How can you get recruiters to notice your personal brand?

Be clear about who you are and what it is you want. Don’t try and please everyone. This leads to confusion. Have a clear message.

Knowing your target audience is critical in defining what you want to say. With all my clients, this is my starting point. What sort of jobs are you targeting? Industry? Location? Seniority? Who would be seeing your profile in the first instance? Although you may want to come to the attention of the CEO, they are less likely to be searching LinkedIn. Perhaps it is the junior researcher that will find your profile in the first instance. Include them as part of your target audience.

On LinkedIn, you have two key areas to include your personal statement - on your LinkedIn header and in the About section. I also recommend you include an overview on your CV that snapshots your expertise and states what you are looking for.

My background is as much in marketing as it is in executive search and career mentoring. Busy executives can struggle with maintaining multiple social media channels. As in business, the rule of thumb is to choose one and do it well. LinkedIn is excellent for business and corporate roles and a portfolio website for those who are more creative. X (previously known as Twitter) favours networks in academia, journalism and government.

Consistency is king. Get involved, show up and get your name out there. Share your thoughts and opinions, offer to help those you think could benefit from your insight or expertise. You never quite know who you’ll ‘bump’ into online.

I couldn’t agree more. I have built some fantastic relationships purely though LinkedIn with industry professionals I have never worked with and we bounce ideas off of one another. I really value these relationships and while we don’t necessarily have a business relationship I do recommend candidates and others to these individuals based on my experiences with these individuals.

The key to networking is twofold - purpose and value. So, make it relevant to you and your audience. Joining industry or professional groups provides a platform to share ideas. It provides you the opportunity to give as much as you get. Adding value to recruiters needs a bit more imagination - perhaps the recruiter is stuck on finding a certain candidate, and you can introduce someone from your network. Maybe the recruiter could do with a LinkedIn testimonial on their service to you.

Your resume is a perfect platform to highlight your achievements; however, they can get lost if you are not succinct with your information. I see too often that people want to put absolutely everything onto their job applications. For corporate and business positions, too much information dilutes what you need to highlight. Showcase your more recent achievements and scrap anything from last century!

You have to blow your own trumpet in a crowded market. It might seem strange, and uncomfortable but ultimately you know you… if you aren’t too sure what to say, ask for recommendations or perhaps ask others to share how they see you? Never miss an opportunity to promote yourself. I constantly see candidates, particularly women, who don’t always share some of their achievements as they don’t want to be seen as arrogant which blows my mind.