Building Your Personal Brand: Why It Matters

Personal Branding IS Selling Your Personal Skills

We’ve probably all done it at least once, if not multiple times. I’m talking about forming an identity tied to the job title we held at a company we’ve worked for. And what happens when our identity and personal branding is secondary to a role that we hold? We lose sight of who we really are and often take the news of a job loss much harder than we should.

I’m here to tell you that your last job was just a stepping stone on your way to your best job yet.

You are a big deal in your own right and your personal brand should reflect that.

“I don’t know how to put this but I’m kind of a big deal.”

– Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Your personal skills are either natural talents or skills that you’ve spent time mastering.

Consider your skills (hard or soft) to be your greatest assets. Allow yourself to flow with the idea that what you already do well can guide your job search. Don’t try to force your skills to match a role that isn’t fitting you. Don’t use your personal brand to sell the wrong personal skills to an employer that isn’t the right fit. Save yourself the trouble and get to know what will feel good to do in your next job.

Why Understanding Yourself is Key to Your Personal Brand

Having the ability to pinpoint what you’re looking for will save you time and allow you to quickly identify professional opportunities and that will bring you joy in your life. To identify your personal brand, think about what makes you unique in what you do. What are the top 5 adjectives that others would use to describe you? What is the best feedback you’ve received in your most recent performance reviews? What words would others use to describe you? What projects have you worked on and enjoyed? Why did you enjoy them?

“People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.”

-??????? Simon Sinek

Your personal brand should be a living intention that celebrates your strengths and demonstrates the reason why you love what you do. Whenever you make a career change your brand needs to align with the change.

Understanding yourself helps you make career transitions that count.

Personal Branding Is Believing in Yourself

If you want to sell your skills, you’ve got to believe in them. You are a powerful and intelligent creator who has a lot to offer the world. Put yourself in the spotlight and remember that others will be interested in you if you’re interested in you.

If you’ve lost your job, it’s even more important to believe in yourself. The skills and attributes that make you great are yours to keep when you walk out of the office. You can’t box them up and leave them at the door on your way out, these components of your personal brand will follow you to your next job. My latest blog covers some of the questions you should ask yourself as well as tips to help you work on your personal brand.

But it really does start by believing in yourself. Believe in yourself and live your brand because it’s a big component of the job search process.

I’ve also written a book with an entire chapter about personal branding and much of this article has been excerpted from it. You can purchase a copy of my book, Let Go? Let’s Go! on Amazon here .

Working on your personal brand is a great way to see the things about yourself that you want others to appreciate and applaud. If you’ve recently lost your job, this can help build up your confidence. Highlighting your strengths will help you form a clear vision of the right job for you. Your job search will be easier, and you’ll be ready to truly sell yourself during your next job interview.

If you need my help, I’ll hold up a mirror to your life and career, helping you see the truth of who you really are, and how to sell it to your ideal employer.

If you’re ready to build your brand, connect with me to get started today!

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