In Octobe,r I wrote a post about Personal Branding. It included information from a presentation I had attended on developing your personal brand. Now that second semester is here and more students are coming in our office to have us look at their resumes for jobs/internships, it’s probably time to bring up the subject again and remind everyone (that means you too Freshman!) about the importance of developing your own brand.
What is a Personal Brand?
- How you distinguish yourself from other smart people.
- Answers the questions:
- “Why are you the best person for this job?”
- What makes you different than the other candidates we see?
- What makes you stand out and become noticed?
- Showcases your skills, uniqueness, and ability to deliver results!
Personal branding is about communicating and about networking. If you are looking for a job, these are two skills you must absolutely have! The earlier you start learning and using these skills the better off you will be.
Where Can You Learn Communication and Networking Skills?
First, pay attention in class. Participate in class discussions. Get to know your professors – talk to them! Professors have a wealth of knowledge that they are willing to share with you if they know you.
Next, get involved! There are so many activities and events going on that I hardly know where to begin, but I will start with visiting the Involvement Center in the University Center and talk with one of the Leadership Assistants. They’ll sit down with you and help you figure out a club or organization that fits your needs. You can also look on JOIN (http://www.uww.edu/involve/).
Consider two types of organizations – one that’s more professional/major-related and one that’s for fun.
What Does Involvement Have to Do with Branding?
Involvement is a great place to learn skills such as communication (the number one desired skill by employers). It also helps refine your teamwork skills and learn to be flexible. Another employer-desired skill it teaches you is good time management. You need to keep up your grades and you probably have a job, so belonging to an organization on top of that is proof positive you have good time management skills. Step up to the plate and take on some leadership skills. It doesn’t have to be the President or Vice President, but maybe you’re good at organizing things – Try leading a committee within the group. Look for ways to use your strengths.
These ideas will give you a start. What are some other ideas you can share with us? Do you have some experiences where you either wished you had gotten more involved or were glad you did? Can you share these with us?
Photo by pedrosimoes7