personal branding Tag

[caption id="attachment_18423" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Make those changes!"] [/caption] Transform your headline If you’re still allowing LinkedIn to auto-populate your Headline with your current job title you’re missing out. The most dynamic and impactful profiles use their Headline statement to communicate a powerful branding statement. With a 120-character limit you’ll need to choose your words wisely being sure to include a mix of relevant key words, impactful (and truthful!) adjectives and as much detail as you and about your niche if you have one. Customise your URL When you signed up for an account with LinkedIn you will have been allocated a generic URL containing your name followed by a series of numbers. You can boost your brand and search ranking results in LinkedIn by customising your URL. Keep in mind that you will need to have a minimum of five and a maximum of 20 characters. Learn more about the reasons why this is...

28 August, 2018 /

[caption id="attachment_18417" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Making LinkedIn your own is easy"] [/caption] When you first set up your LinkedIn account, you are allocated a randomly selected URL consisting of your name followed by a bunch of numbers. This not only makes your URL long, it is difficult to share with others and looks unprofessional. Since most employers will review your LinkedIn profile as part of the hiring process, it’s vital you do everything you can to ensure your profile shines. Customising your LinkedIn profile URL is a simple and quick way to shows: You’re a professional Have good attention to detail You care about making a good impression Another reason why you should customise your LinkedIn profile is that it makes you easier to find which is particularly important if you have a common name. Customising your LinkedIn URL can make the difference between coming up in the first page of search results for your name rather...

16 August, 2018 /

[caption id="attachment_18513" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="LinkedIn is a powerful networking tool"] [/caption] We've all done it. Logged in to LinkedIn, set up a profile, connected with some friends, old work colleagues maybe some family members and not returned for months or in some cases, years. The most common responses I get from people when I ask them if they're on LinkedIn are: "Oh yeah I am, I have a profile but it's not up to date and I haven't been on there for years." "I used to be on LinkedIn but I didn't see the point of it so I deleted my account." The whole premise behind LinkedIn is that it is a professional networking tool. But the thing is, if you are not using it to its full potential, it fails to be effective. That's no fault of the tool itself, but of the user of the tool - that's you and me. So what exactly...

25 February, 2018 /

[caption id="attachment_18534" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Optimising your CV is the best way to ensure you get your next interview"] [/caption] 1. Layout Rather than try and fill every inch of the page, allow some white space so the reader can comfortably read your CV. Adjust the spacing of your document where necessary to make sections easier to identify and read. Make sure you set your margins wide enough to allow space around the borders of the page and if including a footer, be sure there is enough space between it and the body of your CV. 2. Title If you have significant skills and experience, a good way for you to stand out from the crowd is to insert a title near the top of your CV.  For example, you could include a title like: Experienced Management Accountant to instantly brand yourself as such. 3. Keywords One of the biggest mistakes people make is neglecting to include relevant...

05 January, 2018 /

[caption id="attachment_18570" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Tips for the perfect CV"] [/caption] Here's 10 steps to help you towards creating the perfect CV: 1. PERSONAL INFORMATION: Include your name, address, Email and contact telephone number/s. You do not need to include your middle name. 2. SUMMARY OR TITLE Include a single paragraph summarising your expertise and experience or a title that describes you and directly matches the role you are applying for. 3. SKILLS AND STRENGTHS Bullet point your skills and strengths to make it easy for the reader quickly identify what value you can bring to the role and to the company. 4. EMPLOYMENT HISTORY List your previous roles in reverse chronological order being sure to include a description of the company and your role along with your duties and responsibilities. 5. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS For each role, you should include 3-6 key achievements that demonstrate your competencies and excellence. Be sure to quantify achievements wherever possible e.g. Boosted productivity by 60% through...

05 October, 2017 /

[caption id="attachment_18573" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Have you updated your profile lately?"] [/caption] How long has it been since you updated your LinkedIn profile? If your answer is months or years (shame on you), now is the time to turn the spotlight on your LinkedIn profile and give it the shiny New Year’s makeover it deserves. Here are ten ways to make sure your LinkedIn profile stands out from the crowd: 1. ADD A RECENT PHOTO If your LinkedIn profile photo is more than 2 years old, it is out of date. Make sure your photo is not one of you out on the town holding a wineglass, but one that portrays you as the professional you really are. 2. MAKE YOUR PROFESSIONAL HEADLINE WORK FOR YOU Although your entire profile should be keyword-rich, making your Personal Headline as keyword-rich as possible will go a long way towards getting noticed. When someone searches for someone using key words...

25 September, 2017 /

[caption id="attachment_18577" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The portfolio career life"] [/caption] Career portfolios, also referred to as professional portfolios, are a valuable career development tool. Here's a guide to help you understand what a career portfolio is, how to create one and how to use it to help you get ahead in your career. What is a career portfolio? A career portfolio is a collection of materials evidencing your qualifications, skills, experience and personal qualities. Used as a marketing tool, your career portfolio is a powerful visual aid which allows you to showcase your career accomplishments and provide insight into your capabilities. It can be used to apply to jobs, apply to college or training program and to justify seeking a pay rise. In addition to demonstrating your skills and abilities, it allows you to keep track of your own personal and professional development. What does a career portfolio look like? There are two types of career portfolio:...

15 September, 2017 /

[caption id="attachment_16775" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Thinking of changing career?"] [/caption] Changing jobs is challenging enough but changing to a whole new career can be overwhelming.  One of the biggest hurdles faced by career changers is how to make a smooth and successful transition to their new career.  To help, we’ve put together this step-by-step guide to make the transition to your new career an easier one. Research A vital first step in changing careers is to research your new career. Speak to people in the industry to gain a realistic insight in to the culture, conditions, opportunities and challenges. As part of your research you should aim to identify any skills gaps, transferable skills and any qualifications or certifications required for your new career. Find out what others in your chosen new career have done for example, what are their backgrounds? What was their progression route? What qualifications do they have? Develop a plan A good...

05 September, 2017 /

[caption id="attachment_18628" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Even in tough times you can advance your career"] [/caption] You might think tough economic times mean that any plans for advancing your career are on hold. In fact, the current economic climate provides an ideal opportunity for you to take advantage of the situation. Here are some ideas to help you advance your career: Gain new skills We have all heard the countless stories about dwindling numbers of workers and the increased workloads within organisations. If you find yourself in this situation, rather than seeing it as an overwhelming threat, try looking at the opportunities the situation presents. Taking on extra duties could enable you to develop new skills which will make you more marketable or provide leverage to ask for a pay rise and higher status. Grasp any opportunities that arise to job shadow or receive on-the-job training and mentoring from other staff members. Be on the lookout...

25 June, 2017 /

The following blog post currently features at The Careers Blog at Guardian Careers [caption id="attachment_18650" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Is the grass greener on the other side? One of the first steps you can take is identifying what you want from your career. Photograph: Oleg Popov/REUTERS"] [/caption] Many of us will change careers or consider doing so at some point in our lives, so it's important to ensure that the transition is well executed. The key to making a successful transition is self-awareness and planning. When someone comes to me for help with changing careers, one of the first things I do is help them identify their values. Some of the questions I might ask include: What's important to you? What gives meaning to your life? What are your personal goals? What do you want from your career?   The self-awareness and understanding gained from the answers to these questions provides a solid foundation for a career action plan. A school teacher, Anne, came...

23 April, 2017 /
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