In the modern business world, your personal brand is just as important as that of a thriving (or struggling) business. Recruiters and hiring managers will do their due diligence when researching you, it is vital that what they find only reflects positively on you. Many people have no idea what sort of reputation their online presence is currently presenting. Our LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts are all easily accessible troves of information about us as individuals—about our relationships, friendships, extracurricular activities, and so much more. What message are you sending with your personal brand? What are you telling other people about you through your posts, likes, and shares?

A personal brand audit will take a look at your entire online presence, and ensure that it is in keeping with what you want to portray to potential employers and partners. In particular, you want to ensure that you are presenting a consistent message across all platforms, clearly stating your value proposition (why you are a hireable individual) and that you are marketable to your target audience. You also want to come across as tech-savvy and up-to-date on the nuances of your market, and do so in a way that is authentic and compelling. Thus, a good personal brand audit does more than simply remove embarrassing pictures from your Facebook page. It is a conscious shaping of your online persona so that you present the best possible YOU to your audience.

So…what does your personal brand say about you?