Branding is a term that is typically associated with companies who are trying to sell their goods or services. It refers to the strategies used to give companies their own, easily recognizable identity to differentiate them from competitors. Branding can also be very effective for job seekers, as you are essentially selling your expertise and personality (rather than a product or service). It can include your presentation on social media, your personal website or blog, as well as your resume and cover letter. Learn more about the benefits of personal branding for job seekers.

Increases Your Online Visibility

Hiring managers are increasingly performing informal online screenings of candidates via search engine and social media, and may even be a little hesitant about candidates who have no online presence. Personal branding can empower you to make the best impression possible on hiring managers and recruiters. A candidate who is more memorable in an online search, such as due to an active and professional-based Twitter account, will be more likely to get contacted and considered.

Shows Your Potential

Resumes are simply lists of responsibilities and achievements, but they don’t truly demonstrate a candidate’s overall skills. You may have the talent and ability without your work history fitting the mold of the ideal candidate. An online portfolio (such as LinkedIn’s “add media” feature) or personal website or blog allows you to upload relevant documents, images, or videos that show your professional strengths. Include the URL on your resume, email signature, and business cards (if applicable).

Humanizes You

Fitting in with a company’s culture is a major part of an employee’s success; therefore, personal branding shouldn’t just showcase you as a professional, but you as an actual person and someone they could picture working with – rather than a “generic candidate.” Inject your personality into all aspects of the job seeking process, such as your resume, cover letter, and interview. Determine the two-to-three traits that most define yourself, and make them known in your interactions with hiring managers. The goal should be for them to clearly identify you afterwards.

Personal branding is just one factor in your job search journey, and won’t be effective if you aren’t finding the right opportunities for which to pursue. Professional Alternatives can be a valuable resource for your job hunting needs by getting you in touch with the Houston employers looking for candidates like yourself. Apply online to get started with Professional Alternatives.

You may not have considered it before, but if you are having trouble landing an interview, your social media profiles could be to blame.

Today, prospective employers, hiring managers, and recruiters often use social media to identify viable candidates. They may also check your profiles to verify things you have said or to find out more about you before your interview.

According to a study conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Career Builder, a full 70 percent of employers use social media as part of their vetting process. Of those, 57 percent have discovered reasons not to hire a candidate, based on things they found on their social profiles.

And before you run out and delete your social profiles altogether, almost half of all respondents say that if they could not find the candidate online, they probably wouldn’t contact them at all.

What do your social profiles say about you?

Social media can help or harm your job search

If you are in the midst of a job search and trying to present a professional image, your social profiles could either help or hurt your chances of getting what you want.

Here are some examples of the types of posts that would cause an employer to pass on you altogether:

• Inappropriate, lewd, or provocative photos
• Posts about using drugs, drinking, or excessive behavior
• Racist comments, photos, or activities
• Discriminatory remarks related to gender, religion, or age
• Any connection to criminal behavior
• Overly argumentative or aggressive behavior
• Bad-mouthing a current or past employer
• Publishing confidential information about a coworker or previous employer
• Speaking ill of a coworker
• Misleading work experience or outright lies
• Poor communication skills
• Too-frequent or obsessive posts
• Unprofessional screen name

When Social Media Helps

If your social profiles are professional, respectful, and represent an authentic version of yourself, they can be very helpful.

Keep your social profiles up-to-date and keep your public posts respectful, and your social media could actually help you land a job.

Here are some examples of positive social media content – at least in the context of getting hired:

• Your profile verifies your background and qualifications
• It shows your creativity and range of interests
• Your profile conveys a professional image
• You articulate your thoughts effectively
• Your profile shows awards, accolades, endorsements, and milestones
• You interact with companies or influences in your field or have interacted with the company in question

Take Control of Your Online Presence

To ensure you are not on the receiving end of an unfortunate social media discovery, be sure to police your online persona. Keep your professional profiles up-to-date and always put your best foot forward.

Do a periodic search to see what others are seeing, and do your best to clean up anything that could be perceived as unfavorable. Delete old profiles you do not use anymore and always be mindful of what you post and where you are tagged. No matter how long ago it may have been, these things have a way of resurfacing.

Are you looking for your next career challenge? With offices in Dallas and Houston, Professional Alternatives is ready to help. Reach out today to get started.

Onboarding new employees is costly and time-consuming. If you happen to make a bad hire, you can double—or even triple—that number.

To better focus your efforts and reduce the time and cost of hiring, engaging a professional staffing agency might be what you need to reach your objectives.

Houston executive recruiters Professional Alternatives can improve your chances of locating the right candidate for your needs. The applicants we present to you are pre-screened and fully vetted before they even walk through your door. This way, you can be sure they are already a good match for your organization.

Our recruiters can connect you with full-time employees, temporary, or temp-to-hire. We also place salaried professionals and project consultants, all according to your needs.

How to get the most out of your staffing agency experience

Working with a Houston staffing agency like Professional Alternatives will alleviate a lot of the stress of interviewing and onboarding a new employee. However, there are specific tips and strategies we encourage you to apply to make the process even easier:

1.      Be clear and direct about what you need

Establish a clear timeline for your hiring needs and be precise about the skills and level of experience you expect. To get a better impression of what your workspace and company culture is like, we will like to see your location first-hand. This helps our recruiters understand what kind of person will do well in your organization and also what type of employee might best suit your needs.

2.      Look for a staffing agency that specializes in your niche

If you are hiring accounting staff, you should partner with a staffing agency that has had success in this area. In many cases, our recruiters are people who have had experience in your industry. This means they have insider knowledge and a level of expertise that is incredibly beneficial. You will find qualified candidates much faster and more accurately than you would if you were to work with a staffing firm that does not have this advantage.

3.      Keep us in the loop

The recruitment journey does not end when the candidate is hired. Our staffing firm has a vested interest in the success of the process from both sides, and we want to make sure both you and your new hire are settling in well. We encourage you to reach out several times over the first couple of weeks to let us know how things are going. Providing us with feedback helps us understand and serve you better.

4.      If things aren’t working out

Despite best efforts from every side, sometimes things don’t work out the way you had hoped. If this is the case, we need to rectify it right away. To ensure your complete satisfaction, we provide our clients with a service guarantee and can send a replacement, often within hours of you notifying us. You will never be billed for any work that is not up to standard.

These are just a few of the ways a Houston executive recruiter can help. Our primary goals are to help you save time and money and alleviate the stress of hiring new staff. Reach out today to speak to one of our staffing specialists!