Pacific Lutheran University. So we’ve decided to let you know what we’ve learned through this project and what tidbits we think are the most important for you to remember.

To start out with, I’ll provide a bit more background on my personal branding story. I started branding myself - without even knowing what to call it - about two years ago. Since then, I have managed my social media presences and created two different websites – one for my online portfolio and another for my photography business.

I’ll have to admit I have not managed my time well with personal branding these past couple years because I admittedly didn’t know what I was doing when I started, and did not create any guidelines for myself. Now that I’m graduating in three weeks – I have hopefully completely redesigned my personal brand for the last time. But I also know I have a long way to go in fully developing my personal brand.

Overall, that's what I’ve learned the most this semester – that if you plan your personal brand and take a little time at the beginning to create a standardized logo, colors, typography, and a general design, that will save you oodles of time in the long run. Take it from someone who learned it the hard way. You don’t want to be completely redesigning your website, resume and other materials as often as I have in the past two years.

For more on time management, check out this post on time-saving personal branding tips.

Why organizations connect online

2013-05-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

So far this week we have looked into what people and organizations you should connect with online. We have focused on how these people and groups can help us in our future careers. However, today we are going to look into why organizations are on social media sites.

Organizations use social media with a goal in mind, just like us. In the end, their goal is very different from ours. Most of their online goals are accomplished through networking. Sound familiar? By connecting with the right organizations they will have access to the right customers. This is what allows their sales to increase and their brand to thrive. Below is and infographic from Red Giant Design that discusses how social media improves marketing efforts. It shows how many are using social media, why, and their potential success.

As you continue your job search remember that companies are doing the same thing you are. They are positioning themselves so they connect with the best people and other organizations. In the end, connecting online can help push your career in the right direction.

What should you connect with online?

2013-05-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

On Monday we discussed who you should connect with online. If you missed it or are looking for another resource, here's entrepreneur Matt Haughey on how he became an accidental spammer. But now we're moving on to what organizations, brands, etc. fall into the same category.

You should also consider the potential benefits of connecting with this said organization or brand and how often you are going to be interacting with them. The most likely reason to connect with a brand is for special offers and deals, with being a current customer coming in second. You should also connect with a brand or organization if you are interested in working for them.

Overall, the lesson is to consciously connect with organizations and brands.

Now if you're working for an organization and looking for resources on how to connect with other organizations and brands, the S.M.A.R.T. blog is a great place to start.

For more specifics on how to handle Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter individually, here's our previous post on how social media sites are both your friend and enemy. And below is a video from Volusion on the top 5 reasons people follow a brand on social media.

It starts out with the same principle: Only connect yourself to an organization or brand when you're comfortable affiliating yourself with them. This basically means that you should be aware of what message "liking" or "following" an organization or brand sends to those looking at your profile.

Who should you connect with online?

2013-04-29T17:00:00.000-07:00

This week we will discuss who and what you can, must, should and should not connect with online. Connecting with the right people can get you far when you are looking for you first job. At the same time, at some social media sites it is just as easy to connect with people of no use – especially on LinkedIn.

Have you ever considered exactly how LinkedIn is used? Many people connect with friends, former class mates, family etc. as if it were their Facebook account. However, LinkedIn is a business social media site, so no need to connect with your high school sweetheart there – do that on Facebook.

A simple advice is to think about for what reasons you are on each of the different social media sites. LinkedIn is for business perspectives. Only connect with people you know and trust, people being business connections, friends, colleagues or former class mates that all can help you in your career by introducing you to some of their other connection – not friends and former class mates you want to stay in touch with.

People that you want to stay in touch with, whether that being acquaintances, former class mates, friends etc. are reserved for Facebook. This is where you can socialize and stay up to date on your Facebook friends’ lives.

Another issue that we have repeated throughout the past months is to think about who you connect with. Do not connect with every single person you meet. Choose your connections carefully – at the end it is for your own protection.

How your resume can cost you a job

2013-04-26T17:00:00.000-07:00

Now that we've covered how to avoid common job hunting mistakes, we're going to narrow that down even further to discussing common resume mistakes.

