In “Personal Branding Basics,” I listed three steps for making a personal brand work for you in your career. The first step is to Understand your Strengths.
Look to your work history for clues to your strengths. Check out your existing online profile. What comes up when you Google yourself? What is your social media presence? What are you known for online?
Questions you should ask yourself:
- What are my top achievements in my career?
- What reputation am I most proud of?
- What do I want my next employer to know about me?
- What can I do that others with the same job title can’t do?
- How have I improved my work environment?
- Why am I good at what I do?
- What life experiences have I had that would be valuable to others?
- Is there an area where I’m better at something than others?
- How am I more productive and innovative than other candidates for this job?
- Is there a specific result I can deliver in this job?
- How does my work contribute to an employer’s bottom line?
Based on your answers, make a list of possible attributes, values, and differentiators. Brainstorm first — don’t judge or evaluate. Next in Part 2 of this series, we’ll evaluate how your strengths relate to potential employers’ needs.