Your personal brand

1. Manage your ‘Net-Rep’

Your ‘internet reputation’ informs your professional reputation. Whilst many of us think of social media as being personal platforms, their content can inform the impression employers, colleagues and other professional peers have of you. It’s not always as sinister as employers using software to look you up in advance of interview, many of us will look someone up online before a meeting or an event. Ensure that your online presence matches the reputation you seek to cultivate in person. LinkedIn is a useful resource to allow you to create a strong professional ‘net’ profile.

2. Raise your profile

Networking both online and in person is a real opportunity to make valuable connections and gain insight into the sector or industry you work in. Get to know as many of your colleagues, and sector peers as possible, be it through corporate social events, industry networks or professional forums. A strong professional profile, within your organisation and across your industry, will position you as an ambassador for your organisation and establish you as an expert in your area of work. This will also ensure you are well positioned for hearing about opportunities, innovations and changes in your industry.

3. Do your research

This may seem obvious but it is an often overlooked step. Particularly for senior and executive level opportunities researching the role and organisation for which you are applying gives you the opportunity to determine whether it aligns with your own interests and aspirations. Being well informed is integral for making a strong application, and becomes particularly important at interview, as you’ll need to demonstrate genuine understanding about the role or company for which you’re claiming an interest. Your CV should be updated to demonstrate the fruits of this research too – how you represent your skills and experience should always be relevant and exciting.

4. Demonstrate, not assert

Whether you get hired, promoted or paid more is always dependent on your actual performance. Do you meet targets, motivate your team, remain positive, loyal, reliable and determined? Then you’re easy to identify as a performer. This is what employers will be looking for on your CV and in job applications. We encourage candidates to get to grips with STAR interview technique and outcomes focused CVs as good work can go unnoticed if you don’t demonstrate it.

5. Make yourself indispensable

To boost your value to an employer you need to get yourself noticed for the right reasons. You need to look at ways of improving your skills, knowledge and attitude while also building on your relationships, both internal and external. Get under the skin of your customers, their challenges, drivers and goals. Look at ways of up-skilling – it will evidence your commitment to your development and to the organisation.

6. Build on feedback

Other people very often have a different perception of you, than you have of yourself. Where you believe you’re quite brilliant at something, others might rate you less so, or vice versa. It makes good sense to regularly check with peers, mentors or management, what they feel your development areas are. Ask your boss for regular appraisals, debrief with your project team, and ask your recruitment consultant for feedback. Take constructive feedback and build on it.

7. Believe in yourself 

In tough times, it’s very easy to get despondent, particularly when you may have been made redundant or have been out of work for a while. As competition for roles increases, it’s crucial that you remain positive and confident. Take time to identify the skills and experience that make you valuable to an employer. At the executive level and for NED positions the outcome of a recruitment process is determined by a careful skills matching to fulfil a gap in the organisation, so if you are unsuccessful it is not to be taken personally.

8. Be realistic

While a clear focus and drive is essential, you need to be realistic and put your career aspirations into the context of the current market. Career openings and opportunities are naturally limited in a downturn, likewise, the skills and competencies that employers demand may also adapt.

9. Maintain momentum 

In any market it is important to keep your focus and energy levels up. For senior and executive candidates in high pressure or high profile roles it can be difficult to avoid getting burn out. Regular breaks from work, and taking care of your physical and mental wellbeing are crucial. Satisfaction and efficacy in your current role will benefit your job search and keep you on track for new opportunities.

10. Choose your recruitment consultancies wisely

The type of relationship that exists between you and your recruitment agency can have a significant impact on your career. We believe less is more. While we may have a vested interest in such a recommendation, you do too. Working closely with a specialist agency ensures you are well represented to the market and only receive relevant opportunities.