How to Brand Yourself For Your Chosen Career

A LinkedIn survey reveals that 70% of hiring managers value a robust personal brand more than a detailed resume. But what exactly is personal branding, and how can you use it to your advantage?

You want a fulfilling career, so you follow that path: acquire an education, earn a degree, and embark on your professional journey equipped with knowledge and skills. However, getting the attention of the companies hiring needs to be focussed on what and who they see when they are considering you.  Be what they are looking for, not by being something you are not, but by focusing their attention on the aspects of you that line up more specifically with why you are the one for the job.

Your advantage over other candidates may hinge on personal branding.

Here, we'll explore the essence of personal branding and provide practical steps to craft and communicate your unique professional identity. This is your guide to not just finding a job but getting the job by standing out because you have built yourself toward a career that resonates with your strengths and talents.

What is Personal Branding for Job Seekers?

In today's competitive job market, standing out to prospective employers is not just beneficial; it's essential.

Personal branding is about shaping and communicating your unique professional identity. By standing out in all the right ways, you become memorable – not just for your skills and experiences but for the distinct qualities that make you, you. By emphasizing your unique traits and values, personal branding helps you differentiate yourself in a field teeming with competitors, leaving a lasting impression on potential employers.

To truly stand out in the job market, it's not enough to be just another candidate; you need to be an unforgettable presence. A well-crafted personal brand does just that, enabling you to leave a lasting impact that goes beyond your resume.

How to Brand Yourself for Your Career

Your professional brand is essentially your story presented to the company hiring. It's a narrative that encapsulates your past experiences, achievements, and the journey that has led you to where you are today. When you meet potential employers, your personal brand is your first impression - it's what makes them intrigued to learn more about you and, ideally, eager to collaborate with you by envisioning you as the person who will be successful as the new hire.

Branding yourself all hinges on how you communicate, both online and in person. It's about letting your unique personality shine through, emphasizing the qualities that will make you successful, and creating a bond that goes beyond professional qualifications. Equally important is how you convey your skills and experiences, showcasing not just your affability but your competence and reliability, as well.

Creating a credible and trustworthy personal brand involves crafting a narrative that aligns with your authentic self. These steps can guide you in developing your personal brand that not only makes you an attractive candidate to employers but also aligns with your career aspirations and personal values.

Choosing the Best Career

Selecting the right career is a crucial step in your professional journey. To make an informed decision, consider conducting a thorough self-assessment that can reveal your professional strengths and preferences. This process often involves analyzing your personality traits, skills, interests, and values to understand which careers might suit you best.

The CareerFitter Career Assessment Test has been designed by leading psychologists to identify personality strengths within a work environment.  It takes a four-pronged approach to career exploration, including: 

• Identifying Your Strengths: Reflect on your key characteristics. What are your most dominant traits? How do these traits shape your work style and behavior in a professional setting? Recognizing these can guide you toward a career that aligns with your natural inclinations and strengths.

• Understanding Your Work Preferences: Consider the aspects of work that energize you and those that you might find less appealing. This understanding can help you identify careers that match your preferences and work style, leading to greater job satisfaction and success.

• Exploring Career Options: Research various career paths. Look into the nature of different jobs, their requirements, potential income, and growth opportunities. Utilize resources like job descriptions, career-focused websites, and informational interviews to gather insights.

• Leveraging Additional Resources: Make use of available resources to deepen your understanding of various careers. This might include educational videos, detailed job research, and information on current job openings. Such resources can offer valuable perspectives and help you make a well-rounded decision.

Through this comprehensive approach, you can gain a clear picture of your professional identity so you can select a career path that utilizes your strengths and aligns with your personal and professional goals. Get started with the best career assessment, CareerFitter's Career Assessment Test.

Preparing Your Resume with Personal Branding

When embarking on your job search, updating your resume is a pivotal step. However, it's crucial to infuse your personal brand into this document so you don't get your resume rejected. Your resume should not only list your qualifications but also reflect your unique professional story and the value you bring.

Incorporating Personal Branding in Your Resume

By thoughtfully integrating your personal brand into your resume, you not only provide a snapshot of your qualifications but also create a compelling narrative that resonates with potential employers, showcasing not just what you've done but who you are as a professional.

• Highlight Your Career Narratives: Share specific stories from your career that illustrate your initiative and professional growth. Reflect on your experiences and how you've positively impacted your previous roles. This could include innovative projects, problem-solving instances, or leadership experiences.

