Personal Branding for the Job Search

What is Personal Branding or a Personal Brand? From Wikipedia:

Personal branding is the process whereby people and their careers are marketed as brands. It has been noted that while previous self-help management techniques were about self-improvement, the personal branding concept suggests instead that success comes from self-packaging.

So it's a way you portray yourself to others. Obviously this is important to your job search because how a company or recruiter sees you can determine whether or not you get the job. If you are perceived as a well-rounded, knowledgeable and qualified candidate, then you'll more than likely get the job you're applying for. With the rise of social networking and increased time people spend online, your presence online is really your personal brand and it encompasses everything down to your email address.

Statistically 47% of people Google themselves to see what the search results yield.

About 60 percent of Internet users said they aren't worried about the extent of information about themselves online, despite increasing concern over how that data can be used.

So what do you see when you Google your name? Employers might be seeing the same results. How do you think this portrays you as an individual?

These are really important things to ask yourself. There are tons of great blogs dedicated to this very topic of how to better your Google search results (hat tip.) and cultivating and maintaining a positive personal brand that will ultimately help your career. CareerHub is one of my favorite sites for personal branding advice but there are others. These resources can ultimately help you develop an online presence whether it's on LinkedIn or Facebook, starting a blog and participating in discussions online via blogs or other online forums in your industry.

Here's a great quote from Lyn Chamberlin about figuring out your Personal Brand:

1. Figure out who you are, what you stand for, and why you are different than anyone or anything else.

2. Create a story that communicates your value and your market differentiation.

3. Pull the key words that you have used to create that story and weave them into everything that you say, do and publish about yourself and your business.

4. Tell your story relentlessly, passionately and unapologetically to anyone who will listen. You will refine and improve it as you go along, figuring out which parts work nd which don’t.

Of course it's important to remember that your online presence or personal brand can only take you so far. Once your brand helps you to establish yourself as an expert in your field and a great hire, you have to prove yourself in the interview. Because what good is a personal brand if you can't back it up in person.

-Rosie Reilman
Photo by mattkeefe

Resources:
NCJobs Podcast: Using Web 2.0 Sites in Your Job Search
Personal Branding Magazine
How Social Networking Can Help Your Job Search
Social Media for the Job Seeker