Getting ready to apply for professional roles a fresh graduate can feel daunting. You know you’ve got the ambition, the skills, and the degree to prove it all, but how do you stand out against other talented candidates?
The answer?
Your personal brand.
Here’s how to get started, so you’re ready to stand out and secure your dream graduate role:
1. Define your brand identity
Ask yourself: What do I want to be known for?
Think about your goals, and how your strengths line up to them. Maybe you want to work for a big-name business, doing something in data.
Next, write a short personal statement that sums it all up. Then you can use this to update your LinkedIn headline and summary, for example:
‘Helping global businesses tell stories through data visualisation.’
2. Check your digital footprint
Make sure to audit your online presence. Google yourself and see what comes up, make sure your social media is locked down and not visible to the masses, clean up old posts, and make your social media consistent with your professional identity. That messy profile picture you thought was hilarious? Might be time to change it.
Make sure you have a professional profile set up on LinkedIn. Keep it updated with a professional photo, accurate headline, and summary.
3. Create a portfolio
An online portfolio can be a great idea, especially if you want to get into a creative industry.
But a portfolio doesn’t just have to be for ‘creative’ work. Post about projects, case studies, or lessons you’ve learned from internships, past jobs, or even university coursework.
Documenting your learning journey shows growth and initiative, and gives you fresh content as you reflect back on past work.
4. Network and engage
Don’t be afraid to reach out to alumni, professionals, and peers in your field.
If you can, attend events, like webinars, exhibitions or meetups, and then share insights from what you learned on LinkedIn. Make sure to follow up with anyone you meet at events, building your professional network is important!
Networking doesn’t just mean commenting on others’ posts and messaging them. Share your own content with others, maybe an article you found insightful or some other helpful resource. But don’t try to hop on every trend – find your niche and what your network would be most interested in!
5. Keep learning
Learning doesn’t stop after graduation. You can take online courses, attend workshops, or even request your new employer sign you up for certifications so you can keep upskilling.
Share what you learn, it makes for engaging content and gives potential topics for discussion.
Remember, building your personal brand doesn’t happen overnight. Don’t be discouraged by ignored invitations or low like counts.
Keep up with it, your future self will thank you!