This article on avoiding resume mistakes by Katharine Hansen, creative director and associate publisher of Quintessential Careers, goes in-depth on these 10 mistakes:

Resume lacks focus.
Resume is duties-driven instead of accomplishments-driven.
Resume items are listed in an order that doesn't consider the reader's interest.
Resume exposes the job-seeker to age discrimination by emphasizing older jobs in the job-seeker's job history.
Resume buries important job-relevant skills at the bottom.
Resume is not bulleted.
Resume uses a cookie-cutter design based on an overused resume template.
Resume lacks keywords.
References are listed directly on your resume.
Resume's appearance becomes skewed when sent as an email attachment and/or resume is not available in other electronic formats.

Building off of Hansen's points, here's what we consider the other easy ways for your resume to cost you a job: not tailoring your resume to the position you're applying for and a poor resume layout.

Beyond your resume, remember to manage your online presence so you can make a great first impression.

Here's Mike Perry, president of Szarka Financial, for more on the top 5 resume mistakes he sees during the hiring process for an open position in his company.

How to avoid common job hunting mistakes

2013-04-24T17:00:00.000-07:00

Monday, we posted about 10 common job hunting mistakes, though without giving any further explanation. Here we look at the most important job hunting mistakes and what you can do to avoid these mistakes when you look for a job.

Not completely reading the job description

If you do not read the entire job description there is a big chance of missing a key piece of the application. If you miss an instruction your application is most likely to end up as spam mail, or simply be disqualified for an actual job interview.

Selling yourself short

The first job interview is always difficult. You do not know exactly what to say or how to sell yourself. Going to career expo’s, networking event and what your school offers besides this is the best way to learn how to sell yourself. Here you can make mistakes that will not have consequences as if you do them at a job interview. Exploit your school’s resources to your own benefit.

Not having someone proofread
We all know what a paper turned in at the last minute looks like. It is full of grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. The same can very well happen to your resume, also though you proofread it. Having new eyes looking at your resume can often find some mistakes you do not find. Most colleges offer resume help. Exploit the opportunity, get someone to proofread it and avoid stupid, unnecessary mistakes.

Having a resume longer than one page
For most people it is common knowledge that job resumes exceeding a page will not be looked at. It is simply too long and employers do not have time to go through several pages when they have hundreds of other job resumes awaiting.

Not explaining your past experience well
You will most likely look for a job within a field you already have experience in from internships or study jobs. You LinkedIn account, your resume and your cover letter, must clearly explain your past experiences and how that can benefit the company. Of course, you must back this up at the job interview so the employer has no doubt in your skills and experiences.

This is what we consider the five most common job hunting mistakes. Schools often has resources that can help you avoid these mistakes.We can only encourage you to exploit whatever resources your school offer, but at the end it is up to you to make sure to know the job description, have a good, strong resume and cover letter, and leave the job interview with the employer knowing exactly who you are and how you can benefit the company.

A review of common job hunting mistakes

2013-04-22T17:00:00.000-07:00

This week we are going to focus on job hunting mistakes. Knowing these mistakes is the best way to avoid them and secure yourself a job. It is way too easy to fall into the trap of “common mistakes”.

There are many different places online that list these mistakes. Every source will focus on different aspects of the hiring process. The mistakes listed below were compiled from the Work Buzz. This is a job seeker community run by Career Builder. The site focuses on displaying job postings and resumes. As a result, their mistakes have a lot to do with resumes and job searching. This is why you need to find multiple sources. It will help you gain a complete understanding of these common job hunting mistakes.

Common Job Hunting Mistakes
1. Not completely reading the job description
2. Selling yourself short
3. Not having someone proofread
4. Having a resume longer than one page
5. Not defining a clear scope of your search
6. Not having employers understand your past experience
7. Not customizing your cover letter
8. Not being persistent
9. Being unprofessional/not showing your personality
10. Having a closed mind

These mistakes can seem very basic to some. Others may have never thought about it. In order to be successful in your job hunt you have to think of what you can change. If you only focus on new things you can do, you can easily make these mistakes.

Robin's first networking experience

2013-04-19T17:00:00.000-07:00

This week we have blogged about networking. What it is, why it is important, and how do you do it. This blog post will be about my first and so far only networking event. I must admit that before the event I was quite skeptical. I am not skeptical anymore.

