How can your personal brand help to further your career?

Over the last few months we have talked much about the future of the CV, how you can stand out from the crowd and ultimately further your career.

Underpinning all of this is “your brand,” whether you are new to the world of work or an experienced worker, it can be the single most defining element of your career. 

Many successful brands have an entrepreneurial leader, for Virgin think Richard Branson, Facebook Mark Zuckerman; their characteristics often represent their brands. This highlights the concept of ‘ME Plc’ – where you need to see yourself as a personal brand, and be aware of what you stand for. Take any brand you love and you probably immediately think of characteristics associated with it and how they make you feel, Apple lovers would say that it exudes innovation, creativity and sheer cool factor.

If you apply this concept to yourself, what characteristics do you exude? Equally as important is how do people feel after interacting with you? In all industries at all levels it is crucial to develop relationships, it’s key in your ability to influence decisions and communicate. By having a personal brand that people want to engage with, you can make this process significantly easier and far more memorable.

Source: http://coachingforinspiration.com/brand/

So spend 30 seconds today and ask a colleague or someone who you communicate with on a regular basis – what words would they use to describe you professionally? Do their answers match up with the brand image you are trying to portray?

If not, changing perceptions is something that can be achieved over time, but the next time you are communicating with anyone, be sure to remember - ‘Is this the message that my brand wants to be known for?’