The importance of personal branding in your career

Workplaces and working environments all over the world have undergone a tremendous change in recent times, largely because of globalisation. The rise of social media and rapidity of technological developments have caused the dividing line between work and personal life to fade, if not disappear; this has made the change more pronounced than ever before. With increased competition in the world of employment, the problem stands compounded.

In the light of the above, the need to stand out in a crowd in order to survive requires no amplification. It is not any exaggeration to say that every single individual has a brand of his own and stands a fairly good chance to show up. Therefore, issues of age, designation, appointment and pursuit notwithstanding, we need to realise that branding is an important going-on.

We need to appreciate that irrespective of the position we hold, in some way or the other we are the No. 1 of the organisation we are in and that we need to sell ourselves too. Today, personal branding has gained momentum because every person out to get a job as also people managing low-key enterprises are concerned about staying relevant, particularly when economic conditions are not very encouraging. We should recognise the fact that anything that sets us apart from others can be made use of to achieve success.

Personal branding pertains to identifying your unique qualities and then making them known for others to judge to facilitate accomplishing your career and life objectives. If you can comprehend what you are – that is, you are aware of your strongpoints, principles, standards and expertise – you can utilise such information to detach yourself from those posing a challenge to you and emerge successful. Personal branding is indeed very potent because it tends to communicate to the environment an image of what you are and what you capable of delivering. You thus get to be acknowledged and recognised for your plus points.

Personal branding is a procedure that comprises three distinct phases – Abstraction, Vocalisation and Display. The Abstraction Phase calls for an introspection based on your own market external inquiries so that you get to understand how others view you and what makes you different from others. In the Vocalisation Phase, you decide on how you intend to portray your unique assets and abilities to those who ought to know them. You thus give a shape to your own brand that needs to be asserted. In addition, you should also re-draft your biodata so that you portray your best. Your career marketing tools are thus well-oiled and your career marketing documents are fresh. The third phase, that is, the Display Phase is all about demonstrating to the environment your brand in every activity that you are associated with, your networking, your utilisation of technology, your appearance and your bearing included. You thus reveal and publicise an exclusive potential of value that you possess.     

Personal branding is nothing but a reformation of the methods adopted by you to manage your career. It implies ascertaining, categorisation and airing of different aspects that make you exclusive, apposite and convincing so that you are able to accomplish your objectives with relative ease. In a nutshell, personal branding is nothing but making use of your actual self to attain whatever you seek from life. 

Does personal branding help you to get a job or to function better? Yes, it does. Hence, there is no denying the fact that you need to brand yourself as a brand. Branding will rejuvenate all your career marketing tools and documents, which otherwise tend to lose their verve and punch over a period of time. It also puts together a vibrant method to engender an interest in you – something that facilitates winning the confidence of your clients. You thus get to function from a seat of authority and supremacy.

When you craft a personal brand for yourself, you get to be more mindful of the person that is ‘You’. You get to develop an astonishing comprehension of yourself and various attributes that make you exclusive and treasured via-a-vis others. Your strengths are rendered more optimised and more powerful, however, towards this, you ought not to be plagued with any sort of ambiguity with regard to your goals and targets.

You will thus see that personal branding aids in the creation of conspicuousness, display and aura; and eventually attainment of your objectives. It is all about making a difference from those who otherwise are your equals. You get to sit on a seat of authority and are able to exercise proper command and control over all your professional pursuits. Now if that be an outcome, you automatically stand perched on a higher pedestal. Isn’t that your aim?