Out of the thousands of shoe brands available in the market, what makes your favorite brand stand out? A pair of shoes is merely a product – when a company distinguishes itself from the other shoes in the market, a brand is born.
Your personal branding is as important for you just as it is vital for any business. And just like your beloved brands, you must begin by identifying your core values. The earlier you do this in your career, the more defined your professional personality will be.
Establishing your personal brand helps recruiters get to know your strengths better. Start by finding your identity. The principles you stand for together with your technical skill set are the two key factors that help the employers make their decision.
Here’s a step by step guide to building an effective personal brand:-
Step 1:- Identifying your Strengths
This involves identifying 3 core skills you excel at and 3 core values that you care about the most. When your strengths are put forward precisely, your employer knows exactly where you fit. Avoid generic definitions at all costs and stick to specific skills that make you stand out as a potential employee.
Step 2:- Shaping your Story
Write down your defining experiences during school and other volunteering opportunities. If you’ve been employed before, write down your pivotal outtakes from the experience.
Your story helps you build a narrative and further defines your uniqueness. It is also a tool to capture your growth potential and highlight your sense of dedication.
Step 3: Finding your Market
Like all great brands, you have a niche market too. Envision your future, what kind of company you see yourself working for and think about the clientele you’d like to cater to. Being aligned with your employers and customers is a proven recipe for professional success.
Step 4: Making your Mark
If you wanted people to remember you by one defining feature, what would it be? Design the kind of impression you want to make. When you have a sense of purpose in place, your employers will feel assured and you will attract the projects and clients of your choice. Authenticity and self-knowledge are key personal features that enhance your professional identity greatly. Keeping your social media in tandem with these values helps too.
Step 5: Walking the talk
Being consistent with the image you project in all forms of personal expression is key. Everything from the way you dress, to your correspondence style and business cards must reflect your core personality. Reinforcing your story only makes it more potent.
The guidelines outlined above will help you land the job of your choice. A well defined personal brand helps you achieve success in all your personal and professional endeavors.
