Personal Branding

What is a personal brand?

“Your brand isn’t about you. It’s about the value you bring to others.” -Romana Shaikh, LinkedIn Strategist

Your brand is the way in which you would like others to perceive you. Your in-person interactions and online profiles both contribute to this perception. Think of the following questions:

• What are you known for?
• What do you want to be known for?

Your answer to these questions makes up your professional self. Let this “professional self” guide your interactions, both online and in person.

The Five C's of Personal Branding

Your brand is always on display, whether you are interacting with someone or through your online presence. Practice being an excellent communicator and learn how to describe yourself confidently.

Clarity

What is your brand? When asked this question, you should be able to provide a concise, clear answer. To get started, you should ask yourself the following questions:

• Who am I?
• What am I passionate about?
• How do I want others to see me?

Content 

Creating a consistent and recognizable brand takes work. Try this: when you Google yourself, what do you find?

Consider which platforms make the most sense for your career goals. If you don’t have a specific platform in mind, LinkedIn and Handshake are great places to start. Complete your profile and network with your connections by interacting with their posts and sharing your own.

Connection

Networking can play a huge role in your personal branding. Creating connections with others can also help you discover new opportunities and stay in the loop with emerging trends or news in your industry.

Creating these connections can occur virtually or in person and can range from extremely formal to casual friendships. Start by talking to your classmates or joining a student organization to meet new people with similar interests and/or career aspirations.

Creativity

College is a fantastic time to explore your interests. The most important thing is to allow yourself space to try different things and give yourself permission to fail. By silencing your inner critic, you are giving yourself the opportunity to discover new aspects about yourself. These discoveries can also influence your future career path.

Community

Consider your role in the community. What are your contributions? Do you bring new ideas and positivity?

Start by being a good friend, co-worker, or group project member. Most people find that they receive more from their community when they put in more effort.