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Personal Branding: It’s not the end of Big Brother…

by Paul Mullan on August 30th, 2010
31 Comments



This autumn marks the end of the king of reality TV – “Big Brother”. What will the reality TV junkies do with all this new found spare time? No more late nights watching housemates sleep in their beds. No more squirming at the embarrassing scramble for 30 seconds of fame. My advice to those needing a new fix – set up your own Big Brother experience. The cameras that monitored the Big Brother house may get turned off, but the cameras that monitor your online personal brand can get turned on. This would be a more constructive use of your time :-)

Cameras for sanity (not vanity) – I recall telling my wife I checked online to read what people were saying about me (and my company Measurability). She informed me that spending hours looking into a mirror was bad enough, but this was taking the biscuit. I tried to defend my actions, but this was met with sarcastic humming to the tune “You’re so Vain”. It’s nothing to do with vanity, I swear :-) Ok – it’s nice to read positive comments online, but there is more to it than this. Ignoring your online presence is sanity. Potential employers Google you, so you need to know what they read. Potential employers could be looking for you (or your expertise), so you need to help them find you. A positive online presence can enhance your career, just like a negative (or minimal) online presence can cost you job opportunities.

Keep the cameras rolling – The question most people ask – how do I monitor my brand online? It’s pretty straightforward. There are many online tools to assist monitoring online presence  and online reputation. There is the old reliable – GOOGLE ALERTS. There is SOCIAL MENTION, to capture mentions on social media sites. Others tools; BOARDREADER for forums, GOOGLE BLOG SEARCH for Blogs, and TWITTER SEARCH.

Don’t get evicted – Developing a strong personal brand is essential in the new world of careers. It can take vast amounts of time, and energy, to build a strong personal brand. Therefore, it is important to monitor and protect what you have successfully built up. The outlined tools can help you monitor your online brand, bask in rays of positive online presence, and identify any negativity that requires action.

Are you mourning the imminent end of Big Brother? Are you void of options to fill the spare time? Come join Measurability Careers & Jobs Club on LinkedIn, or follow me on Twitter.



Category: HR and recruitment

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The Author: Paul Mullan

Paul Mullan is an experienced career and outplacement professional with 14 years experience working within careers, outplacement and recruitment in the UK & Ireland. He is a former owner of Eden Recruitment and founder of career firm Measurability in 2006. Paul has delivered outplacement programmes for many leading organisations and ran graduate career workshops for leading third level institutions. He has worked with many individuals helping them define and achieve career goals through creative approaches to personal marketing and job hunting. Paul integrates traditional strategies with new Web 2.0 strategies to deliver optimum results. He is known for his up to date, creative and friendly approach to delivering career solutions. Paul is a recognised career professional regularly commenting on career related topics in the national media. He has acted as Career Doctor with Irish Independent and he is currently an online career expert with RecruitIreland. http://www.measurability.ie

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  • http://www.seefincoaching.com/blog Elaine Rogers

    What a laugh!! I have given up all soap and reality tv, only to replace it with social networking. From a pesonal perspective, at least I can interact in my own way, and have the conversations I want. Froma professional perspective, I can build me brand in a way I choose, and intereact with peers, clients and colleagues in a meaningful way.

    This does not necessarily get me contracts, but it means that potential clients can seek me out, hear me out and suss me out without 20 meetings first.

    For a job seeker, the use of SM and SNS is PARAMOUNT. Besides volunteer work, it should be where job seekers spend their precious time, actively building a positive and professional brand (which does not include uploading drunken photos to Facebook).

    There is so much more to job seeking than 10 years ago, when we relied on traditional media, and sat and waited for the “thanks, but no thanks” letters. Social Media allows job seekers to be proactive in their job search, or job match as I prefer to call it!

    I have never seen one episode of big brother and will not mourn its passing, but rather look forward to a lack of BB hashtags on twitter :)

    Great post :)

  • Anonymous

    Elaine

    Thanks for the comments

    I will have to take my facebook photos down :-(

    P

  • http://frugalentrepreneur.com/ Adam Gottlieb

    Hi Niall,nnYeah, you definitely need to be working with people who are actually willing to be worked with, or else what’s the point?nnAnd social media has a great funneling effect, helping to direct those looking for assistance to the right people who can help them.nnBut, there are some customers who truly aren’t trying to be antagonistic or keep up appearences as you mentioned, they just don’t understand. And it’s OK because they’re not supposed to; afterall they hired you to do the job because it’s an area they need help on. It’s *these* kind of people you should make an effort to understand and convert (at least, to a point.)nnThanks for the comment,nnAdam

  • http://www.seefincoaching.com/blog Elaine Rogers

    Engaging with an “expert” and then trying to control the outcome is probably a pet hate for most service providers, especially web designers and similar fields.nLuckily, in my profession, the client always drives the process, even if it is not the best choice. I believe there is a learning opportunity for them to realise, that every choice we make as a human being may not look like the best one, but in fact it was in that moment, and there is further opportunity to learn from it.nnI love your analogy with children. Perhaps we as adults, could learn more from children, through observation, and not always assume we are right. The same applies with Business Owners. nnI have learned that when a customer asks for help, they may already have decided what the answer is, and if mine doesn’t match, then, according to them I am wrong. I have learned to accept this, it is their prerogative, and if I cannot help the situation, don’t take it personally and move on….

