Why Personal Branding & Head Shots with the US Chamber Foundation and Hiring our Heroes Transition Summit

Last week, I had the distinct privilege of being brought on by the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation to take new head shot photos of transitioning service members during their 2 day "Hiring our Heroes" summit at Fort Carson. Many of the participants are transitioning service members who are leaving the Army and looking for employment to match the many skills that they have honed during their time in service.  

While many of these job seekers are well-qualified, most are completely new to the civilian work force and just beginning to understand the role that social media (and their personal brand) will play in their job hunt! I was thrilled to be able to provide this service and these complimentary images to so many of these men and women who have served for 20+ years.  I wish them all the best as they start their next chapters in the civilian world!

Why is this important? Who cares if my LinkedIn profile picture is just a cropped in selfie?  Well, as professionals who are looking for professional employment, your social media site(s) are your first impression! Would you ever walk up to a future employer with a beer in your hand and your best buddy next to you, laughing loudly? I hope not! That is the equivalent of having an unprofessional social media profile image...

Here are some quick facts that I was able to share with many of these job seekers about social media and your job hunt (and why you need a professional head shot!):

• 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn to check candidates. (Jobvite Recruiter Nation Report 2016)
• Jobs requiring social skills have grown 83%.  (The State of the American Job Report Pew Research October 2016)
• On average, each corporate job offer attracts 250 resumes. Of those candidates, 4 to 6 will get called for an interview, and only one will get the job. A solid online profile helps you stand out.  (Glassdoor)
• Which source is used most for job searching and recruiting? Here are the top five sources:  

    Career Sites - 27.35%    Job Boards - 18.76%
    Referrals - 15.83%         Internal Hire - 15.25%
    Agency - 4.52%
    (Jobvite 2017 Recruiting Funnel Benchmark Report)

• 41% of employers say that they might not interview a candidate if they can’t find them online. ​(Careerbuilder)​

Convincing right?

Your online presence is the first thing people see, whether you are searching for the perfect job or just excelling in your current position. Personal branding is about presenting yourself in the best light possible. 

If you are a looking for a job, a promotion, or just an improved online presence, please let me help! Contact me now to schedule your complimentary consultation to discuss how professional portraits can take your online presence and personal brand to the next level.

719.644.6505 | lindsey@lindseyslattery.com