4 Ways to Create a Strong Personal Brand

4 Ways to Create a Strong Personal Brand4 Ways to Create a Strong Personal Brand5Personal branding has become a staple in any job search, including executive-level searches. The strength and essence of yur personal brand is important to make sure you are selling yourself in a manner that the company will find relevant and interesting.If you are creating your personal brand, consider the below information about personal brands and four ways to create a strong brand.Are you confused when you hear the word branding?Its a word used so often in job searching and resume writing that its no wonder the word branding has many people scratching their heads. As job seekers scour their resume, they wonder if they captured the essence of their personal brand. Clients frequently ask questions about their brand including, Is my resume branded for the position I want? or Can you create my resume, so it brands me?Making your personal and executive brand clear requires you to get detailed. Dont assume that writing, Senior VP of Operations on your resume clears up the confusion of what your brand is.Your brand is something that makes you uniquely you.Think about it- youve had a steady executive career progression and along the way have honed your skills, learned new things, and carved out a name for yourself. You have distinguished yourself from others this way. Youve also used your qualities to guide you to the next level in your career. Your personal brand is an evolution of where you are today, and you have been gradually building it for years.Here are a few simple steps to help you build out a strong personal brandHave you Googled yourself lately? What comes up in the searches next to your name? Social media branding should be a top priority for you since executive search firms filter candidates with it. If you dont have your LinkedIn profile up to date, chances are they wont be able to find you. Use other social media outlets as well such as company bios, executive team bios , Twitter, etc. What does the Internet say about you?Sprinkle aspects of your brand throughout your resume and let your reader know what your accomplishments are. Show them in terms of leadership, PL, cash flow, turnarounds, market and growth strategy, and other areas with strong data. Lead with tactical terms, not soft skills.Ask your colleagues. One exercise I use with clients to target their brand is asking them what they are known for at work. What do people say you are good at doing? Mark is our go-to guy for all things partner relations. Hes the one you want to talk with about that. What are you known or recognized for at work?Still stumped? Make a list of five to 10 strengths and personal attributes that describe you. Are these strengths and attributes on your resume? If a reader were to glance at your resume, would they be able to tell within 10 to 20 seconds what your brand is, who you are, and what you bring to the table? Is the first half of your resume wowing the reader with your accomplishments, selling the reader on your executive brand?Many of our clients tell us they have this information to create a strong executive brand, but are unsure of how to incorporate it into their resume. There is help, including the many talented executive resume writers who specialize in executive branding and can walk through it with you. Whether you hire someone to help you or you do it yourself, the most important thing is that your resume is infused with your unique brand.Readers, have you developed your personal brand? Do you think having a strong brand is important in your job search? Share with us belowErin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, BS/HR,is a certified professional resume writer/career consultant, andthe president ofProfessional Resume Services. She is anationallypublishedwriter and contributor of 14 best-sellingcareer books. She has achieved international recognition following yearly nominations of the prestigiousT.O.R.I. (Toast of the Resume Industry) Awar d. members receive a special discount on Professional Resume Services