You’ve probably heard of the Baby Boomer generation. Well, welcome to the new tech-savvy, driven and diverse Millennial generation. Often referred to as Generation Y, this term typically refers to those who were born between 1982-1995. Millennials are in tuned with technology and social media. The platforms have created an avenue for individuals to build personal portfolios using social media platforms.

Along with this new movement comes a new philosophy that has become increasingly important in the job sphere. To put into perspective: many millennialsprioritized “meaningful work” over high pay and 1 in 3 young people said “social media freedom” is a higher priority than salary.

Here are some perks and pitfalls of being a digital native.

Happy President’s Day! While you’re all enjoying a day off, we thought we’d give you some food for thought. Every four years, two candidates battle for the vote of millions of American citizens, hoping to be chosen to lead our government. They establish a platform, engage in debates, and approve public service messages to be sent out across media channels. All of these tasks are nothing more than methods to establish a personal brand. And we, as voters, vote for the brand we trust in most. So, what lessons can we learn from our presidents about personal branding?

Have you ever thought “going Greek” could help your personal brand?  Whether or not you are in a sorority at your university or have considered joining, you may not have thought about the benefits you can gain.  

Within all the experiences and friendships, the sorority chapter can offer so much more to help you be successful in the real world.  Your sorority brand can enhance your personal brand if you take advantage of it.  Move forward with your personal brand and see how your involvement in a sorority can have a positive effect on it.  

Your reputation is your brand. If people don't have any experience with you, then your reputation is what they rely on to form their opinions. Therefore, it is very important to monitor your reputation for your personal brand to ensure your continued career development and success.

Managing your reputation for your personal brand isn't a complicated process, but it does require that you be proactive. Here are a few tips for how you can better manage your reputation for your personal brand to ensure your continued career success:

Never underestimate the power of your personal brand – especially in a creative field. Whether you’re a writer, designer, musician, or another type of artist, to find a job in your industry you can’t just possess talent, you have to be able to sell others on that talent. As a writer who has already achieved a number of my career goals by cultivating a personal brand, here are my top 3 tips for creatives learning how to represent themselves as artists!

Whether you’re a college student or well into your career, hopefully you’ve recognized that social media outlets can enhance your chances of being a top-notch job candidate. Social recruiting is at an all-time high. In 2011, 89 percent of U.S. companies used social networks to recruit employees, up from 83 percent in 2010. No matter what industry you’re looking to work in, it’s clear your social footprint matters to future employers.

There are plenty of articles that discuss how social media can hurt your job search, but I’m more interested in discussing how you can use the powers of social media for good. We’re living in a digital age, which means every industry—from investment banking to entertainment—is using social media and looking to see how employees are using these sites, too.  Here are five ways to show you’re social media-savvy and a serious job candidate.

When developing your personal brand, one thing that is also important to take into consideration is the promotion and marketing of that brand. Market your personal brand by growing your following on your digital channels and building your network of contacts.

How to Get Going When You Don’t Know Where to Start
Launching a personal website, launching a brand, launching a business. These were some of the key search terms on Google when people wanted to begin building a brand. Many of the articles share ambiguous advice without real actionable steps to act upon. Launching your brand does not need to take months and months of preparation. What it does require is countless hours sitting in front of a computer and a determined mind to get things done. Here is the secret formula to launching your brand in a nutshell: Vision + Plan + Action= Brand. Decide what you want to do. Decide how you are going to do it. Do it. That’s basically it, but don’t worry. I’ll elaborate.

In 2011, 89% of employers googled a candidate's name. When someone googles your name, the search results speak volumes about who you are and what you do. Google your name now. What are the search results on the first page? You should have a Linkedin profile, Google plus profile, blog or website, Google authorship on articles you’ve written, pages you have been featured on, and a twitter profile. What is revealed on these pages brands you both personally and professionally. I have diligently been working on manipulating the search results that are shown for my name and you should too. Here are some key ways to take control of your google search results.