Guest Post by Victoria Watson, How To Build A Personal Brand That Supports Your Career
We all have a personal brand whether we are aware of it or not, and this is especially true in the workplace. From our behaviour to how we dress and what we say, they all impact how our colleagues perceive us as well as affecting our career path and determining the opportunities which come our way.
Your Evolving Brand
Your personal brand is something which is constantly evolving. Your skills and knowledge change throughout your career, shaping the direction and path you are on. Whether you have been in the same company for ten years or you have moved roles more frequently, your personal brand is always working for you on some level.
To consciously build your personal brand means taking control of how you present yourself both online and offline. Does your online persona match you real life persona? Is it working hard enough for you? Building your personal brand means being committed not only to your own development in up levelling your skills to increase your employability but also looking at how you can be innovative in the way you promote yourself.
Every industry is competitive and depending what stage you are at, there will be a number of people who have a similar skill-set or experience to you.
So how can you get the competitive advantage when it comes to securing a new role?
Brainstorm/Audit
If you are committed to finding a new role then a great starting point is to brainstorm the past 12-18 months and get laser focused on where you are and where you want to be.
Some questions to ask yourself
- What are my reasons for seeking a new role
- What have been my achievements in the last 12-18 months – make these as detailed as possible so you can demonstrate the value you have brought to different work projects
- What makes me stand out against my peers – what are my strengths and USP’s
- 3 things you would bring to your new role
- Proudest career moment
- How would your colleagues describe you?
Online MOT
What happens when you google yourself? Make sure your online presence is reflecting BRAND YOU. That might mean deleting or updating images and refreshing content.
Most importantly, take time to review your LinkedIn profile. Make sure your career timeline is as detailed as possible so anyone viewing your profile can see at a glance where you have worked and what responsibilities you have had.
Also utilise the recommendations section both requesting recommendations from people you have worked for and giving recommendations to people you have worked alongside.
Get Strategic
Where would you love to work? Make a list of our top 10-20 companies. Do you know who their HR managers are? Make a point of connecting with them on LinkedIn and sending them a note to introduce yourself or even an email. A short introduction can go a long way, even if you don’t hear from them immediately
Also, be aware of the key recruiters in your industry and do the same so you are on their radar.
It’s good to remember that often new roles are often not advertised as the person recruiting will already a shortlist of people in mind that they want to connect with as they are already aware of them and there might be an existing relationship.
Personal Brand Toolkit
Create your own personal brand toolkit which includes the following (where appropriate) and which demonstrates your professional skills and experience.
- An up-to-date CV
- Examples of your work depending on your industry. If you’re a creative this is a must.
- Media clips and images if appropriate
- Blog posts or features you might have written
- Recommendations from colleagues and people you have worked with.
Create a folder in an online sharing site like Dropbox or Google Drive so you can easily share these assets with recruiters.
Get Industry Aware
This should be a given, but it is helpful to be aware of what is happening in your industry and also to have an opinion on recent developments. This shows that you are switched on, interested and engaged and that you are passionate about the sector you are in.
You can take this one step further and publish your own content/thought leadership pieces via sites like Medium and also on your LinkedIn profile. You can also create a blog add to this regularly.
Events
Do you attend industry events/workshop? These can be an excellent way to connect with other people in your industry, influencers and also find out about new opportunities. Making the effort to attend different events is a great way to build your personal brand.
Remember building your personal brand is an ongoing effort and if you can take consistent steps to keep building yours, it will be easier to secure that dream job when the time is right.
Bio
Victoria is a coach and mentor working with female entrepreneurs and business owners via one on one programmes, workshops and retreats. Her inspiration comes from her own journey setting up a business, combined with a successful career in PR and marketing for lifestyle, travel and hotel brands in the UK and Europe. She uses her skills and knowledge, alongside her passion for personal development to help women to be more visible, communicate with confidence and build a personal brand which feels good to them.
Links
URL is vjwcommunications.co.uk
Insta @victoriajanewatson
Facebook @VJWCommunications
