Building your career in a digital world is both super exciting and a little intimidating at the same time. Why? Because there are now so many ways to create a positive impression online to grow your career. It can be hard to know where to start.
On the other hand, in a digital world there are some simple ways to damage your career without even realising it. This article will teach you how to improve your career building efforts in a digital world. It’s easy once you know the elements you need to focus on.
Top career building tips for a digital world
In addition to being a stand out performer, there are a number of things you can do to build a highly successful career in a digital world. You should take advantage of all of the relevant digital channels available to you to stand out in the digital crowd.
Whether you are looking for work right now or not, building your professional brand online is essential to building a rewarding career.
Let’s take a look at some top tips for career building in a digital world.
Your resume is just the start
Once upon a time your resume told your entire professional story. That is no longer the case. Sure, creating an impressive and professional resume is still important. But it is just one element of your career building efforts in a digital world.
That is because there are now so many other things that contribute to your personal brand (also sometimes called your professional brand). These other elements are explored in the sections below.
Related Reading: Developing Compelling Key Achievements for your Resume
Use your social media accounts wisely
Unless you haven been living under a rock, you will know that social media is super popular with people of all ages. Now, you might be thinking “My social media accounts don’t have anything to do with my career”. But you are wrong.
Employers look at prospective employer social media accounts all the time. And it is super important that they like what they see when they find you. So whether you use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok or any number of other social media accounts, now is the time to take stock of the impression you are creating.
If you only use your social media accounts for personal reasons, that is perfectly OK. Use the privacy settings on each account to lock your content down.
On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with keeping your social media accounts in the public domain. Employers love getting an insight into your personality and life beyond work.
Just make sure that you check all of your social media account content including photos and videos. Take a quick look back over comments you have made on your own accounts and the accounts of others.
Employers will be turned off by foul language, discriminatory opinions and unkind sentiments. Remove any content of this nature if you are at all serious about building your career.
Related Reading: Facebook for professionals – Friend or Foe
Related Reading: Why Employers Look at your Social Media Accounts
Connect online
To build your career in a digital world you need to make useful connections with others in your industry. The most useful place to start building your online connections is on digital networking sites like LinkedIn.
When you connect with other people online, you increase your online visibility. You become front of mind with people in your professional network. That is great news when new roles pop up that you might be suitable for.
Building your online network takes time and consistent effort. So clear some time in your diary each week to connect with others. Before long your network will have grown exponentially which means your career prospects will have too.
Related Reading: Professional Networking – Who Knows What You Know
Related Reading: Social Networking – Build your Professional Brand
Make online contributions
It can be a little intimidating when you first think about “putting yourself out there” online. But contributing in some way online helps to improve your online visibility and your career prospects. Why? Because before people hire you, they are likely to take a peek at what they can find out about you online first.
You can make online contributions that build your professional reputation. Here are some examples on online contributions to not only benefit your reputation, but your career prospects too:
- Comment on other people’s LinkedIn posts where you have something intelligent to add to the conversation
- Create your own blog posts or articles that will add value to others in your sector. Cross reference those posts on each of your other social media accounts
- Create infographics or How To Guides that others in your industry can learn from. Post these on your LinkedIn account or on your social media accounts
- Post keynote presentations on your personal website or LinkedIn account for others to view
Embrace a digital approach to career building
Career building in a digital world looks a lot different to what it did even ten years ago. You have so many new digital platforms to use when building your professional reputation that improve your online visibility and career prospects.
Take the time to create a plan to grow your digital footprint and online reputation and you will set yourself up to enjoy a thriving career.