Your personal brand can be a huge influence on your job search. It can often help you stand out among the hundreds of other candidates vying for an open position – and sometimes even be that differentiating factor that helps you land the job.
Maximize personal branding on the job hunt by following these steps to integrate your brand into every aspect of your job search:
Develop a personal brand statement
Your statement should tell the reader about your expertise, skills, accomplishments and education in a concise and compelling format, much like an elevator pitch. Try to keep your personal branding statement to one or two sentences for maximum impact.
Incorporate it into your resume’s professional profile or summary statement
Use your personal brand statement on your job search documents, such as your resume and cover letter, to quickly show employers the value you could bring to the position.
Take your brand statement online
Incorporate your statement into your online profiles, online biographies, email signature, etc. Make sure that wherever you show up online, your personal brand shines through by staying consistent with your word choices and descriptions.
Blog about it
Share your expertise and skills on your professional blog to show employers the knowledge you bring to the table. Position yourself as a thought leader in your field by tackling recent issues, new trends and offering practical advice for other professionals in the industry.
Use it to sell yourself during interviews
Aren’t sure how to answer that dreaded interview question, “Tell me about yourself”? Use your personal branding statement to add punch to your answer and pitch by integrating key skills and accomplishments into your answer. The interview is often the kicker in landing the job – so nail it!
