These days, when you apply for a job, one of the first things employers will do is look at your social media profiles. We hear the horror stories all too often – people missing out on jobs because the employer has gone online and seen something that has caused them to instantly remove the candidate from the shortlist. This is where we see the true importance of personal brand when you’re looking for a job; you need to present yourself in a professional manner, both in person and online. Throughout my recruitment career, I’ve seen many examples of personal branding for jobseekers (the good, the bad and the ugly), so here are my tips on getting it right. Developing Your Personal Brand Online What employers see on social media can make or break the outcome of a job search. While positive and professional-looking content can create a good impression, it’s the negative things, such as unfortunate images from parties, venting about past employers or controversial comments, that tend to stand out the most. Candidates need to be more aware of what they’re posting on social media – whether that’s LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or anything else; whatever the medium, everything you share publicly online contributes to building a personal brand in one way or another. To get an idea of how you’re currently coming [...]

You made it through the recruitment process successfully, and now it’s time to start the new job you worked so hard to get. As exciting as the first day is, the thought of meeting new co-workers often leads to anxiety as well. One of the most important, and often most stressful, aspects of starting off on the right foot is knowing how to connect with new colleagues in your company and begin building new relationships. To help you make a great first impression, here are our top tips on how to break the ice at a new workplace. Be the First to Introduce Yourself As tempting as it may be, the first day is not the time to hunker down and keep to the background. To make a good first impression, it’s important to make the effort to be the first to say “hello” and introduce yourself. Even though an induction or office tour often provides the opportunity for a quick greeting, try not to rely on these alone – if you get the chance, engage in conversations at the coffee machine, lunchroom or when asking something from another team member. Knowing what to say on your first day at work can be distressing, however, if you prepare a ‘go-to’ introduction ahead of time, you’ll find you can seamlessly connect with new colleagues. Practice [...]

Are you ready to take the next step in your career? Many of us are gunning for advancement in our current roles, but opportunities aren’t always easy to come by, especially when you work for an SME. Whilst moving on to a larger organisation is always an option, it’s not the only way to step up. Smaller businesses offer their own unique possibilities for professional growth – if you know how to find them. Climbing the career ladder in an SME often means looking beyond a job title or promotion to find alternative paths for progression. Whilst having a linear career trajectory was commonplace in the past, we’ve now evolved from a corporate ladder to a corporate lattice— where a professional’s career trajectory may not always be linear, but instead, diagonal or horizontal. With this in mind, here are our top career growth tips to help you identify your next step when working for an SME. Be Pragmatic Firstly, it’s important to have realistic expectations and stay open-minded. A small company with fewer management roles will likely have limited opportunity, and no matter how well you perform, an SME simply may not have the resources to offer a standard promotion. There often isn’t a linear path to move up the ladder within this kind of organisation, so it’s important to be pragmatic and think [...]