On February 19, 2013, I attended my first networking event. It was an event for Pacific Lutheran University alumni and chosen PLU students. Honestly, the reason behind going was another event that was happening before the networking event but never the less I am very glad I went and though I personally did not gain that many new contacts, I know some other students who did. One thing that I was very surprised about was the willingness of the alumni to come talk to us student who was a mix of feeling shy and insecure.

When I came home I had a few new contacts that I immediately added on LinkedIn but it was not only PLU alumni I added, it was only other students that I met at the networking event. So on that behalf I benefitted more than I had thought before I went.

I know there are several different kinds of networking events but I can only encourage everyone to go out there and increase your network - especially, college students who get the opportunity to talk to alumni. At least based on my experience alumni sincerely want to help you and that is an opportunity you all ought to exploit.

Before ending this week’s theme I will leave you with one last reason to network.

Networking is considered the most effective way of finding a job – particularly in challenging economic times. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 70% of all jobs are found through networking. Through networking you can uncover job opportunities that might not yet – or never - be posted on job-sites, or create an opportunity that did not previously exist.

The information is taking from Yale College’s website: http://ucs.yalecollege.yale.edu/content/networking.

How to create your network

2013-04-17T17:00:00.000-07:00

Networking is changing. What used to a complicated and time consuming paper process is becoming faster and easier online. People are able now able to connect with people they did not even think would be in their network. However, the ultimate question still remains: Who do I include in my network?

A professional network is something everyone has whether they know it or not. Your network is the people you know or have met. To help begin forming your network PLU Career Connections has provided a sampling of people you can include:

• Family and friends
• Friends and their families
• Voluntary affiliations
• Professors, advisors, coaches
• PLU alumni
• Former work colleagues
• Professionals

The traditional way of keeping in touch with your network is by developing a system that records when you talked with someone and what about. You would also need to have a list somewhere so you know who all these people are.

The beauty of having an online network, like LinkedIn, is that all that information is already stored for you. These would still need to be people you know. This online tool makes it easier for you to stay in touch and know what is going on in the lives of your network. In the end, keeping in touch with your contacts is what will help you get a job.

How to find a job using networking

2013-04-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

This week we're making the transition from using personal branding to manage your online presence and make a good first impression to how to use personal branding and networking to find a job.

Networking is "a process where you develop long term relationships with others for mutual benefit."

A major component of the job hunt is networking, because your contacts are references and can assist you in the job search. Here's more reasons why from an article by HelpGuide.

"People do business primarily with people they know and like. Resumes and cover letters alone are often too impersonal to convince employers to hire you. Job listings tend to draw piles of applicants, which puts you in intense competition with many others. Networking makes you a recommended member of a much smaller pool. The job you want may not be advertised at all. Networking leads to information and job leads, often before a formal job description is created or a job announced."

LinkedIn is the best online tool for networking. It allows you to keep a running list of your contacts, stay up-to-date on what they're doing professionally, and see who and what organizations your contacts are connected to. It also allows you to showcase an extended, interactive resume complete with endorsements for your skills and recommendations from former coworkers.

Now if you're looking for other places to start looking for a job - Indeed, Monster and CareerBuilder are the three largest online job sites. If you're a Pacific Lutheran University student or alumni, the Career Connections Opportunities Board is a great place to find job postings. But don't forget talking to professors and your network, because they'll be the ones that can vouch for your skills through the relationships they've built with employers.

What can you do about your Google search results?

2013-04-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

Being involved in social media is considered normal for most of us. We post examples of our life so that our friends and family can share in those experiences. Often times, these experiences are not “work appropriate." Since employers are using these sites, it is incredibly important that we monitor what is being shared.

On Monday, Robin discussed Googling yourself. He talked about how this simple action will show you what potential hiring managers could see and learn about you. To help show you how this works, I Googled myself. I am in an interesting position though. My legal name is Nicole Ueland but I have gone by Colee my entire life. As a result, potential hiring managers will search Nicole since that is the name listed on all applications. When they search me this is what they will see.

