Whether you’re an experienced tech professional or just starting out in your career, you will need to be familiar with the need to have a strong professional profile. It’s also just as important to have a great CV and a well-crafted covering letter but if you want to stand out from other job hunters then investing time in your personal brand can be the difference between getting an interview and hitting the reject pile.
Having a multifaceted and finely tuned personal brand will allow you to control what others see and read about you and can help you showcase and demonstrate your technical knowledge and expertise. This is particularly important in tech and IT as developments and innovations tend to move more rapidly than in most other sectors. If you want to get ahead, you need to show you not only understand the latest updates, software and processes but can keep pace too.
However, it isn’t all about controlling your online presence, it’s just as important to network offline as well. So much of the tech sector is conducted online but relationships with people you meet offline can prove to be much more powerful.
So if you’re thinking of building a personal brand in tech and IT, here are 3 useful tips
How to create a personal plan.
- Stay on top of your skills
- Go to conferences
- Clear up your social media
Stay on top of your skills.
The world of technology moves fast and it is vital that you move with it. Identify your skills and your specialisms and make sure you keep up-to-date with industry trends by following important publications and announcements. You’ll also need to stay on top of your own qualifications and ensure that you’re constantly adapting to new updates, standards and requirements.
If your skills and qualifications are up to date, you should be able to share your advice and experiences with others online. Whether you blog about your experiences with a new software update or share tips related to a course you’ve studied, you will not only show employers that are you knowledgeable about your field but will also show you are serious about your profession. Also, whatever you decide to write about, always ensure you promote your work on your personal social channels and remember to use the correct industry hashtags.
Attend conferences and events.
The importance of meeting people face-to-face at industry events cannot be underestimated, especially as 78% of recruiters say their best candidates come through referrals. It’s a great way of growing your networks and building relationships and is particularly suited to the tech industry with its wide variety of opportunities and ever-changing trends.
Networking gives you a chance to meet like-minded people as well as key influencers in your sector. It’s also an opportunity to keep up-to-date with industry developments and become inspired and energised by speakers in your field. When it comes to tech events in the UK, NDC London is one which will appeal to developers as it usually throws up a great variety of speakers and workshops. Other standout events include the Agile content conference, Thinking Digital and London Technology Week.
Looking for more personal branding advice? Check out our five-minute video guide here!
Clean up your social presence.
As a tech professional you will be well-versed in the advantages of having a strong online presence but sometimes social media can be neglected. If your job stops you from engaging during the day, then set aside time in the evenings or weekends to make sure your profiles are up to date and anything you publish is relevant and insightful.
If you’re going to start investing more time in social, you’ll want to ensure that your profiles are audited first. It’s therefore important to review your privacy settings on a regular basis and make sure your LinkedIn profile doesn’t contradict anything stated in CVs or cover letter. It’s also important to keep “life-casting” to a minimum so try and fill your timelines with comments on industry trends and links to any work you may have published rather than anything too personal.