  • http://www.seefincoaching.com/blog Elaine Rogers

    Marie, I agree with Fred (and yes I have read the post in it’s entirety, as I always do, and read all comments) about adding value, and not just leaving breadcrumbs. We can link to our own blog/website by setting up a system like we have here with Disqus.nnWhat really annoys me sometimes, is when the comments shift from the point of the post, to a completely different conversation, and actual brawls start. nA debate is great when it happens, and sometimes, watching the flow of comments go off in tangents is interesting, but commenters, please leave the EGOs at home!!nnSome sites should simply NOT have a comment function – like YouTube for example – the profanities are simply downright inhumane at times. But I do love a good debate!nnA note on the “drive-by” aspect; I always acknowledge the blogger, by saying great post, or interesting read etc, no harm in being nice ;) nnGreat post btw, totally agree with you :)

  • http://socialease.wordpress.com/ Marie Ennis O’Connor

    Well you certainly added value here Fred :-) Great points, particularly your point about what goes on in the thread rather than the post itself and this leads to another tip for the blogger hard-pressed to come up with new blog ideas – this can lead to a new blog post for them.

  • http://socialease.wordpress.com/ Marie Ennis O’Connor

    Elaine, thanks for your comment and yes I agree with you re You Tube. Often I find myself totally distracted watching a video by the comment thread and my enjoyment can be spoiled by the nastiness that goes on there sometimes.

  • http://technicallyeasy.net Paul Salmon

    You made some good points there, Marie. Regarding disagreeing with the author of the post, I agree entirely especially in a non-aggressive manner. If I may expand on that point, I would also like to point out that if you disagree with another commenter, that you also do so in a non-aggressive manner. As Elaine mentioned, leaving the egos at home is very important.nnCommenting is all about discussion, regardless of the point of view. Not everyone will agree with something someone said, but to have a healthy discussion in a non-aggressive way helps to provide a good dialog going. It is also interesting to see the different perspectives on a single topic.

  • http://www.tweakyourbiz.com Niall Devitt

    Hi Marie, slightly off topic but I listened to an interview with Guy Kawasaki at SocialMediaExaminer.com and he was making the point that authors need to make their posts more readable, numbering, bullet pointing etc. While I’d like to read every word of every post, the truth is I don’t and will comment on occasion where I haven’t. Therefore I think that authors need to be more aware of this when they write, in that many people who comment either won’t or can’t read the entire post?

  • http://twitter.com/TopWeddingSites Top Wedding Sites

    Hi Marie – I wonder if we’re somehow related (Ennis). Wanted to address no. 5. Seems like no matter what you say these days, if you disagree in any sort of manner it’s viewed as a threat and not welcome. Anyone else have that experience?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FSGT7SPMBSGE5URNS4VUHJS4OY Karen Black

    Been staring at this blank comment box and still can’t come up with anything original to say – but nevertheless I do want to add how useful I found this post both and it and the comment thread has inspired me to think more about how I comment in future (though as you can see – I still have a ways to go yet!)

  • Lorna

    Great blog post Marie, there I go – generalising!! But I have read everyone else’s comments and am staring at the blank box trying to think of something original to say!nI guess I’m stating the obvious here but I think it is worth saying that all bloggers love seeing comments and the more the merrier and if it gets a discussion going, all the better. So even if some comments are a bit vague and ‘great post’ ish or ‘thanks for sharing’ ish, it still says someone has taken the time to click that comment box and write something but I agree, comments that really engage with other commentators and the post itself are what shows enthusiasm and your own personality and if it helps generate more traffic to your own site, all the better.nI feel I am wittering on now – am tired but yes, great points made here. Hope everyone has a lovely wekend :-)

  • http://socialease.wordpress.com/ Marie Ennis O’Connor

    Yes Lorna, I too like to see lots of comments on my own blog, but have to say it is those comments which really add value and engage me, which encourages me to follow up and find out more about the person leaving the comment. I may ask them to guest blog for me or end up doing a new post expanding on their comments. It has also been a means of developing community and increased engagement with my readers too. As you can tell I am a great fan of the power of effective commenting!