Out of this search only two images and two links apply directly to me. I also have an aunt who goes by Nicole Ueland. As a result, our results will be mixed up when someone Google’s that name.

There is nothing I can do about what the content people with my name post. However, I can help control what content these managers see. On my resume, I include links to all my social networking profiles. I have already gone through and started the process of furthering my personal brand on each of them. By doing this, potential hiring managers only see my content and the chances of being mixed up with someone else are lowered.

You can learn a lot by typing your name into Google. Are your search results positive or do you need to take an extra step to preserve your brand?

Talk to us through Facebook and Twitter. We want to know what you find out!

How to make a great first impression online

2013-04-10T17:00:00.000-07:00

First impressions are a major component of personal branding, especially during the job hunt. To quote personal branding consultant Biana Lerman, "They set the tone for who you are, what makes you unique, and how you communicate that to others. First impressions happen faster than you can imagine ... they can even happen before you actually meet someone."

So let's move beyond the suit and tie aspect of in-person first impressions, and start thinking about how to make a great first impression from your online presence.

Weeks ago we posted 5 tips on creating your personal brand, and most of those tips relate to the first impression people will create of you from what they see online. To review, this means a Google search of your name and social media all affect your personal brand and can make or break a person's first impression of you.

Let's expand on this.

Just like when you meet someone in person, you need to look good. To translate this online, it basically means you need a clear and consistent design across all of your platforms, a professional photograph and most of all, no spelling or grammar errors. Making a great first impression online also means you need to be a human being and show your personality, just like you would when you meet someone in personal. We're again referring to the balance between a professional personal brand and your authentic voice.

Here's the kicker: When someone meets you in person, they rely on their memory to recap their first impression of you. But your online presence is there for reference anytime and serves as a reminder of why a person developed a certain first impression of you. You can either use this for your advantage or let it serve as a disadvantage.

Here's more on how to clean up your online presence and make a great first impression.

When a suit and tie is not enough

2013-04-08T17:00:00.000-07:00

A decade ago, looking and acting professional more or less meant, at least for men, to look appropriate by putting on a suit and a tie for a job interview. Today, putting on a suit and a tie is nowhere near enough.

“Have you ever Googled yourself?”- A question we have all been asked. Today, 75 percent of all HR departments are required to Google you before a job interview to see what type of person you are.

This also means your first impression has been moved from when you enter the job interview to whatever shows up on Google when your name is put in the search area. This can both be good or bad.

For example, a professor from Boston was not satisfied when he Googled his name. A person with the same name, who was being accused of shoplifting, showed up. This was a huge amusement for the professor’s colleagues, but for the professor it was very unpleasant.

There are definitely also other stories like this one, and if you are in the job hunt you do not want to be related to breaking the law - even though it is not you.

At the same time, a digital first impression can also be to your advantage. This is basically what this blog has tried to tell you since day one. If you keep consistency in your personal brand and update it on a regular basis you will definitely beat a lot of your competition when you look for your dream job.

Remember that your future employer most likely will Google you, look at your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts. So when you create your personal brand, be consistent and professional. If not, you might not even get to put on your suit and tie.

Why your personal brand and authentic voice are frenemies

2013-04-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

Now that we've discussed how to develop your online personality, let's tie in the concept of authentic voice through an article by CV Harquail, an organizational consultant and part-time professor at Stevens Institute of Technology.

What does she have to say about the recent push for personal branding?

"Back off, because too much attention to personal branding will stifle authentic voice."

What does this mean? Your personal brand and authentic voice are frenemies.

Personal branding applies the same marketing concepts of branding a product to a person, which means you are choosing which parts of yourself to feature and also which parts to sweep under the rug. To contrast this, here's how Harquail define authentic voice.

"Authentic voice is the expression of self that is created: when you speak your truth, when you tell what you know about yourself, when you argue for what you care about, when you tell the world how you see things from your unique perspective, when you argue for your own wisdom, in your own unique way."

This means that your authentic voice shows the best and worst parts of you. Notice the contradiction?

Here's where it gets interesting. Your personal brand needs your authentic voice, otherwise you'll come across as stiff and unrelatable. You need your personal brand thanks to today's constantly-online society that blurs the line between personal and professional. Your personal brand can save your authentic voice from making a fool of yourself since everything that goes online, stays online even after you delete it.

