Landing Your Dream IT Job: The 4 Pillars of Personal Branding (Part 3)

Publish Date

August 22, 2019

Personal branding social media optimization
Jump to: Intro | 1. Identity | 2. Social | 3. Online | 4. Career

3. Online

Over 3 billion people now use the internet. It’s a chance to reach and connect with people you may have otherwise never interacted with. Ideally, your digital presence should act as a hub for your accomplishments and unique personality.

When recruiters and hiring managers scour the web for qualified candidates, this is their first impression of you. Your online brand could make or break someone’s decision to reach out about a job opportunity.

Here are the most important things to consider when building your online presence with an IT career focus:

1. LinkedIn

LinkedIn continues to be the number one platform for recruiting, so make sure you take the steps to stand out as a top candidate:

    • Have a recent, approachable profile picture.
    • Be engaged – don’t just be a lurker! Instead of simply clicking the like button, add your own comments and share articles about topics you enjoy! Talk about your current projects, local events, and latest professional interests.
    • Complete your entire profile; you’ll be significantly more likely to receive opportunities through LinkedIn if you do. Check out our blog post 5 Steps to Making Your LinkedIn Profile Job Ready for guidance.

2. GitHub

Engineers and developers, this one’s for you! Your GitHub profile acts as a repository for your personal (non-proprietary) projects, and it can give you a crucial boost when competing for a job.

    • Here’s a great resource for optimizing your GitHub profile and showing off your work to recruiters and potential employers.
    • Need some inspiration for your online brand? Check out the #PersonalBranding tag on GitHub!

3. Website or Online Portfolio

Everyone sends a resume, but websites can make you stand out among a pool of candidates. Websites are also much more versatile when it comes to showcasing your personality and non-technical characteristics.

    • Include your resume, samples of your work, and an “about me” section.
    • If you don’t know how to design a site using custom code, no worries! You can easily create a personal website or online portfolio using services like WordPress page builders, Wix, or Squarespace.
    • You can also build a site using GitHub Pages.

4. Articles

Writing your own content positions you as an expert in your field and shows you are passionate about your work and interests. It gives people a closer look at the way you think, your personal voice, and details about your life. And let’s be honest – it’s impressive! Popular places to publish your musings include:

    • LinkedIn
    • Quora
    • Medium
    • Your personal website

5. Social Media Platforms

Think back to the first pillar – your identity; your hobbies and interests. Does your social media activity reflect these to the rest of the world? Would you rather post another selfie, or a picture of the computer you built from scratch? Would you rather spend all your time watching other people on Twitch, or stream your own video for a change?

Make social media a productive outlet, rather than regarding it as mindless activity.

Try…

    • Creating mini tutorials and/or time lapses of your pastimes
    • Following educational topics
    • Starting a new social media account(s) solely for professional and/or creative endeavors
    • Live streaming with a friend


Go to the final section: Career

 

Ready to take the next step in your IT career?

The Select Group empowers you to reach your professional goals. We leverage our connections to market your skills and open doors to opportunities where you can make an impact. Ready to show off your new and improved online brand?

Submit a resume with TSG, or browse our current job openings.

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