The Career Impact That Personal Branding Is Talking About in 2024

2024 is a pretty interesting time, both professionally and personally.

In the end, we are our choices. Build yourself a great story. - Jeff Bezos

There seems to be no easy way to land a job these days if you are in tech. I mean, let’s be clear; it’s not like the ‘old days’ where you changed your LinkedIn profile to ‘open to work’ and the offers started rolling in.

Yes, you do still change your LinkedIn profile to ‘open to work’ if you are actively looking for a new role.

BUT

It doesn’t stop here. In fact, this is really just a small part of the process. It’s also what I would refer to as a reactive approach, and in 2024, we want to get strategic about where we want to be in our career.

This requires both of these things. Firstly, there’s definitely some more long-term planning that needs to be done. It’s important to think about where you want to be in 10+ years and how you want to feel or reflect on your career.

Why is this important?

Trust me when I say, you don’t want to reflect on your career and, after all the hard work and hours and commitment, find yourself feeling undervalued, disappointed, and unfulfilled.

How do you want to reflect on your career and be proud of?

• Making a positive and big impact.
• Growth and development both professionally and personally.
• Valued as an IC and as a leader.
• Worked or launched a product that customers LOVED.
• Launched own startup.
• Became a successful consultant.

All of these are extremely important and valuable in looking at your long-term career plan.

So what does all this have to do with a personal brand?

I have heard a lot of confusion around personal and professional branding recently, and so let’s start off getting clear around this. Your personal brand is your professional brand as it’s personal to you, it’s authentic, congruent, and aligned.

A personal brand eradicates the feeling of fake or phoney, and it builds your own self-advocacy, which means you can self-validate and eradicate those cold feet or imposter syndrome feelings and instead become empowered and know how to stand, get noticed, and showcase your own value.

The benefits of developing a strong personal brand include:

Increased Visibility and Recognition

Helps you stand out in a crowded market, making it easier for opportunities to find you.

Trust and Credibility

A well-defined personal brand builds trust with your audience and establishes your credibility in your field.

Career Opportunities

Opens up more professional opportunities, such as job offers, networking possibilities, and collaborations.

Higher Perceived Value

Can lead to commanding higher rates for your services or demanding a higher salary due to the expertise and reputation associated with your personal brand.

Networking

Makes it easier to connect with others in your industry, leading to valuable partnerships and growth opportunities.

Personal Fulfillment

Aligning your personal brand with your values and goals leads to greater satisfaction and fulfillment in your work.

Control Over Your Online Presence

Helps you control the narrative around your professional life and how you are perceived online and offline.

It’s about knowing who you are, what your value is, and what makes you unique and able to stand out in a sea of ‘same same’ professionals.

Let’s talk more about how Personal Branding can play out in a PROFESSIONAL context:

Authenticity A personal brand brings authenticity to professional interactions. People tend to trust and relate more to individuals who present themselves genuinely, blending personal stories or values with their professional image.

Differentiation In crowded professional fields, personal branding can differentiate one professional from another. Personal interests, values, and unique perspectives can make a professional stand out and be remembered by employers, clients, and colleagues.

Networking and Relationships Personal branding can enhance networking opportunities and relationship building. Sharing personal interests and values can help in finding common ground with others, fostering stronger professional relationships.

Online Presence Many professionals use their personal brand to build a strong online presence, which can be invaluable for career development. This might include sharing professional insights alongside personal achievements or interests on social media platforms, which can attract opportunities and build credibility in their field.

Career Opportunities A well-crafted personal brand can open up new career opportunities. It allows individuals to showcase a well-rounded picture of themselves, highlighting not just their professional capabilities but also their personal qualities and potential cultural fit within organizations.

Leadership For those in leadership positions or aspiring to be leaders, a personal brand is critical. It helps in establishing a leadership style and vision that others can connect with and follow. Personal values and beliefs become part of the leader’s professional narrative, influencing corporate culture and employee engagement.

Influence and Thought Leadership Personal branding is essential for professionals looking to establish themselves as thought leaders in their industry. By combining their personal and professional insights, they can create unique content that resonates with a wider audience, thereby expanding their influence.

If you are tired of someone else being noticed, getting promoted, or landing that gig you really wanted {writing, speaking, or getting funded}, then perhaps it’s time to stop feeling annoyed or resentful and instead start understanding your own unique value around your skills, experiences, talents, and values.

Instead of thinking about what you don’t want to be like a brown-noser, fake, or that person who is always talking about themselves. Start thinking about what your long-term plans and goals are and get to work on your personal brand.

What’s the worst thing that can happen?

You learn more about yourself, how to be authentic to you, and get better offers!

Hi I'm Kirsty Norton and I am a refreshingly unconventional and relentless tech career coach.

If you'd like to read more of my articles then dive in here: https://www.hustlewithease.co/blog

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Have a great rest of your week!