With the economy being in such a turbulent climate to say the least, it makes securing a satisfying career position even harder. A lot of people are settling for less-than-desirable positions, and a barely-there pay check to match. A great counter action to this problem is to position yourself against the fierce competition that you must face in the job market. In order to position yourself correctly, you have to think of yourself as a brand. Like your favorite retailers, and clothing brands, you must make yourself indispensable to any employers. Below are 5 great starts to building your personal brand!1. Know Your Unique Selling Points
What makes you different? Better? Do you do things faster than your competition? Do you provide superior quality? Are you very sociable and emotion-oriented? Do you have a knack for making complex things simple? Do some soul-searching, and ask a few friends and colleagues what single quality stands out to them.
2. Competitive Analysis Use your competition to your advantage. Look at how other people offering similar services portray their brands. Then build on them to create an even more compelling one for yourself. For example, if you’re an artist, browse artist galleries on the web to see how they’re showcasing their abilities. Then take the best qualities of each one and mix it with your own style.
3. Impressions are EVERYTHING
Strengthen the association between your face and what you excel at with everyone you meet. You want your name to be seen in a positive light by as many people as possible. That means every time you post a comment on a blog or forum, every time you send an email, every time you complete a project or presentation, put your name on it. Anonymity is not your friend. Take pride in all your work and connect it back to your brand. The more people come across these “digital breadcrumbs,” the more you convince them that you can deliver on your brand promise. So include your name, your tagline (what you do and who you do it for) and your contact info in all your work.
4. Build up your credibility
In whichever field or industry you’re in, aim to be the best you can be and to offer the best you can give. Make use of every opportunity to learn and hone your skills. Become the expert whom people in your professional field go to for help and advice. A great way to do this is to look to see if you can update your skills acquired from post-secondary school, or look into continuing your education completely. A degree in your designated field as well as industry experience can make a world of a difference to your brand. As always feel free to contact me for more information about continuing your education, I am always here to help!
Author: Charmaine Alexander is an admissions representative for ITT Technical Institute in Kennesaw, GA, and is dedicated to helping people obtain a degree in technical fields such as Information Technology, Electronic Technology, and Computer Drafting and Design.
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