Consider why you may always choose to add the same bottle of shampoo to your shopping cart. Perhaps it’s reliable, the company aligns with your personal values, or maybe you like the way the label looks. For whatever reason, you return to that product because something about it is appealing to you.
 
Throughout your career, you can think of yourself as a shampoo bottle – you are a marketable product, and you want hiring managers to add you to their cart. To do this, you need to develop your “personal brand.”
What is a personal brand?
According to Forbes, a “personal brand is the acknowledged public perception of an individual, while personal branding is the deliberate process of creating that impression.”
 
Essentially, a personal brand is your reputation – the way others see you, whether that’s in person, online, or on a resume. It’s how peers and employers see your credentials and character. To portray not only an attractive version of yourself but also an authentic version, you must mold and refine your personal brand.
Why does a personal brand matter?
Whether you like it or not, people notice you, and what they observe may be what makes or breaks that job interview and lands you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Without proper audits of how you are perceived, you run the risk of coming across differently from your intentions.
 
Everyone has a personal brand, but not everyone chooses to invest in personal branding. Controlling our own narrative can help others see our authentic selves in personal relationships, at the workplace, and on the job market.
How can I develop personal branding?
You can work on curating an accurate personal brand in two steps:
  1. Conduct an audit of yourself.
    • What are my core values?
    • What are my unique strengths?
    • What brings me joy?
    • What impression do I want to leave on others?
  2. Analyze your current perception.
    • Ask a variety of people around you – peers, family members, and acquaintances – to describe you honestly.
    • Take note of any criticisms or praises you receive from leaders and mentors.
    • Pay attention to how you represent yourself on social media.
After you’ve gathered all the data from both steps, compare the notes. Determine where the gaps are between who you believe you are (or who you want to be) and how others already see you.
Edit your presence until the gap disappears. Try revamping your social media or taking a public speaking class to work on your communication skills. It may take some time, but remember, only you can control your personal brand.
 
Ready to bring your unique presence to Reynolds? Search current job opportunities here.