Brand YOU!

by Ismath Mohideen

The world’s most recognizable and respected companies all have something in common: they have all built strong, powerful, competitive brands.  Their brands could be represented by their products, services, or even the people working for them.  Take your neighborhood Starbucks for example – their ubiquitous green logo, friendly staff, yummy drinks, and welcoming atmosphere make them a global leader in the coffee industry.

We all have our favorite brands that we can’t imagine living without.  In fact, we’re walking representations of our favorite brands. Just take a look at the clothes on our backs and the bags on our shoulders.  Those brands are a representation of a certain lifestyle, image, and personality.  But what about the qualities making YOU unique?  What qualities describe your own personal brand?

Your personal brand should describe three or four of your biggest strengths and passions.  Maybe you’re a star athlete, or a passionate poet, or maybe you’re even an aspiring young writer!  Whatever the characteristics may be, flaunt them and make them apparent in all that you do daily.  In today’s tough economic climate, people are encouraged to figure out their strengths and develop them into competitive advantages.  Sure, easier said than done!  Instead of saying you have all the qualifications to do a particular job, expose those qualifications as personal passions and you’ll shine brightly on a resume or in a job interview.

The next part of building a strong personal brand is identifying your features and benefits.  Lots of resumes talk about a person’s previous job duties, but very few actually go the next step and discuss how those duties created change in the organization.

For example, a lot of young women have experience working in retail department stores.  Typical job duties involve customer service and handling apparel.  But what about that guy who came in to shop for his girlfriend, and he had no idea what to get her for her birthday?  You went above and beyond to figure out why he was shopping, what her interests were, and selected a gift that was sure to make them both happy.  You just gained a personal customer!  You used your charming attitude to gain a loyal customer, and you can bring that can-do attitude to any organization.

Remember, you are not defined by your college major or job title, or by the duties you’ve performed in the past.  You define yourself by whatever you want to be and the passions that inspire you!  How do you want people to recognize and remember you?  So go out there and create your own brand since you are your own leader!

Tags: how to, job search