Personal Branding

Personal Branding

Definition:

Personal branding is the practice of people marketing themselves and their careers as brands. A personal branding can be anything from someone in marketing with 30+ years of experience in companies of differing sizes, or an event planner advertising their eye for detail.

Personal Brand:

Branding is a link between you and the job market.

- Your personal brand is the collection of ideals you stand for the offerings you consistently provide

- It is not a list of accomplishments or an exercise in self-promotion

Ready to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT):

Personal branding is a great way to stand out amongst your peers. This document will show you how.

Note: Discuss all job opportunities with the Padnos International Center first.

As an international student there is already a bias, as employers believe you are more difficult to employ. Branding is a way rise above these limitations.

“When you live your personal brand, you are being true to yourself; and that comes through when you are interacting with others, colleagues, other leaders and stakeholders. It contributes to authentic leadership because you are acting in a way that‘s consistent with your vision of who you are, what you’re good at and what matters most to you, both professionally and personally.” – Adele Gulfo.

Online Branding, or Personal Branding is a way of managing one’s reputation for the business world. It allows employees to present themselves as a leader and valuable worker to current and potential employers. Online branding includes creating a presence on social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Branding yourself online is similar to how you present yourself in person – the goal is to highlight the best parts of yourself, and control the image of the negative parts of yourself.

 

Why is online branding important?

 

American employees are very concerned with how people present themselves online. Employers are likely Google a candidate before ever meeting them. This means that employers already have an idea of who you are as a person before they ever meet you. There are a few things to keep in mind when working on your online image:

- Create an image that is both honest and that employers will find appealing

- Coming across as too laid back or more concerned with recreation than work may create images in an employer’s mind of a lazy or unmotivated employee.

- Creating an image of yourself as a leader – employers want to see self-motivated and proactive employees.

Remember, American employers view their employees as an extension of their company- they want employees to appear impressive.

 

How to brand yourself: 

Define your overall aspirations:

- List your core values

- Establish your passions

- Identify your talents

- Define the position you aspire towards

- Be specific when listing your values, passions and talents

 

Conduct Research:

Conduct research to build your credibility.

- Research potential employers

- Interview other professionals in your desired field

- Research how to become an expert in something related to your desired business

- Build your resume

- Apply for internships

 

Establish a Website or Blog:

Potential employers use search engines to research you, connect with you and potentially interview you. That’s why you need a personal website/blog.

- Use your full name, add your picture, a bio, your email address

- Include values, passions, and talents to stand out

- Include research to build credibility 

* By developing either a static website or a blog under your domain name, you will own the result for your name in Google and other search engines.

 

Generate Brand Awareness Through Networking:

Networking is one of the best ways to become known in your industry. Form relationships with your audience to build your brand long-term. Four rules of networking to keep in mind:

- Mutualism: You have to create win-win relationships in business, making sure you don’t benefit more than the other party.

- Giving: help someone out, before asking for anything in return. This makes people want to support you.

- Targeting: You want to be very specific with the types of people you network with, in order to save time and to attract the right people to your brand.

- Reconnecting: Never lose touch, that way networking contacts remember you when new opportunities surface.

How to brand yourself



Page last modified May 12, 2015