When setting out to build or refine your own personal reputation and personal brand, your online presence can simply no longer be ignored. “Nobody is going to look or find that information on me online.” No? Are you kidding me? If you today would be about to hire somebody yourself, wouldn't you Google that individual's name at least once? And then dig deeper if something catches your attention? I bet you would.
Still, your online first impression, however important that may be, is only the first gate you need to pass to go places. What is critical next is to have an entrepreneurial mindset about yourself and your whole career. In the book, The Start-up of You, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha argues for a radical move away from the notion that you will be a lifer at a major corporation being promoted every few years. Instead, we are entering a more foreign and uncertain territory in which we have to adapt and reinvent ourselves and our personal brands continuously to stay with the times and to take advantage of the best opportunities for our skills.
Not surprisingly, Hoffman and Casnocha suggest that it takes a good network to be successful in this regard and that you have to concern yourself with not only staying in touch with your closest allies, but also extending your reach and access to opportunities by also having many so-called weak ties in your network. The authors particularly stress the value of maintaining ones curiosity to “court serendipity and good randomness.” Clearly, social networks can help a curious person explore opportunities.
So, how are you reinventing yourelf this year?
It is both alarming and exciting that our information is available at the tips of our fingers. If we want to fill in the blanks, we need only Google it. If you haven’t invested in your online identity, it’s frightening. If you have, you are excited at the prospect an employer will find you and connect.
Thanks Sheri, true indeed that it is both alarming and exciting at the same time and it is surprisingly many who still pay little, if any, attention to their online presence.
Great post . I teach a similar course on Social Media marketing . I am also working with students on personal branding http://www.entwinedigital.com/2010/02/who-is-juliet-6-steps-to-create-your-personal-brand/ Let’s connect I am in VA
Good to hear, Ira, and thanks for your invitation to connect and link to your highly relevant post. I may even do the detour via Bedford when I drive down to Charlottesville next time 🙂