“I’ve always wanted to be known as someone consistent, the “LinkedIn girl,” – Nobesuthu Mahlangu

If I had to do my varsity days all over again, there is one thing that I would change. I would work on my personal brand. Unfortunately, I did not have anyone to assist me with that. Graduates today are very fortunate to have a young dynamic expert like Nobesuthu Mahlangu to guide them. This Q&A was eye opening and I recommend that every graduate reads it till the end. Such amazing insights! Here it is:

Sibusiso Nkosi: A lot of people never think about personal branding for Grads. What shifted you towards that direction?

Nobesuthu Mahlangu: In my final year of university, I was actively searching for opportunities, but nothing seemed to come my way. I walked into company offices and handed out my CV, but most were either undergoing restructuring or had frozen hiring. It became clear that just putting myself out there wasn’t enough — I had to be visible in the right spaces. That’s when I turned to LinkedIn, a platform where the right people and recruiters could actually find me. What really pushed me to shift gears was the determination to find an internship and the realization that I had to work smarter, not just harder.

Sibusiso Nkosi: What is personal branding for Graduates? What does that entail?

Nobesuthu Mahlangu: It’s all about sharing your journey. When I was just starting out, I used to share simple lessons from my classes—things like what the dismissal process looks like, how to manage absenteeism, and other HR-related topics. It might have seemed small, but soon enough, I started getting invited to interviews for HR internships. Sharing your experiences and aspirations helps you connect with people who could become important supporters down the road. But before you start building your personal brand, it’s important to understand why you’re doing it. Ask yourself: What are my values? What do I want to be known for? And what goals am I aiming for? Answering these questions lays a solid foundation, especially when you’re using LinkedIn.

Sibusiso Nkosi: There is a perception that personal branding is expensive. What are your thoughts on that, especially when it comes to Graduates?

Nobesuthu Mahlangu: Building my brand myself made me realize it doesn’t have to be expensive. The days when companies invested big sums to polish their CEOs’ personal brands and media presence are gone. Today, all it takes is a phone, WiFi, consistency, and something you genuinely enjoy talking about. When I first started, I was using library WiFi. It’s not expensive, but it definitely requires commitment and drive.

Sibusiso Nkosi: How would you describe your own personal brand?

Nobesuthu Mahlangu: I’ve always wanted to be known as someone consistent, the “LinkedIn girl,” and a person who’s passionate about helping others with their personal branding journey. Just last week, at a meet and greet, many people said to me, “I started building my personal brand on LinkedIn because of you.” That’s exactly the impact I hoped to have, and I truly believe that’s what I’m known for.

Sibusiso Nkosi: What are your top personal branding tips for Graduates?

Nobesuthu Mahlangu:

• Closed mouths don’t get fed.
• Personal branding is a long term investment, put in the hours. 
• Be willing to look like a clown, you’re going to make a lot of mistakes instead embrace them. 
• Deals are being closed on LinkedIn, start now!