Personal Branding and Networking

Our second reflection was all about the importance of personal branding and networking. We were instructed to compare and contrast 3 linked in profiles of accounting professionals. We were also to discuss the strengths of their profiles. Then we were to create a linked in profile then assess it, in relation to the three profiles of the professionals. This is what I wrote about my profile at the time;

Currently my Linkedin account has skills such as financial statements and journal entries listed. The background section is empty. I have included the ‘Causes I care about’ and “Organisations that I support’. Listed in ‘Education’ are Macquarie University and the Sydney Institute of Business. I have also included my hobbies, that I am a member of the Accounting Students Association and that I am bilingual. Hopefully by the time I graduate, future employers will see me as qualified, someone with outside interests and employable.

A strength in my personal brand is that I feel comfortable at social events and consider myself friendly and easier to approach so I will not find networking as deterring as other students in my position.

The biggest weakness in my personal brand is my lack of experience. One action I can take to strengthen my personal brand before graduation and joining the accounting profession is to gain some experience. I currently have no experience in the workforce which can be a large disadvantage for me when competing against graduates who have had experience. Getting a part time job, an internship or even taking up volunteer work will instantly enhance my personal brand.

Since this reflection, I have changed my profile by adding my volunteer work. I am still yet to add a profile picture which would actually be very beneficial for my personal brand and image.