  • http://socialease.wordpress.com/ Marie Ennis O’Connor

    I guess some people are more sensitive to perceived criticism than others – the problem with comments, emails, tweets, etc, is that people can misinterpret the tone of the communication. On another matter…I wonder if perhaps we are related? Do you have Irish connections?

  • http://socialease.wordpress.com/ Marie Ennis O’Connor

    That’s an excellent point Niall and it is always good blogging practice to make your text as readable as you can. With so much to read on the internet most readers just skim read anyway, so it is worth bearing this in mind when you write your posts.

  • http://socialease.wordpress.com/ Marie Ennis O’Connor

    Thanks Paul – good to see so many of us are in agreement regarding disagreement!

  • Anonymous

    Nice post Roisin. I’ve worked from home for almost 6 years for a US multinational and everything you mention in this post is spot on. My outlet is indoor soccer every Wednesday evening. I have missing it.nnIn work we’ve tried to overcome to loss of the “watercooler effect”, by creating weekly Social Chats every Friday afternoon. Using our internal Twitter tool, we bring between 15 and 20 people from different parts of the organisation and different locations, to discuss something topical and work related.

  • http://www.seefincoaching.com/blog Elaine Rogers

    Hi Roisin,nA topical subject always. My experience with clients has been that the first 12 months are always the hardest in terms of time management, separating work tasks from non work tasks, setting boundaries and that all important time away from “work”.nnThe issue becomes more critical when there is a spouse/partner working outside of the home, who just wants to “be at home” during time off. My first few Bloggertone posts addressed these issues, such as http://tweakyourbiz.com/management/2009/11/03/i%E2%80%99m-at-home-get-me-out-of-here/ andnhttp://tweakyourbiz.com/management/2009/11/04/where-did-my-weekend-go/nnIt’s important to highlight these issues, so work at home people can realise they are not alone, and it takes time to settle in. The trick is to take one’s time, as so much is going on, and as you mention – exercise is so important for all our faculties :)

  • Anonymous

    This is one of the most memorable interviews I’ve read in a long time, Sian.  You really know how to bring out the interesting bits. The pics added a lot.  As a gardener, I especially enjoyed it. And the tie-in with self-employment she made was excellent, also.

    - Anita

  • http://www.sianphillips.ie Sian Phillips

    Thanks Julie – I’m looking forward to hearing more of the Zoopharmacognosy too :)

  • http://www.sianphillips.ie Sian Phillips

    Thanks Anita – to be honest it wasn’t difficult with such an interesting person to interview as Lynne is.

  • http://www.mynotetakingnerd.com/blog Lewis LaLanne aka Nerd #2

    It seems that most of super spectacular entrepreneurs of our age and in the past – Richard Branson, Michael Dell, Steve Jobs, and many, many, many more have all been unemployable. Another commonality in them is their disdain for school. Not for education, but for school.

    I think Lynne is in very good company!

  • http://www.sianphillips.ie Sian Phillips

    What a great observation Lewis and thanks so much for the comment

  • http://www.tweakyourbiz.com Niall Devitt

    Sian, this is a fab interview! Lewis makes a very interesting observation, one that’s definitely worth exploring further!   

  • http://www.smartsolutions.ie/blog/ Elaine Rogers

    Sian what a great interview – well done. So interesting to read about Lynne and her business (or many businesses) Even with all the different things going on, it sounds like there is structure in her week, and method in her objectives. Those pigs are fab :)

    Thank you :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1291806431 Michael Dineen

    Hey. Great stuff. Keep it going.

  • http://www.sianphillips.ie Sian Phillips

    Thanks Eamonn. I am always inspired after speaking to Lynne. It’s like recharging the brain and thought batteries

  • http://www.sianphillips.ie Sian Phillips

    Thanks Elaine – Lynne certainly leads a very full life and I think her structure proves it can be done. And I saw the piglets which were gorgeous too :)

  • http://www.sianphillips.ie Sian Phillips

    I mentioned to Lynne about the lovely comments on here – this is her reply (which she asked me to post)

    “I have tried to reply – logged in through Google a/c but it just keeps saying ‘please
    wait’ – for Christ’s Sake if it read the bloody article it would know I don’t do waiting!!! x

    Can you post this for me and tell everyone I’m thrilled with response and will keep trying to reply!”

  • http://twitter.com/BlossomAZ Kimberly Creagan

    Looks like I have found another role model!  So great to hear about people who have made a living doing what they love!.  As a landscape designer and person of “many vocations” I’m really happy to learn that someone else is making it work so well for them.  Although I haven’t become as succesfuls as Lynne (yet..lol) this is VERY inspiring.  

  • http://www.sianphillips.ie Sian Phillips

    I’m glad you liked it Kimberly. Lynne is a great inspiration model so I hope it rubs off on you too :)

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