What is personal branding?
Perhaps you have heard the term mentioned before: personal branding. But what is personal branding exactly? And how can you use it to further your career?
Let’s start simple. A brand is anything - a symbol, design, name, sound, reputation, emotion, employees, tone, and much more - that separates one thing from another. Personal branding is the process of developing a "signature" that is created around your name or your career. You use this "signature" to express and communicate your skills, personality, and values.
Why is personal branding important?
Personal branding is not only for the entrepreneur with their own business. It's the secret sauce that can make you stand out from the crowd and make you memorable. It’s about values, purpose, passion, a person’s own authenticity and transferable skills: i.e. talents and abilities that can travel with you when you make the transition from one job to another.
Developing your personal brand is a proactive way of controlling your career development and how you are perceived in the marketplace. Your personal brand tells people (hiring managers or recruiters, for instance) who you are and what you bring to the table.
5 tips for creating your personal brand
You now know what a personal brand is, and why it is important for your personal and professional development. But how do you create your personal brand? Here are 5 handy tips:
1. Identify your uniqueness
Think about the strengths you have gained throughout your career. What makes you unique? What sets you apart from the others?
2. Set your goals
Make sure you have a clear picture of your personal and professional goals. If you don’t have a clear goal, you can’t expect to reach it.
3. Build your own platform
Strengthen your online presence. For instance, improve your LinkedIn profile, or build your own website.
4. Share your knowledge
Share your knowledge with others. This is how you show your capabilities and gain exposure.
5. Monitor your brand
Make sure you are checking what other people and organisations think of your brand. How do they perceive your brand?
Find out more about personal branding
- What is your brand value?
- How do you position yourself in the Dutch (labour) market?
- How do you get that new job?
- What makes a good elevator pitch?
Get the answers to these questions and more during the Personal Branding Workshop at the IamExpat Fair in Amsterdam on April 7.
During this interactive “Personal Branding” workshop by Nyenrode Business Universiteit, Advisor Career & Personal Development, Marlotte van Herksen, invites you to actively participate and to start seeing yourself as a leading brand.
Your personal and professional development is important to your happiness. Try to continuously develop your own potential through “lifelong learning”. Those who focus on lifelong learning are more successful professionally and lead happier, more fulfilling lives.