Personal Branding Blog – Dan Schawbel

Today’s guest post is by Rebecca Corliss, who is a young professional from Boston. She is a recent graduate of Boston University, beginning a new career in technology PR. She’s dabbled in violin, clarinet, guitar and piano– and even began her college career majoring in music before her switch to PR. Her new blog, “Music is Social,” covers a fusion of music and social media.

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Today’s college students are in a very unique position. They use social media tools every day, Facebook-friending has become a natural part of the college socialization process and for many, AIM or Gchat is a main form of communication.

You’d assume that this inherent sense for online communication and networking would give students a strong advantage when developing their personal brand. However, students–who presumably would love to have a job someday–are struggling between social media as a means to communicate with friends and a tool to create a persona that could help them get a job in the future.

This, for any student, can be quite the challenge. How can you show off to your classmates and potential employers at the same time? The answer? Balance.

Here Are Some Tips

1) Don’t get nervous and make your Facebook profile private, invisible or sans-photo. This is creepy. Blocking information is a lost opportunity to show off, and it leaves your potential employer to assume the worst.

2) Don’t freak out when they do see your bar photos. As long as you’re 21 (and not doing keg stands), it’s okay. Being social and out with friends is normal in college. Just make sure beer-in-hand photos aren’t the only ones you have. Part of your personal brand can be a fun, social college student. If that’s who you are, then why not?

3) Include impressive stuff in your Facebook profile too. Name the clubs you’re in and include a URL to their web sites. List all your jobs. Put a link to your blog. Make sure you emphasize that there’s a lot more to your college life than the typical Saturday night stuff.

4) Be involved in career-relevant Facebook groups and other online communities. Give potential employers the chance to see your mind at work, whether it’s through answering other people’s questions, asking smart questions or providing cool information and links. It shows you’re thinking, and it’s a chance to make new friends at the same time.

5) Use other social networking sites too. Many students don’t recognize the power of LinkedIn. It may not be as fun as Facebook, but using multiple resources to balance your professional information with the details on your social life will create a more well-rounded image of you.

Moral of the story

Creating a personal brand should not require hiding who you really are. It should be a platform that highlights your personality, your talents and what you eventually will offer your industry. This way you’re giving people the right impression without sacrificing what makes Facebook and social networking fun.