So can personal branding stifle your authentic voice? Yes. However, there is a healthy balance between developing your personal brand and having authentic voice. It's just up to you to find it.

How social media affects opinions of you

2013-04-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

You can call it a cultural difference or maybe just immaturity, but when I arrived at Pacific Lutheran University last August, I did not think too much about what was on my Facebook account, such as posts and pictures, and I did not even have a LinkedIn account. I still don't have a Twitter.

It took me less than a month to discover that things are done differently over here. All of my professors urged me to be on LinkedIn and create a professional network, as well as to clean up my Facebook account to make it professional and presentable. Though I still need to improve my LinkedIn account - I still do not have a profile picture - I now have what I consider to be a decent network, and I have nothing on my Facebook account that would reflect poorly on me.

However, I have more than 900 Facebook friends including family, friends, classmates, Europeans, Americans, religious, non-religious etc. What I say and do might be interpreted in one way by one group and in another way by another group. Having your voice heard is not only about “getting heard,” it is just as much about what you say. I for one, have realized that my actions affect what people think of me and I better make sure that ALL my different groups of friends, across nationalities, cultures and beliefs, see me as I am – and I can only do that by thinking before doing.

I will leave you with a summary of a blog post I read the other day. A study of 58,000 American Facebook users showed, that your Facebook “likes” can determine your religious and political views. So do not only think about what pictures you have on your account or what you post about, but even your “likes” is a part of your voice.

And if you can read Norwegian, this is the article the blog is based on.

How to develop your online personality

2013-04-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

“My task, which I am trying to achieve is, by the power of the written word, to make you hear, to make you feel - it is, before all, to make you see.” ― Joseph Conrad, Lord Jim

In this world of near constant digital communication, the power of the written word seems to have slowly disappeared. An article by the Orlando Sentinel explored the connections between popular social media sites and the ability to write academically for 9-18 year olds.

What does this have to do with your online personality, or your voice? Words carry meaning for people and by using the right words you can make the right impression. These teenagers should themselves, what this constant shorthand writing style says about them.

Developing a voice will allow you to further gain control of your image. How is this possible you might ask? Here are three tips you can try to help take control.

1. Look over your current online pages and take note of how you write. What are you saying and how?
2. Think of the words you want to describe you.
3. Begin using those types of phrases and start molding the identity you want.

Like Joseph Conrad said, words can make you hear, feel and see. They paint a picture in our minds that is difficult to erase. The meanings of these words can be taken positively or negatively.

What do you want others to think about you?

Maximize the brand you have in the shortest time possible

2013-03-25T17:00:00.000-07:00

You have a brand already, whether you have devoted time to it or not and whether you want to have one or not. Your brand is how you dress, your mannerisms, your online presence, et cetera. Developing your brand is simply a matter of consciously managing others’ perceptions of who you are. Since this is an ongoing process, this week we will be discussing how to maximize your brand in the shortest time possible.

Let's start by defining your current brand and being aware of where you are in the process of development. You could be like Robin, who is just discovering the concept, Colee, who is developing her brand, or Heather, who is trying to unify and maintain her brand.

No matter where you are in the process, you need to first identify your personal branding statement and matching tagline, or a phrase from your statement that sums it all up. Then you'll need to get specific and choose your target audience, what colors and typography you'll consistently use, any consistent graphics you want, and most importantly - what variation of your name you will use across all platforms.

If you want to get fancy, you can also sign up for free services to monitor your online presence that can notify you anytime your name is mentioned online. Defining your brand now will save you a lot of time later.

After you have defined your brand, you need to start implementing this on all of the documents you share with others - your business card, resume, cover letter, references, social media profiles, et cetera. It does you no good to go through the work of creating brand guidelines if you don't follow through with them.

Beyond normalizing everything, you need to remember to make each document specific for your audience. Your online profiles should include all of your relevant experience, aka experience that relates to your personal branding statement.

However, when you apply for a job, your materials should include relevant experience to the job. But remember not to leave holes in your resume - employers don't like gaps in your job history. If you want to take it a step further, you can also think of creating a video resume.

