Why You Should Prioritize Building A Personal Brand
What does it take to get a job interview?
It’s a question a lot of job seekers have. Despite having an exceptional resume, a strong skill set, and relevant experience, they can go days (if not weeks or months) without getting a call. While the time of year and industry affect hiring, 98% of job candidates are ruled out by resume alone.
The truth is, only 2% of applicants make it to the interview stage. And the people reaching the interview stage aren't necessarily more qualified or skilled. They just have something that you may not: a memorable personal brand.
The Importance Of Building A Personal Brand
A personal brand gets the attention of industry leaders, develop your unique voice, and helps build your confidence. With a strong personal brand, you will be a top candidate because you know who you are and what you want. It's critical to embrace the idea that personal branding is a part of the modern hiring world, for a few reasons.
Resumes Don’t Get You Invited To The Dance
A Microsoft Word .doc with your name, education, and professional background isn’t enough to get you an interview. According to The Cheeky Scientist Association, large companies can receive up to 2,000 resumes a day. There’s no way a company can review all of those resumes, so a significant amount of them go in the trash.
However, if you can get a personal referral, you can skip ahead of every paper application. In this video, Cheeky Scientist explains how getting a referral can drastically increase your chances of getting hired.
Overall, employers simply trust network and a strong referral rather than hiring from a resume database.
Another reason referrals are so critical? Employers want to know what other people think of you. When you have a strong personal brand and community, you can acquire in-depth, genuine referrals that speak to your expertise and values.
Employers Seek Cultural Fits
Companies commonly define cultural fit by an alignment of values, as Pat Wadors, LinkedIn’s Head of HR, explains in this session of Talent On Tap. Employers want to know that you stand for the same values and principles as they do.
That's why hiring managers look at any public profiles, look you up, and do research to get a sense of who you are. If anything on your online profiles is not in alignment with their culture or values, they will most likely move on to other candidates.
The information about you online acts as a reference and a resource to what you care about and prioritize. Your tweets, Facebook conversations, and public feedback and commentary speaks volumes about who you are, much more than what is on your resume.
You Can Showcase Your Personality and Values
What makes you different from everyone else in your industry? Are you quirky? Funny? Eccentric? What do you believe in and what inspires you? While none of these things may seem relevant to the specific position you’re striving for, your personality can help you stand out from your peers and give potential employers an idea of what it would be like to work with you every day.
Gary Vaynerchuk, the founder of Vaynermedia, explains why creating a personal brand is so critical (as well as tips on building your brand), in a session of Video Influencers.
He also describes why personal branding is so much more than getting subscribers or having a successful Twitter profile.
“I’m not even sure how many subscribers on YouTube I have,” Gary admits. “I built my brand as a thought leader, executor, as an investor in this digital arena.”
When you tap into your strengths and think big, you can develop a personal brand that shows off your unique traits. With that strong branding, you will have a better chance of finding a company with employees that share the same values and characteristics.
You Can Connect With Your Tribe
A part of a strong personal brand is having involvement and gaining influence in your industry. You want to connect and build relationships with like-minded people. In a video review of the famous book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, blogger Clark Kegley explains why making these connections matter so much.
Overall, a personal brand that reflects your personal values and ambitions will help you attract people with the same mindset. Not only will this help you build relationships, but it also provides a backdoor to career opportunities that you may have missed otherwise.
A Photo Is Worth A Thousand Words
It takes someone less than 30 seconds to form a first impression about you. A part of an effective personal branding strategy is proactive image cultivation, or putting out great, professional photos to ensure employers have a positive opinion of you if they start digging around Google.
Paula Brennan, a personal branding photographer, recommends individual branding photo shoots to craft your ideal online “avatar.” She explains the process of these shoots, as well as how to prepare for them, in this video.
You also want to remove any unflattering photos. Unprofessional photos from college or at parties are not difficult to find. Someone can easily Google Image search and see pictures that go back for years.
The Benefits Of Building A Personal Brand
When you have a personal brand in place, you can gain recognition and influence within your chosen field. It’s an investment that can transform your entire life, and get you on the right track to fulfilling your career goals.
However, if you’re not sure what you want to do in your career, or having doubts about the field you’re in, building a personal brand in that field may not be the best choice for the long-term.
If you need more clarity on where you want your career to go, consider filling out our Career Clarity Assessment. You’ll answer a few questions and receive a fulfillment score based on your inputs. We use these scores to help you evaluate your career path and make the best, most actionable next step.
