Personal Branding: A Tool of Differentiation and Impression

By: Mikaela Lindemann, Account Supervisor at PRLab 

April 15, 2019

In this ever-competitive job field and “look-at-me” cultural shift, it may be starting to get more difficult to stand-out. That is why now, personal branding is crucial to cultivate a successful career. Personal branding plays an important role in establishing or boosting your career by helping communicate your unique identity to potential employers or clients, and anyone else who might be imperative to your career. You can think of it as your internal PR. Most of us actually have a personal brand already, but don’t know it. The importance of having a personal brand has grown since the introduction of social media, and the use of social media by employers to screen candidates during the hiring process.

While this all sounds great, what exactly is a “personal brand”? A personal brand is who you are, the values you embrace, and what you stand for. It is the combination of unique skills and experiences that make you who you are. Jeff Bezos says, “your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.”

To create an effective personal brand, it will take some time and energy, but it is important to have one now more than ever. Not having one, or having one that isn’t great, may put you at risk of losing out on business or even having it effect your reputation. One reason to cultivate a personal brand is because it is more popular than ever for recruiters to use social media during the interview process. They will get their first impression of you through seeing what you put on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram.

While having a personal brand is important while you are in the hiring process, it is also important even when you are employed. During employment, it is important to keep watch of your personal brand, because employers use social media to check on current employees. While personal branding is important to you, companies also benefit from strong employee personal brands. It is good for their business. Also, personal branding can help you take the next step in your career path. In all, a personal brand is meant to help yourself. It is another way to grow your own successes. It has the power to make or break all kinds of opportunities for advancement while generating content about you your work, and building a brand strategy.

Personal branding is a long-term focus, and it may be hard to get started on one. One example of a personal brand that has been built through hard work, and a long-term focus is Oprah Winfrey’s personal brand. Oprah is an icon who rose from poverty and has become one of the world’s most influential entrepreneur. By being true to herself, she has inspired millions to live their best selves by understanding their potential. Her personal brand is shown through the many companies that she owns.

Effective branding will differentiate you from other professionals in your field. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it is important for you to be able to communicate your purpose and mission in a genuine way. Building your personal brand can start to feel like a job, but to start or evaluate yours, here are some tips.

• Tell a story– The most effective way to build a good personal narrative is by building a narrative. You should create a story around your brand that your audience can engage with, single character monologues are too boring. Doing so will help your personal brand connect with audiences.
• Live your brand– In the beginning of creating your personal brand, it’s easier to have your actual lifestyle and brand be one and the same. It needs to be an authentic manifestation of who you are and amplify what you believe. You should note, that your personal brand is not only a reflection of a series of job functions, but also ideals like giving back and thoughtful leadership.
• Your personal brand isn’t just online– Your brand isn’t just an online persona; it’s also how you are at home and in the office. The story that you tell ultimately defines your personal brand.

Personal branding is just as important as the branding of a business. It’s an indication of what you have to offer, and it could make or break your success. Just remember to be true to yourself with your personal brand and your career can go leaps and bounds.