Now that we have the basics, here's where the major time-saving tips come in.

A main component of your personal brand in an online portfolio, and you don't need any website coding experience to create one. Use simple and free services, such as FigDig and even Wordpress, where you can easily integrate a blog into your portfolio and kill two birds with one stone.

And for social media, use an aggregate service that will allow you to check and post updates on all of your social media profiles from a single location.

For examples of well-done personal branding campaigns, visit Social Mouths.

What content to have in your online portfolio

2013-03-22T17:00:00.001-07:00

On Monday we explained online portfolios, and then followed up Wednesday with examples of some of the best. This blog post will look at what an online portfolio should contain in regards to content.

Before getting started, it is important to emphasize that an online portfolio is not exclusively for designers, photographers, writers, etc. Having an online portfolio will give you an advantage in the job hunt since many of your fellow job hunters do not have one. Second, an online portfolio is a great way to show employers exactly what you want them to see – and it can also guide them away from doing a more in-depth Google search of your name.

Most of all, an online portfolio can be a great addition to keep your personal brand strong. It looks very professional if done well and kept up with, and you can decide exactly what you want it to contain.

So what should your online portfolio actually consist of? Add information about yourself, who you are, what your interests are - including business-related interests - and what your personal brand looks like. The last part is the most important and one option is to have a blog where you write about or discuss issues related to your business interests. You can add you resume and one or more recommendations from past employers, as well as highlights from past work and projects.

More information on this topic can be found at The Grindstone.

Top 5 online portfolios

2013-03-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

So what about these online portfolios makes them special? Part of it is their design, but a major component is content. The best online portfolios include a logo, tagline, resume, about page, a way to contact him or her, and have their own domain name. Most importantly, they fit the career of the person, meaning those in visually-dominant careers have visually-dominant portfolios.

1. Abbey Niezgoda, Multimedia Journalist

2. Alexey Abramov, Graphic Designer

3. Ryan M. Cheung, Marketing and Public Relations

4. Cheryl Khaner, Marketing and Sales

5. Piotr Kulczycki, Travel photographer

For more information, here's a post from Smashing Magazine on "Creating a Successful Online Portfolio."

What is an online portfolio and why should you have one?

2013-03-18T17:00:00.000-07:00

The idea of an online portfolio is quickly growing in popularity, replacing the traditional paper portfolio that showcases work and life experiences. It essentially takes items from your resume and shows potential employers examples of what you can do in more of an interactive and accessible way.

There are several different free and easy to use sites that can help you. Blogging sites such as WordPress and Blogger are some of the most common where you do not have to understand HTML to create a professional-looking portfolio. Withen these sites, there are multiple templates and settings you can use to personalize your portfolio. Another platform is Google Sites. This is free with any Google account and also offers free website building tools with portfolio templates.

Whichever platform you decide to use, there are several key things to remember according to “Online Portfolios”, an article from Penn State.

1. When gathering your evidence or artifacts think of everything you have done. This includes sports as well as school and volunteer work. Think outside the box when collecting your evidence.
2. Try to keep your evidence within a unified theme. Think about what your end goal is and use your experiences to help you achieve it.
3. Consider some reflective writing. This helps show prospective employers what you have learned from an experience.
4. Remember, good portfolios share 3 traits: unity, navigability and simplicity.

The most common type of online portfolio is a design or photography portfolio, but they are quickly progressing to other fields. To show you what a professional student portfolio looks like, we will share some of the best portfolio websites Wednesday.

Tips on using social media from social media

2013-03-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

Since we've focused on developing your personal brand through social media this week, to wrap up this topic we compiled tips and tricks already published online.

Expert advice on mastering LinkedIn

2013-03-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

The Personal Branding Blog posted “Personal Brand Word of Mouth on LinkedIn” November 2012, an article about how to get the most out of LinkedIn. They shared several tips that are important to remember since LinkedIn is the best social media site to maintain a professional online presence and build your personal brand.

1. Improve your presence by claiming your name as a URL
2. Participate in groups
3. Have a completed profile
4. Stand out and be unique
5. Personalize the message you send when asking to connect with someone

Hannah Hardy also mentioned having a complete profile during our interview last week. She agreed that having an incomplete profile is unappealing. It looks as if you do not care about what people see or think of you online. The opposite needs to be true. In order to use LinkedIn to build your network, your profile needs to look like you care about your personal brand.

