When it comes to landing a job you’ve had your eye on for a while, your Personal Brand plays a significant role. The same applies if you’re trying to land a new client – what they see online makes a difference. 

In order to stand out among hundreds or even thousands of other applicants and professionals, you need to get the basics right and give your profile a unique twist. Having a set of professional branding photos is one way to do that (more on that later).

Let’s get into the tips you can use for an upcoming job application or client pitch.

1. Get Organized

Before you start applying for positions or pitching clients, develop a more organized approach. What is that you want to achieve? What are your professional goals? The employers or clients you pick should fit in with this. Once you know what you want to achieve, develop a system that will make it easier to keep track of your applications and who you should follow up with.

2. Check and Improve Your Personal Brand

In most instances, a potential client or employer will perform an online search before scheduling an interview or meeting. Having an impressive personal brand and online presence can make all the difference. Look at the platforms you’re currently present on and whether your profiles and branding are consistent. If you haven’t updated your images in a while, now is the time to schedule a personal branding session. Your photos should tell a story and provide people with more insights into who you are both at and outside of work.

3. Reach Out to Your Network

When it comes to finding the right job opportunities and projects, networking is key. Reach out to people in your network to find out about new opportunities and to start marketing your personal brand. Someone in your direct network might not always be able to help, but they might know someone who could. Again, before you start reaching out, make sure your personal brand’s online presence is up to date and stands out.

4. Do a Little Research

Once you are ready to start reaching out to potential employers and clients, take the time to do a little research. What should you know about the organization and who will you more than likely be speaking to or meeting with? When your application is more personalized, the business or client knows you have their best interests at heart and will be more willing to look at your profile. 

5. Prepare for the Meeting

Preparation can go a long way in helping you land your dream job or project. Prepare some answers to questions you might be asked during your interview or meeting. You may even want to prepare some questions of your own to show you are taking the application seriously. A genuine and knowledgeable applicant is always preferred. 

6. Follow Up

Not everyone is going to get back to you, so it helps to follow up with the hiring manager or potential client yourself. Following up shows good character and a willingness to be involved, so it can make a difference to the outcome. 

7. Don’t Give Up

If after the first few applications you aren’t successful, don’t give up and let your personal band fall by the wayside. Stay consistent, engage with your network and online audience, and keep reaching out to relevant employers and clients. 

With some persistence, the help of the right photographer, and an optimized online profile, there’s no reason why you can’t start working with your ideal employer or client.

Cindi Fortmann Photography specializes in Headshots and Personal Branding Images. Give us a call/text today and let's get you prepared to land your dream job or get the attention from your ideal clients! 678.643.2388 or Cindi@cindifortmann.com