What sets you apart? As a career counselor in higher education, I meet with students and alumni who contemplate this simple, yet complicated question daily. Today, this question has taken on a whole new meaning thanks to social media and new technology. Expectations of students and organizations have changed.
The options to showcase your personal brand and to develop those qualities have increased dramatically in the last five years. You can market your unique talents through traditional mediums, such as your resume/CV, and new mediums, such as LinkedIn or personal website. The same applies if you want to enhance a particular set of skills in order to distinguish yourself; you can attend traditional lectures on campus, or take a class on Coursera.
For some, the myriad of possibilities can feel overwhelming. How do you decide which platforms to use, with so many? What skills, i.e. web marketing, do you need to manage it all? How do you find time to use these tools effectively? Let’s break these questions down below.
How do you decide which platforms? First, remember, possibilities are a good thing. The variety of platforms and range of tools available today means there is something for everyone, including you. Explore the more established platforms, like LinkedIn and Twitter, but also use resources like Mashable to learn about new niche networks or up and coming tools. If you want to set yourself apart, you need to make sure you find the right platform based on your message and audience.
What skills do you need to manage it all? Communication skills, time management, and organization are crucial, but so is an open mind. These are skills that are developed in any academic or vocational program. But, you need a plan, even one as simple as “every Monday at 10:00 am I will check LinkedIn”. This is why developing a basic set of web marketing skills, similar to those taught within Brighton College’s program, can take your brand to the next level. For example, what is your brand message? Think of how to convey that in 15 words or less. In addition, don’t be afraid to dive in and give a platform a try to see if it’s right for you.
How do you find the time? Use the tools that are out there. Many platforms sync up to dashboards, which means you can go to just one site to all of your accounts. HootSuite, for example, lets you manage Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, WordPress and more. They also have statistics, so you evaluate your content. There are a variety of tools to help you decide when to log-on, such as TweetchatWiki that lists chats on Twitter based on day and subject.
With a little planning and research, it is possible to take advantage of the platforms out there. Do you need to start with the most important question of them all – what sets you apart? – and go from there.
Short bio:
Shannon Kelly is a recognized higher education professional, speaker and writer for her specialty in social media strategy as it relates to professional development and higher education branding. She is an associate director in career services at an Ivy League institution in the U.S. She can be found on Twitter at @shannonckelly (twitter.com/shannonckelly) and blogs at www.socialatedu.com.
