Image by Joe Pemberton via Flickr
We are all familiar with name brand products in the stores. Companies have learned they can sell more of their product if they can make you associate the name closely with a particular service or advantage.
Branding yourself is a relatively new concept in the world of employment, but basically it uses the same strategy, only this time the product is you. Branding yourself is a way of making it clear to potential employers or clients what, in particular, you might be able to do for them.
Successful products have slogans, and so can you. When someone asks you what you do for a living, do you answer with your job title? Do you say, for instance, "I am a manager." This is hardly inspiring. Or do you say something like, "I work for the What's-it Manufacturing Plant." That mentions them, but it does not identify you. Branding is a way of identifying yourself with special qualities, just like short advertizing slogans will identify a product with special qualities. Mercedes Benz is, "Engineered like no other car in the world." Holiday Inn is, "Pleasing people the world over." With Polaroid, "The fun develops instantly."
When someone asks you what you do, rather than responding, "I am a manager," it could be, "I turn management around in companies so that they can profit again." Or rather than just a teacher you could describe yourself as, "I teach children to enjoy learning." This short but positive association can make you more attractive and encourages them to want to know you better. Your brand can be communicated in your conversations and be suggested with examples in your resume. A brand for you can identify you to a potential employer as having a most special quality or advantage and impress them that you would make a most desirable employee.
This is the overall point to the social media revolution, we are starting to see stars/personal personas emerge as the unofficial face of a company or product-for example Woody from TGI Fridays. Maintaining a corporate image is important at all times, you may want to rethink your drunk party pictures on Facebook or slamming your boss/company on Myspace (hint if you feel compelled to do this visit a site like www.workrant.com) . Instead make your name a brand-your business cards & other communications (as long as your company bi-laws allow) should reflect you and where one can learn about your brand -lesson: make your profile is up to date & scandal free! This means that not only can you have a personal profile that you ensure only shares with confirmed friends but a more professional face that if someone looked you up on Google you wouldn't mind what results were displayed-if not hurry, establish an alias to write under.After all word of mouth is the highest form of praise and best referral system around-naturally taking this idea online will have even better results.
The next time someone asks you the dreaded question of what do you do for a living you can put a happy spin on what you like about your job This may also help you remember why you work those long hours and minimize some of the workplace ready to go postal (sorry USPS employees) at any minute feeling!
**To see how Bee is branded- check out my profile on Digg, leave comments or just type "Beehivebits" in your search engine and email or call me with questions.
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