This is the last part of a three-part series on how to create a personal brand and leverage that brand in your job search. See Personal Branding Basics for an overview. Part 1 discussed how to understand your strengths, and in Part 2, we discussed understanding how your strengths relate to an employer’s needs. The last step in successful personal branding is to consistently communicate that message, both online and offline.
Regardless of whether you’re unemployed, self-employed, employed but looking, or happily employed, you need to communicate your brand. The most obvious starting point is your resume. Your resume, cover letter, portfolio, and other career marketing documents should clearly and concisely deliver your brand message.
Once you have your career marketing documents ready to go, you need to turn your attention to the internet. The internet can be your best friend – or your worst enemy. Start by Googling yourself – what comes up? And what does that say about you? Is that information consistent with the image you want to project?
If it’s not, you can begin to clean up your online identity. Create a strong LinkedIn profile, start a blog, develop a personal website that contains highlights from your career, and participate in meaningful online discussions that relate to your industry.
Personal branding isn’t something that’s limited to paper or the computer screen, however. You must be consistent in all of your interactions. Notably, keep your brand in mind when preparing for a job interview. The image you project in the interview should align closely with the image you project in your resume and social media profiles.
Many job seekers don’t worry about personal branding until they’re ready to start looking for a job. But personal branding can help you be more effective — and visible — in your current job. Get attention for the work you’re already doing:
• Offer to do a presentation showing your (or your group’s) accomplishments for the quarter.
• Contact your company’s communications department to see if they are interested in doing an article for the company newsletter on a recent project.
• Make sure you are keeping an “Accomplishments Journal” documenting your current career successes.
Develop your own communications plan in your current position. Increase your personal visibility by speaking, writing, and participating in social media. Once you’ve identified your personal branding, see how you can incorporate it into your everyday work life. This will make you worth more to your current employer (remember, superstars stand out!) and make you more attractive as a job candidate when it is time for you to look for a new position.