The 'Me' brand

Personal branding and its importance in today’s world

Back in 2001, global fashion icon Victoria Beckham indicated the importance of personal branding when she said, “I want to be as famous as Persil Automatic.” By comparing herself to the laundry detergent, she cleverly pointed out her desire to become a household name and, unsurprisingly, fourteen years down the lane, she has done just that. Victoria is living proof that one can achieve anything they desire if they learn how to sell themselves well.

Whether you are currently hunting for a job or not, building an appropriate image of yourself is extremely important, especially in this day and age where individuality is key. Today, we have — consciously or unconsciously — incorporated personal branding into our daily lives. From our Facebook and Instagram profiles, to how we conduct ourselves in public, everything adds colour and depth to our story. And nowhere is this more important as when you are being interviewed. Your resume may be great but it’s useless if you can’t elaborate on it verbally. Therefore, treating yourself as a brand can help you create a strong image of yourself and allow recruiters decipher what you’re all about.

According to UK-based personal branding expert Jennifer Holloway, most of us make the mistake of selling ‘what’ we have to offer as opposed to ‘whom’. “When people buy a person — which is exactly what’s happening in a job interview — the ‘who’ is more important,” explains Jennifer. To make your ‘who’ stand out, try the following tips and get one step closer to your dream job.

understand!

the two-mix

You must understand that personal branding is about amalgamating the two key elements of your personality — the ‘what’ and the ‘who.’ The ‘what’ refers to everything you will bring to the organisation through skills, knowledge and experiences. On the other hand, ‘who’ highlights the person you are, your values, behaviour and reputation. The perfect blend of these two elements will make you stand out.

who you are

It is very important for you to know and work on who you are. The image you build should reflect your personality as closely as possible. To understand your attributes (in a corporate setting) better, ask yourself what do you do better than anyone else, what are your top values and operating principles and how do you go about the tasks handed to you? And most importantly, what is so unique about all of it?

Social networking

Liaising with potential colleagues is important to hear about new job opportunities and opening the doors of opportunity for yourself. There are plenty of different social networking websites on the internet but the most commonly used site is LinkedIn where you can build your corporate profile online, browse vacancies and have recruiters screen your credentials virtually. If you are looking to voice your opinions and ideas, Twitter and Pinterest might be better platforms for you. Other websites like Google+ and Facebook are much more ‘social’ in nature but great if you wish to garner a fan following for your pictures, artistry or blog. Also bear in mind that your profile picture will be the first thing anyone visiting your profile sees. According to Jennifer, a good picture is one where the personality clues have been thought about and are used to deliver your brand image. Your dressing, expression and pose in the picture will speak volumes about your personality. “A tilt of your head suggests you’re a good listener. A beaming smile suggests you’re warm and welcoming. A serious expression suggests you get down to business,” says Jennifer. Therefore, pick out a decent, professional shot. After all, first impressions are the last impressions.



Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, February 22^nd, 2015.