If you’re looking for a job at the moment, you’ll know only too well how tough it is out there. Fewer jobs and more candidates means that competition can be pretty fierce. That’s why it’s essential that you do all that you can to get ahead and rise above the rest of the market as it were. One of the best methods of doing this is by creating and building a personal brand so that you can show potential employers exactly what you are all about. Wondering how you can do that? Here are 5 Ways to Build your Personal Brand that should certainly help…

Clarify and Define your brand

First of all you will need to clearly know what you have got to offer an employer. Take some time out to evaluate your skills, your strengths and what type of impression you are seeking to convey. Is your CV truly reflective of this? If not, change it – after all, your CV is what showcases you to a prospective employer. An employer or recruiter will make a judgement call within seconds upon seeing your CV so if it is to do its job properly, it needs to be selling you and your value as a potential candidate.

Differentiate yourself

Just as a company has to distinguish itself in often very crowded marketplaces, so too should you as a candidate. You need to ensure that you highlight your USP to any potential employer. Many other candidates may have similar qualifications and similar types of work experience so you need to determine what makes you unique. Identify particular achievements you have made, outline how you added real value to a previous employer and highlight any significant impact that your actions may have had. By illustrating and demonstrating how you are ‘different’, you stand a much better chance of creating a personal brand that will be of interest to a prospective employer.

Get involved

One of the most important ways of developing your personal brand is of course by getting noticed and the best way of doing that is by getting involved. If you are not already networking as part of your job search activity, then it’s time to start. Go to events, connect with other people who are in the sector where you wish to work. Connect and engage with influential people in your industry on social media channels. Perhaps start a blog and try and try and get it on the radar of prospective employers. All these things will help you not only to cultivate your personal brand but will also help you to promote it.

Be believable

If you think about any of the big brands that we all know – the household names – they generally all have one thing in common – they can be trusted. If a brand is not what it proclaims to be, word soon gets out and that reputation can be very hard to get back. From a personal perspective, it’s important that you remember how this element of trust is vital also. Don’t make the mistake of lying on your CV or exaggerating your skills or achievements because you think that will impress people. It might initially but you will soon get found out. Get some validation – whether that means getting LinkedIn endorsements or simply by becoming a credible voice in your sector through blogging or networking. Your brand should be authentic and believable – don’t forget that.

Take your Time

Creating a successful personal brand is not something which can be done overnight, as much as many of us would like to. It’s important therefore to keep a focus on this and be patient. It will take time and it will require planning. Also, just as a company has to perhaps regroup and change direction or strategy, so too should you. Remember that you will be creating your brand gradually and some things will work and may have an immediate impact, whilst other things won’t. Remember that you need to be adaptable. After all, this should be part of your overall long term career strategy – it’s not just a quick fix.

We hope that by highlighting 5 Ways to Build Your Personal Brand we have helped you along the way on your own career journey. Got any other tips that you’d like to share? Why not let us know via the comments section below.