• Showcase Tangible Results: Employers are interested in outcomes. Highlight achievements where your actions led to measurable results. For example, if you implemented a strategy that reduced costs or improved efficiency, quantify these accomplishments on your resume. Statements like "Implemented a new process that reduced shipping costs by 20%" clearly demonstrate your impact.

• Personalize Your Experiences: Make your resume uniquely yours by including experiences and skills that set you apart. The more your resume reflects your individual journey and achievements, the more it will stand out. Avoid generic descriptions and focus on what makes your professional story unique.

 Using tools like Resume Spice, Resume.io, Novo Resume & Career Contessa can help you perfect your resume to stand out from the crowd.

Optimizing Your Social Media for Professional Visibility

Social media platforms play a significant role in today's job market, often serving as a first impression for potential employers.

Curating your social media presence to reflect your professional brand and career aspirations is essential. Provide consistency across platforms with a uniform profile picture and theme across all your social media accounts. This consistency makes it easier for employers to find and recognize you online.

It is also critical to review posted content. Ensure it's appropriate and professional, free of profanity or anything that might be construed as offensive. Your social media should reflect your best professional self.

There are also some platform-specific tips to keep in mind.

• Facebook: Adjust your privacy settings to maintain personal privacy while making professional achievements visible to the public. Utilize features like Life Events to showcase significant career milestones.

• Instagram: Create a cohesive theme for your Instagram profile. Share content that represents your professional achievements and use hashtags strategically to increase visibility in your field.

• LinkedIn: As a critical tool for professionals, ensure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date, reflecting your personal branding. Highlight your professional achievements, skills, and experiences. Consider adding a personalized video introduction to make your profile more engaging.

• Pinterest: Use Pinterest to display more about your personal brand. Curate boards that showcase your professional interests, hobbies, and goals, which can offer a more rounded view of your personality and aspirations.

• Twitter: Leverage Twitter to engage with industry news and trends. Follow and interact with industry leaders and influencers to participate in relevant conversations.

• YouTube: If you have a YouTube channel, start your videos with a brief introduction about yourself and the channel's focus. Regularly post content relevant to your professional interests and ensure the comments section remains professional.

Regularly updating your social media profiles with professional accomplishments and insights can significantly enhance your online presence, making it easier for potential employers to understand your career narrative and professional value.

Creating a Personal Website for Professional Branding

Developing your own website can be a powerful tool in establishing your professional presence and authority. A personal website serves as a dynamic platform to showcase your career journey, achievements, and aspirations.

These are the key elements of an effective personal website:

• Consistent Branding: Align your website’s design with your personal brand. Use colors, themes, and styles that are in harmony with your portfolio and social media profiles, creating a cohesive and recognizable brand image that also aligns with the professionalism of your chosen career field.

• Showcase Your Achievements: Use your website to highlight key accomplishments in your career. This can include successful projects, awards, recognitions, or any milestones that demonstrate your skills and expertise.

• Current Projects and Goals: Share the projects you are currently working on and your professional goals. This not only shows your active engagement in your field but also your forward-thinking approach and ambition.

• Personal Insights: Your website is a space to express your thoughts, perspectives, and insights into your industry or profession. This adds depth to your professional profile and can position you as a thoughtful and insightful figure in your field.

• Integration with Social Media: Incorporate links to your social media profiles to provide a comprehensive view of your professional identity. This makes it easier for employers and peers to connect with you and follow your professional activities across different platforms.

By creating a personal website, you have the opportunity to control the narrative of your professional story, presenting a well-rounded and compelling image to potential employers, clients, and colleagues. Canva, Weebly, Square Space, and Google Sites provide easy-to-use, free tools to help you get started building your own personal website.

Personal branding is a journey that requires dedication, time, and patience. It's about creating a distinct identity highlighting your unique skills, experiences, and vision, enabling you to stand out in your chosen field. It also helps the employer envision you in the role, giving you a marked advantage over other candidates. 

As you embark on this journey, remember that personal branding extends beyond your resume and cover letter. It encompasses every aspect of your professional presence, from how you present yourself in interviews to your online persona. Leverage social media, personal websites, and other digital platforms to consistently convey your professional brand and build a network that aligns with your career goals.

The process of personal branding is dynamic and ongoing. As your career evolves, so should your brand. Continuously refine and update your brand to reflect your growing skills, experiences, and professional aspirations. This proactive approach will help you make a lasting impression in your industry, opening doors to new opportunities and connections.

Embrace the journey of personal branding, and watch as it transforms your job search and your entire professional trajectory.