If you’ve done some soul searching over the past couple years and are thinking about making a move in your career, you’ll need to look at your PDB – that’s your Personal Digital Brand.
Your Personal Digital Brand (PDB) is really an extension of your personal brand, which includes attributes such as your background, expertise, values, strengths, interests, and personality.
In a word, it’s your story. And it’s important.
When it comes to your job search, your PDB is how you market yourself and your accomplishments online. It encompasses your digital presence, including your professional network and thought leadership. If you need to create or update your PDB, enhancing your LinkedIn page and preparing for video interviews are two good places to start.
Dust off Your LinkedIn Profile
With so many recruiters searching for quality job candidates on LinkedIn, it’s more important than ever for your LinkedIn profile to quickly and clearly illustrate who you are and what your expertise is. If it’s been a few years since your last job search, here are some quick tips to update your profile:
- Use a high-quality, professional photo.
- Get a custom URL (it’s free – just click “Edit public profile and URL”).
- Add industry-relevant terms and keywords to your headline, summary, and experience sections. The headline is the most searchable section of your LinkedIn profile, so try your best to use all 120 characters allowed. Your experience section should echo your resume.
- Update your contact information.
- Add examples of your work to the Media section by uploading photos, videos, PowerPoint presentations, PDFs, etc.
- Ask for recommendations for each job position you’ve held.
- Enhance your work experience with additional sections, including volunteering, licenses and certifications, honors, and awards.
Stay Relevant
Once you update your LinkedIn profile, it’s important to stay active on the platform. This helps to build your professional network and engage with your connections.
Not sure where to start? Post a thought leadership piece along with your insights, comment on others’ posts to join conversations, congratulate others for their accomplishments, or share updates from your organization as a chance to talk about the work you’re doing.
Set aside 15-30 minutes twice a week to log on, post an update, and engage with others.
Practice Your Virtual Meeting Presence
Virtual interviews – an accelerating trend over the last couple of years – are here to stay. Here are some tips to prepare:
- Working from home may mean barking dogs, doorbells, and roommates/family members. If this is your reality, use a headset to minimize background noise.
- When it comes to lighting, opt for a small table lamp instead of bright windows or overhead lights. The lamp will provide soft, natural light.
- Position your computer at eye level and at a distance that allows your head, shoulders, and the midpoint of your chest to appear on screen.
- Set up in front of a simple background. Anything too busy may distract your interviewers. The same goes for your clothes.
Consult a Professional
Creating a Personal Digital Brand from scratch – or even simply updating your existing profile – can be a bit overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be, though.
The TalentBridge team can provide guidance, coaching, and more resources to help you along the way.
Meet the Author: Lori Crimmins
Chief Human Resources Officer