Maria Elena Duron, author of “Personal Brand Word of Mouth on LinkedIn,” said using your profile as a resume shows what you know can be a way to spread your brand. Potential employers can see your brand, which, in many cases, leads to job offers. What you share on LinkedIn can therefore make or break you. By using these 5 tips, you can strengthen your brand and message and get one step closer to landing that job.

For more information on this topic, please visit The Personal Branding Blog.

Social media sites: Your friend or your enemy?

2013-03-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

When you build your personal brand you have to be consistent, and juggling several social media sites makes consistency quite the task. However, there are a few things you can do to make it easy on yourself. For instance, think about what you say and how often you post.

You should also be aware of a new trend in job interviews - asking for login information to social media accounts. Whether you agree with the practice or not, it is out there.

Facebook
Facebook is by far the biggest social media site with more than a billion monthly active users. Remember it is not only your friends who can find you. Future employers will look for your profile so be aware of your privacy settings.

Posting on Facebook is not a problem, but what you post might be. Do not be inappropriate, not even if it is simply a joke. Irony can be difficult to understand – especially in writing. Instead spend time on your background, and we don’t mean your hometown or parent’s names. Add your educational background, internships etc. and anything that can tell an employer what qualities you possess. Reduce yourself to only having appropriate pictures and do not post anything you will later regret - once it is online it will stay online.

LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a business network site 200 million users strong, and as stated in the last blog post, Tips and tricks from the PLU Career Development Office, LinkedIn is perhaps the most important social media site when it comes to building your personal brand.

LinkedIn’s main purposes are to improve your business network and display a resume. You should also also add a professional headshot and as much relevant information as you can. The main tip for LinkedIn is to connect, connect, connect. Connect with classmates and friends who will work in the same industry as you, join your school’s alumni group etc. Today, your network is often what gets you the interview in the first place, but do remember that quality is better than quantity.

Twitter
Twitter is the second largest social media site with an estimated 500 million users, so it is a perfect place for you to start or continue your personal brand. First of all, make sure you have the right name on Twitter. Having someone else taking “your name” makes it more difficult for you to keep a consistent online brand since you will have one name on Facebook and LinkedIn and another name on Twitter.

Again, fill out all of your information that can be used for branding purposes and follow people who tweet about your professional interest – not celebrities. Also be aware that anyone can look up your twitter account as long as they are signed up for Twitter, unless you lock down your profile, which has its own impact for employers since the majority of profiles are not private.

Let us leave you with one last piece of advice: Make sure your social media sites are linked to each other!

Tips and tricks from the PLU Career Development Office

2013-03-08T17:00:00.000-08:00

Talking about personal branding is easy. Understanding where to begin or who to ask for help is not as easy. To help you get on the right track, we interviewed Hannah Hardy from the PLU Career Development Office. She gave us tips, tricks and ways to build your brand.

According to Hannah, a personal brand is a “snapshot of who you are.” It is your story and what you want people to see. She mentioned several things to keep in mind, such as: your goals, desired opportunities and any other pieces of your personality you want employers to see. Your personal brand is reflected not only in person, but online as well.

LinkedIn is one of the most important places to create and share your personal brand online. Hannah said that this social media site allows you to “take control of your online presence.” This one site allows you to add in your professional and school work, link to personal websites and access your professional network. Two important tips for LinkedIn are: to completely fill out your profile and take a professional looking headshot.

To help better understand LinkedIn, the Career Development office is hosting a learning workshop. These weekly workshops will begin Tuesday, March 12 from 5-6 p.m. in Ramstad.

Career Development also offers resume drop in hours. You can stop by the office Monday – Friday between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to have your resume looked at and personalized tips to help focus your brand. There are additional hours Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Individual appointments with the counselors are always available if you have more specific questions about your brand.

To learn more about Career Development you can visit any of their online pages -
Website: www.plu.edu/career
LinkedIn Group: PLU Career Connections
Twitter: @workinglutes
Facebook: PLU Career Connections