Frequently recruiters get so busy looking for candidates with a solid personal brand. As a result, they neglect their branding efforts. A personal brand is all about how you market yourself. It’s what people think of when they think of you.
Though it’s tough for recruiters to find personal time outside of their daily tasks, developing a personal brand can be incredibly helpful in increasing satisfaction with the role–and earning potential within it.
Here are four ways recruiters can build their personal brands.
1) Know your personal strengths and weaknesses—know yourself!
If there’s one thing every recruiter should do first, this is it. Knowing both your personal strengths and weaknesses allows you to step out of your comfort zone and push beyond boundaries you might not otherwise reach on your own. When recruiters know who they are, where they excel, and what value they bring to their market, they can charge more for their services and increase their long-term value.
2) Create content that gets you noticed.
Start blogging, podcasting, tweeting–get personal and share your personal brand with the world. The more unique you are about yourself, what you do, your experiences in consulting, interviewing techniques, etc., the better your personal brand will be. Your personal branding efforts should center around these 3 P’s: personalize it (be personal), be passionate about it (demonstrate passion), and promote it (show how to get involved).
Sharing content on social media is a great way to be seen by potential clients. Learning about the various platforms and how you can best communicate your brand of information will help increase engagement from those following you.
Social media can be a great way to build your personal brand and make connections, but it’s essential for recruiters not only post the good stuff. They need control over what they share, so there is an opportunity for authenticity – no skimming! Building up experience will show how strong you are as well in taking the initiative on this new frontier where people expect transparency from those who want their business.”
3) Engage in online conversations.
Social media is a two-way street. Never be one of those people who only put out their content but can’t be bothered to notice anybody else’s content. By engaging in online discussions through social networks like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Reddit, recruiters can help establish their personal brands while also establishing valuable connections to others within their industry or across other sectors that could prove beneficial down the road to meeting future employment needs.
Finding ways to engage in personal branding begins with a recruiter thinking about how they want to be perceived by others within their industry and taking proactive steps to ensure that personal brand reflects positively on them. So take the time to make meaningful comments on other people in your industry who you would like to notice you.
4) Develop a personal value proposition (PVP)
A personal value proposition is an individualized, specific statement about:
1) What you know
2) Who you know
3) Who you do business
4) Why clients hire you
5) How to reach out to influencers that can help expand your rolodex and exponentially increase exposure for your personal brand.
A personal value proposition should be clear, concise, and speak directly to the needs of those receiving it.
Lastly, remember that personal branding is a marathon, not a sprint. It is a long-term play that pays dividends over time. So take the long-term view and be patient.
Be prepared to continually reevaluate, update and communicate your personal brand to others in a way that proves you are genuine. Identify opportunities better to define personal branding through both online and offline channels. Doing so will set you up for long-term career success in the staffing industry.
