How To Effectively Communicate Your Career Brand To A Potential Employer

You find yourself perusing the newspaper for new job opportunities, when suddenly, you come across a job description that matches your experience and qualifications. Before you apply for the position, think about how you can market yourself to this potential employer. In order to successfully articulate your career brand to your potential employer, it is imperative that you think about your strengths, talents, and accomplishments. What do you want to be known for in your career path? How can you convince a potential employer that you are individual they NEED for the position? Are you worth their time? Carving out your career brand path is essential in attracting potential employers or new, prosperous network connections. Focusing on your career brand, which highlights your network connections and your overall image, is essential when differentiating yourself from the rest of job seekers. How do you create an image that conveys to a potential employer that you are responsible, trustworthy, and valuable? We will explore the benefits of career branding and how to effectively communicate your career brand to a potential employer or network connection.

Career Branding 101: What Are the Benefits to Career Branding?

1. Differentiates You From the Rest of the Applicants
2. Showcases Your Experience and Expertise
3. Brings New Opportunities to You
4. Provides Guidance for Training Opportunities or Accepting New Job Opportunities
5. Creates a Desire for a Potential Employer to Hire You!

It is imperative to think of yourself as a commodity: you are the product and your potential employer is the purchaser. Why should they pick you? What benefits can you offer? What makes you a compelling catch for the potential employer?

Tips for Creating a Successful Career Brand

Create a Genuine Image

It is imperative that you create a genuine image of who you are as an individual. What is purpose in regards to your career? When you are trying to think of your authentic career image, be sure to jot down a list of what you have achieved. What are you successful at achieving? Conflict resolution? Customer service? Public speaking? What are you passionate about? Narrow your list to identify your strengths and achievements and how they correlate with your authentic personal image. How do you want to be portrayed in your professional career?

What Are the Advantages to Your Achievements?

After you have jotted down your successful achievements or strengths, think of how this makes you an advantage for a company. For example, as stated above, if you have been successful at conflict resolution, explain HOW this is an advantage to a potential employer. Showcasing that you are successful at conflict resolution shows the employer that you can bring group members together, which positively affects the overall productivity or fresh ideas.

How Do You Bring Awareness to Your Career Brand?

Bringing awareness to your career brand is the most difficult part of the process. If you do not get out there and market yourself, how will anyone find you? Get involved! Attend networking events or work on projects in your professional life that will be seen by other individuals or potential employers. If possible, ask for more opportunities or responsibilities at work. Is there a need for your skill set at work or can you offer more to another company? It is imperative you evaluate yourself as well as your needs.

After you have followed the above steps, it is important to think of how you will position yourself within your career brand. Are you the best at what you do in your field? How do you know? Are you a pioneer in your career or industry? What achievements have you accomplished that were different from other individuals? It is important to verbally communicate to others your achievements and skill set. Furthermore, it is essential to convey a positive image, whether that is in person or through an online setting (LinkedIn, Facebook, etc).

When you verbally communicate your career brand, it is imperative that you keep it concise. A word to the wise: your elevator speech should hit three, unique points about yourself. Showcase the value you will bring to a company. What do you excel at? What are the benefits of hiring you? Networking with other individuals does not just happen outside of work. Keep in mind that you may have opportunities within a work setting to expand upon your network connections. When you are making new network connections, be sure to change up your elevator speech. Tailor your response to each individual! Think of a tagline or phrase you can use to showcase your strengths or uniqueness. It is imperative that you practice your career brand statement because it needs to sound natural upon delivery.

Once you have mastered your verbal communication, it is essential you refine your visual image. Your visual image, meaning your outward appearance and attitude, will be the first impression to a new network connection or potential employer. Ask family or friends for advice on your overall appearance or wardrobe. Do you have a proper understanding of style and attitude? The attire you choose to wear should reflect your personality, but also correlate to the company’s overall vibe. It is important to do a little investigating in regards to the company’s aesthetic and personality. Are they conservative? Is the company more modern or liberal in their attire?

Ask yourself if your attitude or behavior will attract the right career? It is important to work on your ideal career brand image. If you cannot find a family member or friend who will be able to honestly give you feedback in regards to your image, seek out a career brand coach. A coach will assist you with the overall shaping and enhancement of your career brand path and image. Career branding will help you succeed in communicating who you are and what you want out of a potential employer. Seek out opportunities to accentuate your career brand to others, such as networking events or at your place of employment. Practice makes perfect, so be sure to highlight how you can add value to a company and your overall accomplishments!