Personal Branding is what differentiates you from your peers; it’s what is relevant & compelling to the people making decisions about you. A brand is what people say about you when you are not in the room. 

Why you need a personal brand

Why you need a personal brand 

• Social networking is rising, while traditional methods like email are declining. Establishing an online presence is essential for visibility and communicating your value.

• Traditional job searches are becoming harder. To attract jobs, you need to be creative and leverage social networks. The CV has gone virtual, built through e-portfolios, LinkedIn, and websites.

• Employers now prioritize passion. Your online presence should showcase what you are genuinely passionate about.
• The job market is fiercely competitive. Without a strong personal brand, you risk blending in. Stand out to be selected.

Note: Focus on becoming a more effective social networker.

The Google Search Audit: Rate Yourself

Have you ever Googled yourself? A bit of background research is a good starting point if you want to see what an employer would see when they Google you, and they will! 

• Close out of all of your social media accounts. 
• Search for yourself by name, nicknames, misspellings of your name and your name followed by a few keywords, e.g. hometown, school etc. 
• Search for your email address, frequently used username, and phone number. 
• Check the social media accounts, blogs or forums of your friends, family members and significant others. 

Now that you have done some research, what information did you find about yourself?  

• What do you think it says about you to a potential employer? 
• How much information would you prefer to keep private? 
• What would you like to remove? You’re in control! 
• What kinds of posts would you like them to find? 

The Personal Branding Audit: Rate Yourself

It is a good exercise to undertake a broader audit on your personal brand and ask yourself some important questions. You can also download the Personal Branding audit: 

Develop your brand – The Brand called “YOU”

You need to give careful consideration to what you want your brand to reflect and what you are going to do to enhance your brand.  

5 Steps to Branding Success 

• Consistency: The look, feel, and message of your brand should be consistent across all platforms. 
• Understand your target audience: You need to understand what message your audience is looking to hear. 
• Message/communication is clear: Your message should be clear, concise, and languaged appropriately at all times.  
• Creative design/brand identity: You don’t have to be a design expert to develop a brand identity.
  • If you need help, websites such as Fiverr offer support for as little as €5
• Relevance: Make sure that your content and communication across all platforms is relevant to your career development.  

Communicating Your Personal Brand: An 8 point plan

Effective personal branding sets you apart from the competition. With dedication, you can quickly become an expert in your brand, though it takes time. Focus on activities and platforms that work best for you.

Key Tools:

• Personal Blog or Website: Affordable and essential, especially if you enjoy writing. Blogs, ideally under your own name, rank well in search engines.
  
• LinkedIn: A valuable online resource combining your CV, cover letter, and network database.
• E-Portfolio: Showcases past and current work effectively.
• Traditional Tools: A distinctive CV and cover letter are crucial. Ensure consistency across all branding materials, including online profiles.
• PR Activity: Write for media and blogs to generate publicity, especially in relevant fields.
• Business Cards: Essential for everyone, easily sourced online at low or no cost.
• Video CV: A 60-90 second video pitch that can be linked to your online profiles.
• Wardrobe: Your style is crucial for making a memorable impression both online and in person.