Branding –New Buzzword in the Job Search Arena?
How many times by now have you heard the phrase “differentiating yourself” in your job search process? I myself use it all the time when talking to my students or holding presentations on resume writing or job search strategies. It is an overused phrase that we all recognize and are familiar with but many times find difficult or fail to follow-upon. It is easier to let others figure out what it is that they want from us rather than us figuring out what it is that we have to offer.
Have you ever had this mindset? It might work when the job market is in high demand and there are more jobs out there than qualified candidates, but what happens when the tables turn and the job demand is higher than the supply on the job market? Suddenly, “differentiating yourself” becomes more meaningful and we are forced to put more effort into actually finding those unique skills and experience that would set us apart from the crowd.
But what if “differentiating yourself” was to be presented in a more trendy way? A trend, by its definition, makes you think of something new, improved and in vogue, right? So, would it make a difference if we replace the above phrase with something that is more identifying and easier to relate to? How about branding?
What comes to mind when you hear the word branding? I did a test, and asked several people to tell me what comes to mind; logos, products, company names, services, etc., all right answers. How about people? People could definitely fall into the brand categories, but they typically aren’t thought of first. Well, how about if you think harder? Can you name people who stand out because of something they have done or are known for? I have a whole list, how about you?
Ok, so what makes those people on your list stand out? It might be their skills, determination, hard work, experience and the list can go on, but there are specific traits they are known for. They have managed to brand themselves to stand out from the crowd.
What makes you stand out? What is your personal brand? As difficult as it might sound at first to come up with an answer, we all have special traits that make us marketable in today’s job market. The challenge is to reveal those skills and make sure they are aligned with what employers are looking for.
Think of your job search as of a shopping spree. We all shop based on branding preferences; type of product, price, material, etc. You do not buy a product if it does not meet your personal brand preference, whatever that might be? Same thing goes for companies looking for candidates to fill their positions or for candidates trying to find the right job fit.
Branding is a marketing concept that has been around for years and years, although it takes on a new meaning when it comes to our job search and the new developing trends in the job market. It is called Personal Branding. Some of you might have heard of it, some of you have used it in the “differentiating yourself” concept, but personal branding has been buzzing around more frequently these days than ever before. A tighter job market forces us to put more effort into defining our personal brand.
So, do you think you are ready to find the traits that would make up your personal brand?
Note: Search for “Personal Branding” articles to get an understanding on how to better market yourself in today’s job market.
andreaifekete
