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Individual Branding

Personal branding

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Sai Ram Kumar
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30 views

Individual Branding

Personal branding

Uploaded by

Sai Ram Kumar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 27

A little about me…

• I grew up in Jacksonville, FL and have been successfully recruiting


IT professionals in Northeast Florida since 2004.

• My company…Hire Methods listed as #399 on INC 500 List, 6th


fastest growing company in Jacksonville and one of the Best Places
to Work according to Florida Trend (www.hiremethodsinc.com)

• What I do at Hire Methods…Recruiting, Account Management,


Strategy Leadership & Online Community Management

• Other things I do…GambinoCentral.com and INVEST Consulting, LLC


(www.investinyourmessage.wordpress.com)
Let's Start Off with an Overview
Developing your personal brand will help you:

1. In Your Current Job

2. In Your Career Search

3. In Finding New Opportunities/Partnerships

4. Building Rapport

5. Networking / Making Connections

6. Help You Become More Personally Fulfilled with Life


What is Personal Branding?
Personal branding is the process of how we market ourselves
to others (general)

The process by which individuals differentiate themselves by


identifying and articulating their unique value proposition
and then leveraging it across platforms with a consistent
message and image to achieve a specific goal (specific)
Your Focus…
" Regardless of age, regardless of position, regardless of the
business we happen to be in, all of us need to understand
the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own
companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most
important job is to be head marketer for the brand called
You."

Tom Peters, Management Guru


Source: http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/10/brandyou.html
Without Personal Branding

• You can become a commodity in the marketplace

• Have a disadvantage compared to others

• Lose significant career opportunities

• Limit your reach


What is your brand?

• Self-Impression = Perception (Deal with this first)

• Second, Personal Branding is a state of mind (make it a priority)

• Third, remember the basics: Who are you? What do you do? What makes
you unique?

4-Step Branding Process


Discover your brand
Develop your brand
Communicate your brand
Maintain your brand
Step 1 - Discover your Brand!

Insights about YOU Insights from others


• Goals • How do others describe you?
• Personal Drivers • What are the three compliments
• Values people make about you?
• What are you passionate about? • What about you makes people stop,
watch and say WOW?
• What are you known for?
• What do you have answers to?
Step 2 - Develop your Brand!

Identify your target audience


• Write a professional profile for your target audience “You are the only person
on earth who can (Should also be on the top of your resume)

• Understand your “unique value proposition” use your own ability”

•Answer why are you the “go-to-person” for your field/area of expertise?
(accomplishments)

• Find five personal brand attributes (strengths)


How do you stand out?

• Now Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham


• Personally and professionally it is important to know what
makes you different.
• So get to know what exactly makes you
great and learn to communicate it!
My Strength Analysis

1. Strategy

2. Competition

3. Achiever

4. Woo (winning others


over)

5. Positivity
Know Your Strengths

• Very few candidates, vendors or competitors are able to


quickly and effectively communicate their strengths…let
alone articulate how those strengths are going to help in
some way.

• Remember…It’s not about you. Memorize your strengths


and understand how they can apply to your next client,
employer, etc.
Step 3 – Communicate your Brand
• Create a Communications Plan Tangible
• Personal website
• Select a combination of vehicles • Blog
to reach your Brands target • Social Networks
audience and that play to your • Business Card
strengths • Resume
(Accomplishments/Achievements)
• Develop a timeline to implement • Portfolio (CD/Web)
that supports constancy in your • Reference Documentation
communications
Intangible
• Remember Clarity, Consistency, • Name
Constancy = (Transparency) • Appearance
• Competencies
• Personality
• Mission
• Vision
• Values
Step 4 – Maintain your Brand

• Have you ever searched for information about yourself


online? “Google” yourself; set up Google Alert

• Be consistent ; “walk your talk”

• Assess your brand regularly (Linkedin)

• Gather feedback (ask others for recommendations)

• Evolve to stay relevant - The best brands are flexible


(multiple copies of your resume)
•You can almost guarantee that
employers look online to check you
out! You are being Googled!

•Brands are Searchable - My Blog,


My current company, My LinkedIn
profile, Jacksonville.com articles,
Twitter, Business Card, Resume,
Facebook Profile, employment sites,
job boards, etc
Tips for standing out and building credibility

• Back up your crazy claims by controlling the online


community. Your online reputation is becoming increasingly
important! People are going to check you out…

• Your Personal Brand:

• Buy your own Domain Name

• Utilize Online Social Networking: LinkedIn, Facebook,


YouTube, Twitter, Word Press

• Reputation Management…Building Credibility


Networking
So…How did you generate your last sale
or find your last job?

• From an Ad?
• Through your Resume or Job Posting?
• At a Networking Event?
• Through a Recruiter?
(A Great Recruiter is a Great Networker)
• By Referral?
• At a Trade Show?
• Through Cold Calling?
Everyone knows the networking basics:

• Working the Room

• Firm Handshakes

• Dress to Impress
Remember This:

• Networking is a state of mind and it is NOT ABOUT YOU!

• Too many people talk waaay too much.

• “Selling yourself” without knowing your audience = Creating


lots of unintentional blabbering.

• Be resourceful (Solution=Use Linkedin and other tools to


know your audience
Blah. Blah h .
Blah . B l a
Blah. . Blah.
h . h . Blah. Blah.
Bl a B l a
Basic keys to successful interviewing and
networking:
• Investigate the types of people that you will be meeting.
• Prepare smart questions and rehearse in advance.
• The more you talk, the less people are listening.

• Answer a question and quickly ask one back.


• Be intentional on who you want to meet and why.
• Ask for permission to FOLLOW UP!

• Ask them how and when.


Remember This:

• People do not remember what you said or what you did


for them… THEY REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL!

• Ask smart questions, listen, ask for permission to follow


up…THEN FOLLOW UP!
Volunteering goes a long way

• Getting involved in helping others can really add meaning to


your work and help you meet potential customers or
employers.
So let’s fast forward…

• You established a rapport with a person of interest by


focusing on them and not yourself.

• You asked them how and when to follow up.

• You followed up and set another meeting to expand and


deepen your rapport.

• You uncovered areas you can help that person by using one
or all of your strengths and/or resources.
Personal Branding…a Recap
• Personal Branding and Networking is how recruitment is done

• You have full control over your brand

• If you don't take advantage of your strengths, you will lose


opportunities (Marcus Buckingham)

• Brainstorm all your personal qualities and experiences

• Align your interests with your career aspirations

• Create your own Personal Brand and Network heavily

• Personal Branding costs hardly any money but does takes time

• Use social media tools for personal empowerment and professional


networking
Recession Proofing & Personal Branding…
• Continuing education; Always be learning and reading good books!
(Book of the month: Radical Careering)

• Be Blogging and following interesting & relevant Blogs (Blog about


anything you are interested in or an expert in)

• Take responsibility for your happiness! Don’t fall into the trap of
negativity. (Faith, Relationships with other people, Learning
something new, etc.)

• Set goals. Get up and get out! (Bottom Line–Hit the streets and
quit being lazy)

• Volunteer for a cause that you are passionate about. (You just
might get a lead or a tip on a job opportunity this way, beside
getting personal satisfaction out of helping others)

• Choose Hope & Refuse to Participate in the Recession!


Linkedin 101
Thanks for your time!

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