5 personal branding tips to stand out in the job market

Businesses use a wide range of methods, including social media marketing, advertising campaigns, and promotional partnerships. However, none of these tactics work without a strong brand identity, and the same is true for you when job hunting.

Personal branding is about how you present yourself and the story you tell potential employers. Many of us create an online brand on social media without even realising it. With these helpful tips, you can curate your personal brand to stand out from the crowd in even the most competitive job market.

What is personal branding?

You may already have a killer resume, but how can you put it in front of recruiters in the first place? Personal branding involves building a brand around you, the individual, rather than a business. It’s a useful tool in helping you further your career by showcasing your personality, skills, and behaviour whilst building connections and positioning yourself as an expert in your field. Building a personal brand takes time and consistent effort. To get the best results, it’s important to set boundaries around your brand and stick to them.

Why is personal branding important?

Personal branding using an online portfolio is a great way of highlighting your strengths and showing employers what you have to offer, which is especially important in careers that are in high demand. Personal branding is important because it:

• Shows people you are dependable
• Communicates your working style and ethics
• Lets you share your professional views on industry issues
• Allows potential employers to see how you could benefit their business
• Can differentiate you from competitors
• Can build your credibility
• Helps recruiters find you

5 personal branding tips and tricks to stand out in the crowd

The first step is knowing who you are and what you stand for. The second step is understanding your goals and aims for the future. Once you know what you want your brand to achieve for you, it’s time to get started.

1. Set up a LinkedIn profile

LinkedIn is the ultimate social media platform for building a professional image online. Prospective employers will search for you here before your interview.

• Use a professional image. A high-quality image with a look and feel that’s relevant to your industry is key.
• Optimise your headline. Using a positioning statement rather than a simple company name and title can help you stand out from the crowd (for example, ‘Business management professional and EPM system expert with two years’ experience’).
• Enhance your summary. Three punchy paragraphs that tell people about your results-based achievements and a soft call to action at the end should do it.
• Use eye-catching media. High-quality visual content will attract people’s attention. These should reinforce your work ethos and professional achievements.

Following these profile enhancements, it's equally important to optimise communication with your network. Clear and professional interactions can significantly enhance your personal brand's visibility and impact, making your LinkedIn engagements more effective.

It’s also important to consider how you communicate across all platforms. Email remains a key tool in professional communication. Utilising professional email templates can help ensure your messages are consistently clear and reflective of your personal brand, aiding in maintaining a high standard of communication with potential employers and colleagues alike.

2. Create a blog

Blogs are a great way for you to showcase your knowledge. If you’re an expert on top lead generation strategies or the best ways to protect your data, blogs are a great way to show people you’re a key player with a lot to offer.

Blogging can take a while for posting consistent, high-quality content to take effect. Using a strong voice and consistently posting can help you build a following of your own, or you can write guest posts for other blogs as a way to put your name out there.

Finally, to give your blog that extra boost and ensure it reaches as far as possible, draw on demand generation strategies. While you might not have all the tools of a marketing agency at your disposal, following a proven strategy will help you consider your target audience, plan your blog and optimise your content so it has the best chance of success.

3. Follow the experts

The experts in your field can show you a lot about what to do and not to do. By looking at what gets great responses, you can look at the type of content that works and decide how you can share similar high-quality material with your own stamp on it. You can put your name out there by adding your perspective as comments on their posts, too.

4. Have a fresh perspective

Regurgitating the same old material is never going to be ground-breaking. It’s important to develop a voice and tone that’s unique to you. Try to determine what sets you apart from the crowd and stick to it.

For example, if you’re writing a post about generative AI, you’ll want to do more than explain what it is. Instead, try to give your own perspective on the potential risks involved or even the role of generative AI in the future of your industry–show what you’re passionate about and what interests you.

5. Get networking

Growing your personal brand shouldn’t be limited to online only. Networking is a great way to meet key people in your field, get advice on business names or the latest marketing techniques, and showcase your skills. Depending on your industry and whether you choose networking events that are informal or formal, you’ll need to think about how you present yourself in terms of what you wear and how you act.

The job market is a competitive place, but building a professional personal brand can help you raise your head above the parapet and be seen. A great personal brand is essentially an advertisement for you, your knowledge, skills, and achievements.

In time, you can establish yourself as an expert in your field and start to make your mark in your industry. This will help you build connections with industry leaders and trailblazers which can lead to great career prospects in the future.