In today’s competitive job market, you need to think of yourself as a brand. Personal branding is the practice of people marketing oneself and their careers as brands. Personal Branding is about identifying and then communicating what makes you unique and relevant and differentiated for your target audience, so that you can reach your career and/or business goals. If you understand your strengths, skills, passions, and values, you can use this information to separate yourself from your competitors and really stand out. Here are a few things you can do to manage your personal brand:
- Be clear about the image you intend to project. If you have more than one message you run the risk of confusing people about what you are all about.
- Make certain your brand message is consistent across all platforms. For instance, your resume and LinkedIn profile must be in sync.
- Back up any broad statements with objective proof. Show numbers, dates, etc. of what you have done that backs up your claim.
- Keep it brief. Can you state your value proposition in 10 words or less? If not, you run the risk of being forgettable.
Branding breathes life into your career marketing and creates a vivid way to generate interest in you, helping you land a position faster and, hopefully, at a higher compensation level. Personal branding is very powerful because it sends a clear, consistent message about who you are and what you have to offer. A strong, authentic personal brand helps you become known for what you’re good at, sets you apart from everyone else, and can position you as a niche expert.