A Personal Online Brand Is Essential to Military Spouse Career Success

When you think of a brand, words like “Apple” and “Nike” probably pop into your head. But when an employer thinks about a brand, an entirely different picture comes to mind.

So why should a buzzword like “branding” matter to you, the career-minded military spouse, if a. you’re not a marketing geek, or b. you’ve already crossed off “create well-written cover letter” and “check resume for typos” from your job search to do list?

Simple. Your professional image online (a.k.a. your “personal online brand”) is quickly becoming the new yardstick by which a potential employer will measure your value proposition, fit for the job, skills and expertise. In some industries, your online brand now carries as much, if not more, weight than the carefully crafted resume and cover letter into which you poured blood, sweat, tears, and enough printer ink to keep the local office supply store in business.

The upside to this (yes, there is an upside besides saving money on printer ink) is that by showcasing your skills, knowledge, and expertise online, you are building a compelling, persuasive case for your next employer to hire you—before you ever send a resume. You are empowered to actively shape potential employers’ perception of you, and take charge of your career.

Developing a strong personal online brand is an important strategy for career-focused military spouses. It’s a very good way to demonstrate skills and expertise for which you want to be known, especially if you are changing careers or reentering the workforce after time away. Even if you are just looking to remain marketable in your field, a well-crafted online brand that effectively positions your strengths and abilities will help you stay competitive.

In the coming weeks we’ll share our strategies to help you develop a personal online brand that increases your marketability. In the meantime, we’d love to hear your tips, ideas and questions for building and nurturing your personal online brand.

*Photo credit: Victor1558 (Used under the Creative Commons Attribution License.)