Is Your Grad Prepared For The Next Step?

PRLog (Press Release) - Jun. 7, 2010 - Whether your new grad is going straight into the job market, or spending some period of time in post-secondary education it's never too early to make sure they have the skills and materials they need to translate their career dreams into reality.

I had the opportunity recently to talk about personal branding to a grade 12 class, so I asked them about the personal branding “must-haves” that are increasingly used by professionals to develop their networks and manage their careers. With the exception of an annual cost of ~$10 for a domain name, and the printing costs associated with having business cards, all of these personal branding “must-haves” are free. Some are online networking applications, and others are skills that require some practice but are easily learned.

All of the students I surveyed were ready to present a resume (and cover letter)when required, but  few felt comfortable with their in-person networking skills. Having a resume ready is a critical first step, but it must be followed up with personal contact. And really, in a perfect world, sending out a resume would be preceded with personal contact! Most students were keenly aware that “word of mouth” (AKA: networking) is the most effective way to find out about and obtain a job.

Personal branding is a process that marries personal goals with strategic marketing and networking skills. Students graduating today are part of the “digital native” generation, and are very comfortable using a host of online social networking tools. The students I talked with were specifically familiar with the inner workings of Facebook, and some had experience with blogging as part of their school work. These are students who have many pieces of their personal branding puzzle in-hand, but perhaps aren't sure yet how to put them together. The “catch” to creating an effective plan that will allow your grad to find work well-suited to his or her interests, skills and values with a minimum of cold-calling is that the sooner they start, the better!

Help your grad get started with their personal brand. There are a number of personal branding websites that offer excellent information. At CampbellDuke Personal Branding you can obtain free subscriptions to the “Follow Your Dreams” e-zine, blog and iTunes podcasts. You can join the conversation and ask your personal branding questions on, of course, the Campbell Duke Facebook page!

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CampbellDuke Personal Branding empowers job hunters, career changers and solopreneurs to follow their dreams. Elizabeth Campbell Duke offers a full range of personal branding services from her home on Vancouver Island on Canada's West Coast. Connect with Elizabeth and access a host of resources for your personal branding journey at www.CampbellDuke.com.

Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/10722663/1