Personal Branding

Personal Branding

Introduction

Personal branding

Personal branding is the process whereby people and their careers are marked as brands (Lair, Sullivan & Cheney 2005). It has been noted that while previous self-help management techniques were about self-improvement, the personal branding concept suggests instead that success comes from self-packaging (Lair, Sullivan & Cheney 2005). Further defined as the creation of an asset that pertains to a particular person or individual; this includes but is not limited to the body, clothing, appearance and knowledge contained within, leading to an indelible impression that is uniquely distinguishable. (Schawbel, 2009)

Truth is personal branding is easier than company branding. Why? Because if you believe in your talent, in your skills and ability - it's easier to sell what you believe in. Your image is already created - you just have to market it. How do you market yourself? That's easy. You must become:

With that said are there downfalls to personal branding? Absolutely. Unless you plan to work until your last living day, it will be difficult to transition the brand to someone else. After all you are the BRAND! If you are ok with the fact that in order to transition out of the brand you will need to create a new one that your consumers can grasp onto then personal branding may just be for you. When branding yourself remember that you must create a strong and consistent brand. You cannot skimp just because it's about you. Strong brands are clear about who they are and what they are not; which is why branding yourself can be an easy process. You already know who you are and what you are not. Strong brands are also consistent; it's easy to be consistent in who you are. (Schawbel, 2009)

Explantion

Why is it important for job seekers to develop and communicate their personal brand?

Self packaging - that's what personal branding is all about. It's capturing the personal and professional qualities that employers seek in their employees and embracing them as one's own. It's identifying the unique qualities, marketable skills, and institutional knowledge that someone possesses and building a reputation that captures the attention of employers. It's a personal brand. And job seekers can use it to position themselves in the job market. (Schawbel, 2009)

Anyone who has sat in front of the television for an hour on any given day has seen the numerous 30- and 60-second advertisements that fill the space between favorite television shows. And anyone who has turned off his television only to remember the catchy jingle or intriguing character that filled those brief seconds of advertising has been witness to the power of branding. Personal branding is nothing more than positively capturing someone's attention by creating an unforgettable image. Job seekers can use this same technique by identifying what employers want and then duplicating these qualities, skills and behaviors in their job search. (Schawbel, 2009)

Developing a Winning Cover Letter

The benefit of a well-written cover letter is that it can be personal enough to make the reader feel ...