You have probably heard the term “branding” a few times if you have been on the job market in reference to your job search. Recruiters, hiring managers & potential employers will Google your name & look you up on social media. Unless you are from a marketing background “branding” may sound mystifying. We are going to be focusing on personal branding to help you get the job you want.

What is personal branding? It is how we market ourselves to others- how you communicate who you are to your target audience. It is how other people describe you and it is just like a corporate brand or product brand.

Why is it important? Having a strong personal brand will help to attract the attention of potential employers. In addition, it helps in building confidence while gaining trusts, authenticity and credibility.

So, how do you create a personal brand/rebrand yourself for the job you want? We have put together our best tips below.

Google Yourself

Before you start, google yourself and see what comes up. See what current information about you is out there and what is says about. Do the results reflect your professional persona? Does it reflect where you are and where you want to go next in your career? Try and look at from the potential employer/hiring manager’s point of view.

You should also do some research into your into the industry. Keywords change, skills requirements change.

Start planning

Now that you know what information is out there, it is time to start making a plan. You should figure out what your career goals are and how you are going to get to where you want to be. Do you need new skills/certifications? What tweaks can you make to your brand so it aligns with your goals and where you want to be? Make list of things you need to do and start creating action plans to carry them out.

Create a branding statement. It should be short and catchy and encompass what makes you a strong candidate for the job. Your branding statement can you help you capture the essence of your career goals and will help you focus on what you want to accomplish with your branding. Add this to your portfolio and CV.

Change your social media presence

Social media platforms are a great way to create a strong personal brand/rebrand yourself. Connect with relevant industry groups and thought leaders in your industry, on platforms such as LinkedIn. Share and create relevant articles within your social networks, and comment on posts and attend industry conferences and networking events. The more that you show that you are serious and invested in your industry the more credible you will appear.

Pick relevant experiences

Some of your accomplishments and achievements may not be relevant or impress a potential employer. If you want to effectively brand yourself, select the experiences that match with the target role you are applying for. If you add/change your experiences on your CV you should also change them on your LinkedIn profile. This with strengthen your brand and it will not confuse hiring managers when they look at your profile and CV. You may think it will be best to only add your best experiences but it is important to remember that highlighting experiences that fit first will help hiring managers and recruiters see you as a potential candidate.

Upgrading your credentials and qualifications

If you are switching careers or are looking to change positions you may need to upgrade your qualifications and skills. If you have some time, there are many free and paid for online courses that you can take to upgrade your skills. Taking on freelance projects will help you put those new learned skills into practice and help you gain new experiences, which will be great to add to your CV.

Be careful

If you are looking for a new job whilst being employed it is important to remember that the changes that you make may be visible to your current employer. You don’t want to advertise to your current employer and colleagues that you’re rebranding and seeking new opportunities. On your LinkedIn profile, make sure that the “Share with network”. On other platforms such as Twitter, you should gradually mix in new topics that are relevant to the industry/target roles. It will be a lot easier to stay under the radar if you make changes carefully and slowly.