MCSA
  • Home
  • About MCSA
    • Mission, Values and Goals
    • Meet the board
  • Our Partners
  • Become a Member
  • Events
    • Gallery
  • Social Media
    • Linkedin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
  • Contact
  • Board Applications

Your Guide TO... Personal Branding

5/8/2017

 

Personal branding 101 // For Graduates

The day you start knocking on the doors of prospective employers, you’ll discover that your first project will be learning how to promote your personal brand.  
 
When people hear your name, what do you want to spring to mind?  Personal branding is all about managing and influencing these perceptions so you can stand out in a crowd of graduates.  Dr. Hubert K. Rampersad, a prominent figure in the leadership development field, states that an authentic personal brand will help you build credibility, strengthen your reputation, and improve your performance potential.
 
But how exactly do you build your own personal brand?  Crafting an effective personal brand takes planning and consistent effort, but here are some easy steps to get you started:

Picture

  • ​Take professional headshots. According to research from LinkedIn, including a picture of yourself makes your profile 14 times more likely to be viewed. Having a good quality, professional headshot is your best chance to make a good impression on your future employers.  Have your headshots professionally done, or ask a friend with a good camera nicely to take them for you.    
​
  • Build a professional online image. Now is the perfect time to start filtering through your social media accounts and remove those wild party pictures.  It’s very likely that your future employers will Google you, so make sure you put your best foot forward online.
 
  • Become active on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a great place to start in terms of showcasing your personal brand professionally.  Who knows, an employer who is impressed by your profile may contact you directly!  Make sure your profile evolves with you as you change jobs and gain new skills.
 
  • ​Learn how to introduce yourself. Does the thought of someone saying, “tell me a bit about yourself,” make you tremble with fear?  Prepare yourself by saying your name and communicating your experience and aspirations in less than 30 seconds.
 
  •  ​Develop  a personal website. An excellent way of developing an online presence is by creating your own website.  Start a blog and produce content that aligns with your passions and expertise.  Write a brief bio, attach your CV, and provide links to your other social platforms.

Shannon Barclay

Communications Manager, MCSA.

Insight into the Working World

5/4/2017

 

MCSA MIXER: GRAD Panel // 26.4.17

Picture
Left to right: Alyssa Holcroft (MCSA President), Monica Helbano, Melissa Hughes, and James Forster.

​"One thing I wish somebody had told me at beginning was that you don't have to know exactly what you're going to do for the rest of your life."​
- Monica Helbano​

Just the thought of finishing university and heading straight into the workforce can be daunting.  Though last Wednesday, it was all put into perspective when three of our Waikato University graduates shared their own experiences and advice with us at our Grad Panel event.
​
James Forster 
Studied: Bachelor of Communication Studies majoring in Public Relations and Marketing
​Current Jobs:
Marketing and Digital Coordinator at Chiefs Rugby
Social Media Management/Marketing for Bay of Plenty Regional Council
View my profile on LinkedIn
James's tips and advice:
  • ​Make time for yourself: Learning to switch off is hard! Make sure you give yourself time to recuperate if you're going through a busy period.
  • It's okay to make mistakes: Accept that you will make mistakes in your career and it's all part of the learning process.
  • Differentiate yourself: There's a lot of competition in the market. Think about how you will make yourself unique with your skills and involvement​.

Melissa Hughes
Studied: 
Bachelor of Communication Studies majoring in Marketing and Public Relations, specialising in Events Management
Current Jobs: Recently left her position as a Marketing Coordinator as a graduate at the H3 Group New Zealand, and is now a Marketing Promotions Coordinator at LynnMall Shopping Centre for Kiwi Property
View my profile on LinkedIn
Melissa's tips and advice:
  • Get involved in extracurricular activities and volunteering: ​All of your experience relates together. For example, Melissa's past nannying experience related to the kids club element of her position as a Marketing Assistant at Westfield.
  • Get advice from your lecturers and tutors: If you're looking for a job, they'll probably know someone! They make great references too.
  • For those coming to the end of their degrees: Start keeping an eye out for jobs. It's really interesting to get a feel of what opportunities are out there.
  • Don't just apply for jobs: Go out and seek them. Find someone who works in the area you want to work in and message them.  Ask: "Do you have any advice for me?​"

Monica Helbano
Studied: 
Bachelor of Communication Studies majoring in Public Relations and Leadership Communication
Current Job: Communications Coordinator at HMC Communications
View my profile on LinkedIn
Monica's tips and advice:
  • Get involved with MCSA: It shows people that you want to be involved in the industry already, and provides you with a lot of connections as well.
  • Be a team player: Recognise what your strengths and weaknesses are in a group environment.  Group work situations at university are the best training for your future job.
  • Don't freak out if you don't know exactly what you want to do: Everything that you take on now is an opportunity for you to develop your skills and grow as a person.

Do you have any stories about your own experiences or tips to share?  Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Shannon Barclay

Communications Manager, MCSA.

    Picture

    UPCOMING EVENTS:

    TBC

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    May 2017

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About MCSA
    • Mission, Values and Goals
    • Meet the board
  • Our Partners
  • Become a Member
  • Events
    • Gallery
  • Social Media
    • Linkedin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
  • Contact
  • Board Applications