5 ways to build a personal brand

Even if you have been living under a rock all this while, you couldn't have possibly escaped the massive advertising strategies of various big-shot brands. While consumer-driven companies are known to go all out to brand and rebrand themselves over a period of time, even individuals are beginning to build their own personal brand consciously. This not only includes celebrities, who are in the limelight and have PR professionals guiding their every move, but also regular people like you and me.

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As put by Susan Vitale, CMO at iCIMS, a provider of HR software, “Having a killer personal brand is no longer an option, but a requirement when it comes to landing that job you've always wanted,” as stated by Inc.com. Check out these five unconventional ways to build your own personal brand.

Embrace digital

Employers receive hundreds of resumes on a daily basis, and writing your name in bigger and stylised font won't help your case much. What you can do instead is shoot a fun, yet professional-looking, video of yourself and upload it on your LinkedIn profile page. This will give prospective employers a greater insight into who you are and what you are looking for. Some employers tend to check out candidates on other social platforms, too. Keep your Twitter bio short yet informative and your tweets will reveal more about you than your CV will, so make sure your personality shines through them.

Begin to blog

Because of the sheer number of bloggers today, employers ask if you have a personal blog they can look at. Your blog is your one chance to impress them and bag that job you've been hoping to land. Write about what you know best. If you're a foodie and visit a lot of new restaurants, you can write about that. If you're a movie buff and catch all the latest releases, you can review those on your blog. But what you should remember is to post consistently or it reflects on you being easily bored and disorganized

It won't hurt to show-off

Your online presence is the digital footprint you are leaving behind. Don't be apprehensive about putting your accomplishments out there. Completed a project before the deadline? Put it out there. Voluntarily helped with activities in your community? Share it on social media. But remember to be discrete and not to overdo it. Your employers need to see that you're active with your pursuits and you can give them a glimpse through Twitter and LinkedIn.

Network

The only way to stand out from the crowd and get noticed from a sea of employees is to build contacts and network. Seminars might not be your thing, but it won't hurt to attend a few and connect with the right people in your industry. The best way to make your personal brand known to potential employers is by attending conferences and seminars and keeping your pitch ready.

Be open to learning

Even if you are an expert in your field, you need to keep reinventing yourself and your brand to keep up with changing times. Develop your skills and expand your knowledge so that your career growth is not stunted. The more you sharpen your professional skills, the more opportunities will come your way.

Personal branding is as important as having a well-written resume in today's times. If you are not consciously creating a brand for yourself or are poorly branding yourself, it can have a direct effect on your career. Begin to create your personal brand one step at a time and you're sure to see the changes in your career sooner rather than later.