Your hard work, your engaging online presence, and all that networking has paid off. You’ve got the job–maybe even your dream job. Now you can relax… right?
Right. For about a weekend. Then, it’s time to put your network–and your brand–back to work.
Here are five simple steps you can take to make sure your personal brand doesn’t slink back into the shadows until the next time you need to find a job… but instead continues to grow and serve you well.
1. Publicly thank your network
You’ve seen some success, but it isn’t all about you. To everyone who helped you get to where you are now, thank them for their contribution! Maybe it was an introduction, support via social media or a kind word or two. Maybe it was a consistent hit of the ‘Like’ or ‘ReTweet’ buttons. Regardless–you have a lot of people to thank. Be grateful and humble.
2. Blog about your journey
With all the negativity out there, choose to be a role model. Stand up as a success story. Blog about your effort to find employment. What worked? What did not work? Save the next person some steps, and provide hope by openly sharing your story–and become known as an engaging expert in the process.
3. Get active as an ally
Take your blog a step further: actively help others find work or success. Join a general Twitter chat like #jobhuntchat or #InternPro. Rather focus on your industry or local area? Work with an industry association or social media group (i.e., #PRSSA on Twitter or any one of hundreds of LinkedInGroups) or your alma mater to help students. Get active–and be perceived as a leader and facilitator.
4. Keep communicating
We all know the type: they hang out with a specific group until they get what they need–and then they vanish. Don’t be that guy. Stick with what got you here–including maintaining your communication channels. Do you need to be there every week, or every day? No–you have a job now! But if you just disappear, your personal brand–over time–will suffer. Keep talking… you have friends out there.
5. Update and leverage
This one sounds like a no-brainer, but this version of the disappearing act happens all the time. We’ve seen far too many build up their LinkedIn network, steadfastly maintain their Facebook accounts, and accrue hundreds of Twitter followers–and then, once they have a job, completely stop updating their profiles. They don’t even add their new job, let alone leverage their personal brand in support of their new employer! Update your profiles…then take advantage of the brand you’ve worked to create!
Your dedication to personal branding goes well past getting a job offer. Stay consistent. Remain committed. And let your personal brand continue to work for you.
Author
Mark Babbitt, the CEO and Founder of YouTern, is a serial entrepreneur and mentor and a passionate supporter of Gen Y talent. Mark contributes to 12Most.com, Glassdoor and Business Insider. He has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Mashable, Forbes and Under30CEO regarding internships, higher education’s role in preparing emerging talent for the workforce and career development. Recently, Mark was honored to be named to GenJuice’s list of “Top 100 Most Desirable Mentors”. You can contact Mark via email or on Twitter:@YouTernMark.
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