Young Professional's Toolkit

When I decided to change my career path, I realized the importance of having a professional brand. I use the term "brand" because, with the rise of Google, it became super easy to learn everything about a person just by having their full name. We're in a time where companies will ask for your social media handles during the job application process. As much as you try to lock your profile or make "finstas" (fake Instagram accounts), this information is still easily accessible to parties that are looking for it. Every single thing you put out there can be used as a reflection of your values and beliefs. Losing out on an opportunity because of tweets from those college days that in hindsight may have been inappropriate? You hate to see it.

So what's the solution? Yes, you could try and pretend you're one of the few people in the world not on social media. But that's just limiting your own opportunities. Instead, I recommend using this new age of the internet to your advantage. If you play your cards right, you can set yourself up in a way where every time someone googles you( and they will Google you), that what they find are an accurate representation of you and your professional goals. If you're a recent college grad, someone just entering the workforce or even trying to make a career change (like me), check out these different tools that you can use to attract your next job opportunity.

1. New Email Address

It all starts here. This will be the primary method of communication for job applications, networking opportunities, everything. While you could use your university email address, it's always good to have a fresh start(this way your inbox won't be clogged up with all the promotional emails you signed up for the last time you went shopping). Sign up on Gmail (bonus point if know how to create an email with your own website, but we'll get to that later) and use a combination of your own full name. Use this for any and all professional communication or applications.

2. Professional Looking Headshot

Instagram photos are fresh and all, but do you really want the first impression you give a potential employer to be that all there is to you are colorful animal filtered selfies? Of course not. No, we shouldn't judge a book solely by its cover, but first impressions do matter. So why not put your best foot forward. Even better, this doesn't have to be expensive! Grab your friend with the most steady hands, put on a smart outfit, shoot with your phone in front of a plain backdrop and with a little bit of touching up from a photo editing app you'll be set.

3. Curated Twitter/ Instagram

There's no hiding it, social media is a part of our professional lives now, but it doesn't have to be a liability. Take that new email address of yours and use it to sign up for a brand new Twitter and/or Instagram profile. Your username should be your full name. Make your profile photo the headshot you took in step 2. Then start following those in the industry you're hoping to get into. Interact with them if you get the opportunity. Post about things relevant to your field (articles you find interesting, for example) but also your interests outside of work too! You're a complete human being, and people want to see that you're genuine, so it's okay to still use this medium as a way to talk about other things you're interested in. However, always post with it in mind that a potential employer may see it.

4. Personal Website

Now to tie everything together, purchase a domain using your full name or some variation of it and build yourself a website! If you don't know how to create one, that's okay! Wordpress or Squarespace are good options that will have essential tools to get you started. As you grow in your professional career, this website will likely change so don't get too hung up if it's not perfect. Some staple pages you'll want on your site are a Homepage(back to first impressions, think about what the very first thing people will see and what it says about you), an About Me page(Be sure to feature your beautiful new headshot on this page as well), Blog/Writing, Projects/Portfolio and a Contact page(If you're up for a challenge, you can have the email from step one be connected to this new website. For example: Titilayo@titilayoolaide.com). Use this website as a homebase. Everything you create or write should go on your portfolio or blog. Links to your Twitter or Instagram should be featured on the contact page. Get creative with it! Your website should be an accurate representation of you.

So there you go! These are just some things a young professional should have. They're all reasonably easy to put together and inexpensive (or free). Next time you write a blog, post it on your website and then tweet that link out. Over time, you'll have your own professional brand, build a following and a network that will help you get your next professional opportunity. Good luck!