Things got personal at the Second Annual Auraria Career Day Feb. 13. The event was about developing one’s individual brand in the age of social media.
“Your personal brand isn’t just online, it’s everything you do,” Adriana Llames-Kogelis said in her keynote speech to a full Tivoli Turnhalle.
Llames- Kogelis is a Fortune 500 executive and personal brand expert specializing in social media. She is also a published author and brought copies of her book, “Career Sudoku: 9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game,” which she gave out to those in the audience who engaged with her during the speech.
“She gave me a lot to think about,” said Matt Piele, a guest who received a copy of her book.
The keynote speech focused on developing a personal identity through social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Llames-Kogelis went over the steps that should be taken to ensure a successful personal brand.
“The reality is that your brand has moved online. The world has moved online,” Llames-Kogelis said.
She added that students should be aware of how they are viewed by others based on online profiles.
“If you’re out at a party and you decide to cheer your friend with a beer, don’t put it on Facebook,” Llames-Kogelis said.
She said that when job-hunting, hiring managers look at a potential hire’s online presence. Eighty percent of hiring managers will search for an applicant’s name on the Internet and 40 percent will look at Facebook and Twitter, Llames-Kogelis said.
“I Googled myself and there are 15 pages of results,” Llames-Kogelis said.
Another subject of the keynote address was the importance of networking. Llames-Kogelis had the crowd do an exercise in which people came up with a 15 second pitch in 15 words describing their jobs.
“What’s the first thing people ask you?” Llames-Kogelis asked, “What do you do?”
She expressed the importance of not simply giving your job title, but trying to market yourself to people. She also explained the importance of business cards in networking.
“Get a business card. Otherwise you’re like a cowboy without a lasso,” Llames-Kogelis said.
The event featured various workshops on similar topics covered by Llames-Kogelis. Workshops included training on how to build a LinkedIn profile, proper online etiquette and dressing for success.
“I got a lot out of this,” said event attendee Natasha Carroll, “I wasn’t familiar with Adriana before, but she’s very knowledgeable.”