Your Resume Isn't Enough: Personal Branding for Administrative Professionals. By someone who's seen everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) in 25+ years of recruiting!

Let me start with a true story.

A few years ago, I received what looked like a solid resume: great experience, strong skills, relevant job titles. I got excited. They looked PERFECT on paper. (HR professionals- you already know how that goes!) The client, a CEO needing a sharp, polished Executive Assistant, was ready to interview ASAP. Just to do my due diligence, I clicked on their online profile to double-check their profile and background.

And there they were....

Living their best life, by the pool, in a skimpy bathing suit, a joint in one hand and a drink in the other, with some friends passed out in the background. In the profile photo!

Needless to say, they did not get the interview. Not because I'm judging their weekend habits (what you do on your own time is your business, and they looked "very happy" in the shot), but because this is work and your LinkedIn.com profile should be an extension of your professional strengths, skills, and experience. Clients will not hire someone to manage their calendar and communicate on their behalf with their clients if that person lacks the judgment to represent themselves professionally online.

So if you think that your resume alone is enough to land the job, I have news:

It's not. It's just the start.

You might see "fun", but potential employers see "run".

In today's market, hiring managers aren't just skimming resumes; they're Googling you. They're reading your communication style when replying to emails, checking your LinkedIn, and even your Instagram. When you're applying for administrative roles, especially high-visibility positions supporting executives or managing confidential information and communicating with others on behalf of your company, you are the face of the office and team. That means employers want someone who looks polished and professional on paper and online to represent them.

 I've had clients pass on candidates with amazing resumes and experience because their public photos were, to say the least, a little too revealing (in all senses of the word). We're not recruiting for "Love Island". Again, no shame in self-expression, but it's about context. When a potential employer looks you up, they're asking themselves: Can I trust this person with my reputation, my calendar, my inbox, my clients? One click can answer that question in the wrong direction.

So What Is Personal Branding?

Let's demystify the term. Personal branding isn't about creating a fake persona. It's about making sure your authentic self and strengths shine through in the way you want them to. It's the combination of your experience, professionalism, and how you present yourself digitally and in real life, as it reflects how you'll show up to work.

If you're an Executive Assistant or administrative professional who thrives in fast-paced, high-pressure environments, your online presence should reflect that energy. If you're a detail-oriented Office Manager who can MacGyver a last-minute event while troubleshooting the printer, let that shine through.

Here's how to make sure your brand is working for you—not against you:

1. Clean Up Your Digital Footprint

Google yourself. What comes up? Is your LinkedIn photo professional, or from your best friend's bachelorette party? Are your Instagram posts public? (If so, are they appropriate for recruiters and your future employer to see?)

Pro tip: If you wouldn't want your future boss to see it, make it private - or delete it.

2. Polish Your LinkedIn

This is not the place for personal quotes or pics of your weekend getaway. Use a clean headshot with a plain background (using your iPhone in portrait mode and studio lighting is great). Fill out your experience thoroughly AND ENSURE IT MATCHES THE DATES ON YOUR RESUME PERFECTLY.

We've had clients not move applicants to the second round because their LinkedIn.com experience and education didn't match the resume exactly. They notice the lack of attention to detail!

Use bullet points to highlight your key strengths, including scheduling, project management, travel coordination, and vendor wrangling. Be sure to mention them all and make sure they match the bullet points on your resume.

Ditch the job titles like "Admin Extraordinaire" or "Office Ninja." Unless you're applying to Cirque du Soleil, stick with clear, searchable language.

Join LinkedIn.com Groups that share your talent for Executive Assistant support of Office Management. More than likely, the people you are interviewing with are part of the same group, which is a great thing to mention during your interview!

3. Consistency is Key, Proofreading Is Essential

Your resume says "detail-oriented," but your LinkedIn history has typos, and your signature includes a glitter gif. Mixed messages won't get you the job.

Ensure your tone, voice, and formatting are consistently professional, starting with your initial email communication, and remain aligned across all platforms. Potential employers notice this stuff, especially your communication style in emails when communicating with them during the interview process. Trust me, they've told me.

4. Showcase Soft Skills Subtly

Are you the one who organizes office birthdays? Loves color-coded spreadsheets? Kept a remote team sane during the pandemic? Share a post on LinkedIn about your approach to morale-boosting or time management. Let employers see the person behind the tasks and what makes you great at what you do. Your email communications and LinkedIn posts should showcase your expertise and highlight what makes you exceptional. You deserve to be proud of a job well done, and you should tell others about it.

Final Thoughts

In 25+ years of recruiting top administrative professionals, I've seen it all, from the rockstar Receptionist who went viral for organizing a CEO's birthday flash mob to the otherwise-perfect candidate who lost the job over a tweet about "fake working from home."

Your resume is your foundation, but your personal online brand and communication style can make or break your career. The career that funds your fun personal life!

So, before you hit "send" on that next application, take a moment to proofread your email and audit your digital presence. Google yourself and look at your LinkedIn.com profile. Because when you are job hunting, someone will be looking more than ever. And they're not just hiring a skillset. They're hiring a person they trust to represent them and their company to their clients and the general public.

Make sure that you look like the rock-solid professional you are online, not like someone lighting up on LinkedIn… literally.