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Whenever you’re in a professional setting, whether that be a recruiting event, an interview, or an internship, you want to stand out and be remembered. Of course, this doesn’t mean being the loudest or most talkative in a room, but it does mean being distinctly you! This often means having a “brand” or a specific way that you can market yourself. Here are a few ways to develop a personal brand as it relates to you and your career.
- Have three or four solid & specific (long-term) experiences or projects that you use as examples for several behavioral interview questions.
- Ideally, these would be unique to you and truly experiences that have shaped you as a person. This can begin establishing your brand by showing what you are passionate about, what you have put time & effort into, and how it’s enhanced your college experience.
- Think about something or somebody you find inspiring. This place, entity, or person is likely known for being really good at one thing or several things, but also has a history and is able to tell stories in a way that gets people to listen, so definitely try to do exactly that.
- Align your resume, Handshake, and LinkedIn profiles.
- Having a consistent “story” will prove that you have a personal brand without having to say more, and will be able to solidify your position as a candidate right off the bat.
- Practice elevator pitch sentences to be a part of your brand, especially when you’re talking during interviews, introducing yourself in professional settings, and just to have a few accomplishments to be able to list right off the bat. If you’re a finance major, what’s your niche? If you’re a marketing major, what do you enjoy most and what do you want to do in the future?
- Show up ready. Whatever your personal brand is, it can only help you if the interview goes well. So, do your research and be prepared.
- Have your style match your brand and the position you’re applying for. Add a little bit of flair or a fun color if you want to show some creativity. Often, if you’re a quantitative person, people may automatically assume you’re less creative or boring. Prove them wrong by showing that you have the qualifications necessary to do all technical components of a position, but that you can also solve problems in new, original ways!
Check this resource out for more!
