I have always been interested in the art of personal branding. A few years ago, personal branding was something that only the rich and famous thought about. A PR team would do all the work for you to ensure you were portrayed in a favourable light. Fast forward to today, and personal branding has risen in significance. The main reason for this growth is due to the rise in social media. Let’s face it, everybody has a least one form of social media profile! This means that there is so much information out there about us and how we are represented in so many ways. Due to this we need to be conscious of how we are presenting ourselves to our peers, colleagues and also future employers.
In today’s marketplace, it’s tough to stand out. Most people have gone to university and obtained a degree, for example, therefore good grades and lots of extracurricular activities won’t guarantee that you’ll land the job of your dreams, or that you’ll even land an interview. The reality of the marketplace is that there are many qualified candidates out there. However, the secret to standing out is to impress recruiters with the unique and authentic you—in person, on paper, and online! You will know how to do this by seriously digging deep and answering these questions:
-What do you want to be known for?
-What reactions do you want to inspire?
-How do you market yourself to others?
-What makes you stand out from the crowd?
By asking yourself these questions you will then be able start forming the basis of your personal brand and how this can make an impact in the workplace, school, university or in your chosen industry.
With a strong brand, you can maximise your impact in your sector or industry. You can also maximize your career potential because you know why you are so special! Personal branding it will help you get clearer on your strengths, passions, gifts and purpose (life, workplace, entrepreneurial).
I meet hundreds of graduates and young professionals! They are fantastic, however it is very important to also be able to communicate, network, put yourself across in different situations. By finding your personal brand, you will then be able to communicate to others what your unique selling point is (everyone has at least one!), what you are good at or why you are even best for the job.
Whether you want to continue going in your current direction or strike out on a whole new path, the sooner you get started developing your personal brand in the direction you want it to go (rather than letting it run loose) the sooner your brand will be strong enough to help you get where you want to be professionally.
Delivering your personal brand clearly and consistently will create a memorable experience in the minds of those you interact with and can also open doors to new opportunities. Make sure you put your unique mark on everything you do. The more you do this, branding becomes a natural part of how you manage your career and how you add value to yourself, your employer and your business.
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