When you hear “branding,” you probably think about large corporations with easily recognized logos.
How can that word apply to you as a job seeker? What can creating a personal brand do for you as you start looking for a new career? It does not mean hiring a graphic designer to come up with a unique logo that you can slap on your resume.
A personal brand is more about how you present yourself to potential employers and strengthen the qualities that make you a valuable asset to a company.
There are thousands of other job seekers out there who are qualified and talented and want to work for the same company that you do. The only way to have a better chance of getting hired is to make sure you stand out from the crowd. A great personal brand goes a long way to making you a more desirable job candidate.
The Changing Job Market
Today’s job market has evolved greatly over time. Once, landing a job meant having a solid resume and nailing your interview. Now, potential employers want more. They want to hire a person who has more to offer the company. They want someone who is skilled, relevant, and demonstrates a true passion for the industry.
Many employers today will go so far as to do a Google search of their potential hires. They will be able to see social media activity (or lack thereof), personal blogs and websites, articles and more attached to your name. They’re not just looking to see how you present yourself to the online world. They also look to see what types of content you are putting out there.
If you are passionate about the industry you want to be a part of, they want to see that you are sharing content that relates to it. Do you have a blog that stays up-to-date and gives you a clear voice about the things you care about? Have you written industry-related articles for online publication? All of these things come together to be part of your personal brand and it’s what employers will look for to see if you are truly the best candidate for the role.
Create Your Personal Brand
How do you work to create your own personal brand? You don’t have to run out and throw together a personal website overnight. There are other steps to take to build your own brand.
First, know your goals
Before you can start on a path, you need to know where you want to go. What is your end goal? What does your career look like? What steps do you need to take to get there? Be ready to invest time and money in order to meet those goals. Remember, building a brand is about investing in you!
Identify your strengths
This is where you really need to take a hard look at yourself. Make a list of what you think your strengths are. Then, turn to friends and coworkers and ask them what they would say your strengths are. This is how you get an outside look at yourself. They may contradict your own list, but they might also come up with some that you never thought of.
Use this information to determine what qualities you have that set you apart from others. These traits are what go into making your brand stronger than someone else’s.
Create your branding statement
Your branding statement is one or two lines that will clearly tell people who you are. It is a unique statement that tells an employer what you stand for and what they can expect from you as an employee for the company. With your branding statement clear in your mind, you can then work on your elevator pitch. This is a quick pitch to a potential employer to show them who you are and why you are the right fit for the position.
Represent your brand
This means everything from your outward appearance to the persona you put online. Be conscious of your appearance both in the real world and on the Web. This is the face that people and companies are going to attach to your brand, so make sure you are representing yourself well.
Go ahead and get business cards made. Even if you are currently between jobs, this small card is a physical reminder that can be easily handed to people you want in your network. Be sure to include your picture and brand statement on these cards as well.
Your personal brand is an important part of being a desirable candidate in today’s job market.
How do you define your personal brand?