Building a personal brand

Everyone seems to be talking about “personal brand” these days but what does it actually mean. How on earth do you become one?

Well, in short, your personal brand is how do you want to be seen, what do you stand for and what can you offer.  So really, you already have one!

Here’s an example:

I’m a reliable and honest professional, always there to support coach and mentor my team with expertise in innovative automotive design.

Anyone can choose what they feel their personal brand is, but it’s vital that words are backed up by credibility.

LinkedIn

• Testimonials and recommendations from co-workers, managers, customers and suppliers
• Publishing articles to demonstrate that you are an expert in your field
• Making sure your LinkedIn profile matches your CV, with correct dates of employment

Other social media

How many times have you heard about people who have lost their jobs due to an old social media post popping back up?

Be mindful that your personal social media profile and your professional one will overlap. Posts intended “just for friends” may be seen by your professional network too!

Here are some examples of when social media profiles go wrong for professionals:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/apr/09/paris-brown-stands-down-twitter

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/nasa-intern-job-loss-twitter-homer-hickam-space-council-a8503241.html

https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/blog/social-media-sabotage-job-search/