The concept of ‘self-promotion’ can feel a bit… icky. The same goes for the phrase ‘personal brand’. Both sound like the kind of terms a candidate on The Apprentice would roll out in their on-camera intro. But move past that connotation and you get to the nub: these are just ways to make it clear to everyone how great you are – and that’s a vital skill.

We also tend to think of brand-building as only important for, well, brands and businesses. But in fact, people in the job market need to do this too. The difference is that we need to build an ‘employee brand’.

“If one of your career goals this year is to switch jobs, get a promotion, or grow your professional network, it might be time to consider investing in your ‘employee brand’,” Molly Johnson-Jones, CEO & co-founder of Flexa, tells Stylist. “Your employee brand is essentially your professional reputation. It tells prospective employers, managers and peers what you’re all about, and what you have to offer them: values, interests, skills and expertise included. This makes employee brands a powerful tool for unlocking new, meaningful career opportunities – particularly with the help of social media platforms.”

In terms of social media platforms for work purposes, LinkedIn is a winner. It’s also Johnson-Jones’ area of expertise (she’s recognised as a ‘top voice’ on the site). So, how do we start building our employee brand on LinkedIn? Here are six key tips.

On the hunt for a new job? You need to build an ‘employee brand’ – here are 6 essential steps, using LinkedIn