Your brand isn’t in your resume or LinkedIn profile or even your elevator pitch

Because I am involved in so many career-related activities – coaching clients, recruiting candidates, writing advice columns -- I hear about a lot of career moves. As I dig deep into what these professionals are focused on to try and make the change they say they want (e.g., new job, promotion, more money), I see an inordinate amount of focus on the resume, LinkedIn and the elevator (or networking) pitch. The justification is that these are the tools that employers use to know who they are and what they value.

Yes, it's true that, if you’re putting yourself out to the market, your resume, LinkedIn profile and elevator pitch all help brand you as someone with a particular skill set, expertise and experience. However, these are tools and not your brand. Your brand is all of these things and more.

Your brand includes what you’re working on each and every day -- because that builds your reputation. Your brand is shaped by what you say at networking meetings and interviews – your pitch is just a starter. Finally, your brand is evident in how you comport yourself – how you dress, walk, shake hands (and in this era of virtual communication, how you appear on video and how you sound by phone).

Too many professionals focus too narrowly on one thing – typically one of the obvious marketing tools – and wing everything else. Or they don’t realize how all of these factors need to come together in a coherent and compelling whole. Your brand is how employers will think of you as they decide who to hire (or promote or give the bigger raise to). Your brand is how employers will remember you when an opportunity arises and they pull together a short list of who gets called in. Your brand is how influencers and decision-makers will think to reach out to you (or not) when they hear about potential opportunities.

Do you have a strong and memorable brand? Does it match your current career goals? Are you putting yourself out there?

Caroline Ceniza-Levine helps experienced professionals in tech, media, financial services and other industries find work they love and earn more doing it. Caroline is a Senior Contributor to Forbes Leadership and an adjunct at Columbia University. Visit the Dream Career Club to learn more.