When thinking about where to eat lunch or what car to buy, many of these decisions are strongly impacted by your perception of the company’s brand. But did you also know that employers can be impacted by your personal career brand when they’re looking to hire and you’re looking for a job?

If not, then now’s the time to start thinking about how to create a brand that sells yourself.

As one of Kansas City’s top employment agencies, Morgan Hunter knows that a strong personal brand can help you convey to a company what makes you special or unique, what key challenges or pains you can help them overcome, and ultimately why they should hire you.

Here are 7 tips to help you craft a personal brand – one that helps you sell yourself to the company you really want to work for:

Tip #1: Think about what makes you unique.

Develop a unique value proposition that simply states what sets you apart from your fellow job seekers. When crafting your value prop, think about your strengths, passions, career goals, and what it is that will make you truly stand out in the eyes of a hiring manager.

Tip #2: Get another perspective.

It’s not always easy to toot your own horn or see what makes you stand out. So ask your colleagues how they would describe you. What are the one or two things you’re really good at? What’s it like to work with you? What unique value do you bring to the table?

Tip #3: Know your goals.

Where are you right now in your career? Where do you want to go in the next year or the next fives years? Branding is about knowing how to position yourself and part of that message should include where you are now and where you want to go.

Tip #4: Polish your resume.

Once you’ve started developing your personal career brand, make sure your resume aligns with it.

Tip #5: Network online…and offline.

With the advent of sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, networking has never been easier. So make sure you get on board with these sites and start making connections with people relevant to your career. Also, if you’re looking for a new job, let your network know. Most new jobs are secured through referrals and word of mouth.

That said, don’t forget about traditional face-to-face contact either. Tout your personal brand in person at industry events, tradeshows, or by volunteering in the community.

Tip #6: Create your own personal website or blog.

Content management systems like WordPress make creating websites and blogs simple for those of us without IT degrees and skills. Your website should focus on you, not the company you work for, and it should promote your accomplishments, strengths, goals, and passions. If you have time to commit to a blog, then publish insightful articles on a regular weekly basis that will resonate with your target audience.

Tip #7: Remember the fundamentals.

You can create the best personal brand in the world, but if you don’t dress or act the part, then it’s not going to get you very far. So make sure you always look professional, treat others with respect, show up on time at meetings, and convey a positive attitude. Otherwise, you’ll undermine all your efforts.

Need Help Finding Your Next Great Job?

If you do, let Morgan Hunter know. As one of Kansas City’s top employment agencies, we work with leading companies throughout the metro area and region, matching talented individuals with growing, thriving organizations. And we can help you too. Contact us today to learn more. 

Let’s face it. There are plenty of questions you’ll be asked during any given job interview that can make you squirm a bit. After all, who wants to talk about their weaknesses or where they’ll be in 10 years?

However, if you left your last job on bad terms, or worse, you were fired, then you may want to take things a step further and run screaming from the interview room.

But, as one of the top employment agencies in Kansas City, Morgan Hunter can tell you that if you want to get a new job, you’re going to need to talk about this touchy topic in a way that’s not going to put you in a bad light.

So how can you deal with interview questions about your past employment ­­– and not kill your chances of landing the job?

Here are some tips to help you along the way:

Never Bad Mouth a Past Employer…Ever.

Even if they fired you for no good reason. Even if your boss was totally incompetent. Even if you were treated unfairly every step of the way. Even if you’re filing a lawsuit.

The point is: It doesn’t matter why you left or were fired. Don’t talk about your past employer, boss, colleagues, or the situation at large in a negative way.

Don’t Lie.

Lying is tempting, especially if you were fired. However, the interviewer can get to the truth in just a quick phone call, so don’t do it. Instead, when asked why you left, be honest if you were fired. Then articulate it in such a way to show what you learned from the experience.

Prepare an Answer Ahead of Time. 

Being unemployed is a red flag for employers…as a result, you know you’re going to be asked why you were a) let go or b) left. Don’t be blindsided by this question. Instead, prepare an answer ahead of time.

For instance:

“The company is great, but the fit just wasn’t there. I won’t make that mistake again. I know now that I need an employer where I can put my strengths to use and make a substantial contribution.”

Then be prepared to talk about your strengths, which should align with the needs of the company you’re interviewing with.

Keep in mind, many people have been fired or left jobs on bad terms…perhaps even the person you’re interviewing with. Just prepare in advance, don’t lie, and be positive – and you should be well on your way to landing a new job.

Need Help With Your Job Search?

If you do, give Morgan Hunter a call. As one of the top employment agencies in Kansas City, we work with leading organizations throughout the area and can match you with your next great career opportunity.

Contact Morgan Hunter today to learn more.

Looking for a job in Kansas City? Then you likely know you need to use every networking tool available to you. But one group that’s oftentimes forgotten about by job seekers is their college alumni network.

As one of the leading employment agencies in Kansas City, Morgan Hunter knows this is a big mistake.

In fact, alumni generally think their school is the best and are happy to help out a fellow alum. They want to see each other succeed, feel good about giving back to the school that helped them succeed, and are typically more than willing to hand out advice and job search help to other alumni.

So if you haven’t included your school’s alum in your networking efforts, now’s the time to start. Here are some tips to help you along the way:

Go to Your College’s Career Center.

Many schools have career centers with a database of alumni who are willing to talk with students and other alumni about career issues. You can typically search these databases by industry, degrees, or geographic areas.

Attend Campus Networking Events. 

Many colleges today have Career Weeks or different recruiting and networking events they host for students and alumni. So be sure to attend those that are geared toward you. Usually the company representatives that attend are graduates of the school (and oftentimes biased in favor of alumni), so you automatically have some common ground with them.

Get a Copy of the Alumni Directory. 

Most schools publish alumni directories, which you can get a copy of at the alumni office. Some of them even offer directories online, as well. These are often organized by industry, major, and geographic location.

Check Out Class Notes in the Alumni Magazine.

Get the latest copy of your school’s alumni magazine and review the Class Notes section. This is where alums describe what they’re doing, where they’re living, and any important life or career accomplishments. So look for alumni who work in similar industries or at companies you’re interested in working for.

Find Out About a Nearby Alumni Chapter.

If you don’t live near your alma mater, then find out about an alumni chapter that’s near you. These groups can be valuable resources when searching for a job or even just looking for some career advice.

Join the Alumni Association.

Many times, alumni associations host their own networking events, which offers just another avenue for you to connect with fellow alumni who may be able to help you in your job search.

Want More Help Finding a Job?

Let us know. As one of the leading employment agencies in Kansas City, we’ve helped thousands of job seekers find the next great opportunity in their careers. And we may be able to help you too! We’re just a phone call away. Contact Morgan Hunter today to learn more.

You might not have had a video job interview yet. But with the prevalence of Skype and web cams, it’s only a matter of time before it happens. And considering that this is “a first” for many job seekers, there are some video interview tips to keep in mind so that you make a great impression. Here’s a look:

1. Clean Up Your Space.

Whether you’re going to be conducting the webcam job interview in an office or in your kitchen, you need to make sure that the space around you – and especially behind you – looks clean and professional. So take down any controversial posters or wall hangings and make sure the backdrop is as neutral as possible. Also, clean up the area around your computer of any clutter or personal items.

2. Be Mindful of What You Wear.

Even though you’re at home, this is still an interview and so you want to look as professional as possible. That said, colors and patterns come across differently on camera than they do in person. So steer clear of bold patterns and bright colors and stick with crisp, neutral, professional clothing.

Also, don’t wear a dress top and jeans or pajama bottoms. If you have to get up to get something, the interviewer will surely take notice.

3. Get Rid of Distractions.

Whether you have kids, pets, or a spouse at home, make sure they’re all out of the house for the video interview. A screaming toddler or a dog barking in the background will certainly make a memorable impression…but not in a good way.

4. Remember You’re on Camera.

If the interviewer is talking for a while, it can be easy to forget that you’re on camera. You might start slouching or get a glazed look in your eye. To combat this, put a note behind your computer reminding you to sit up straight and to look engaged.

5. Do a Test Run.

Before your interview, do a test run of Skype or any other webcam program you might be using. Test out your microphone to make sure it’s working and adjust the web camera so that it’s not zoomed in too closely on your face.

Want More Help in Your Job Search?

Let Morgan Hunter know. As one of the leading employment agencies in Kansas City, we’ve helped thousands of job seekers find the next great opportunity in their careers. And we may be able to help you too! Contact Morgan Hunter today to learn more.