Why Personal Branding is Important for Career Success

by Soneca Guadara

Job search tips are critical in today’s competitive job market as they help you effectively showcase your skills, network with the right people, and find the job that aligns with your career goals.

Are you looking for a better, higher-paying job? Or are you looking to move to a role with more responsibility? You’ve probably already brushed up that resume- listed your impressive credentials and your considerable experience and expertise.

But here’s something you probably didn’t know. You may be the best candidate for a role- and still not get the job. Heck, you may not even get that interview!

Why? According to Entrepreneur experts, almost 50% of employers are less likely to interview any candidate they can’t find online.

In today’s fast-paced and super-connected world, where networking is king, and social media is queen, job opportunities are reserved for the select few willing to confidently showcase their professional personalities.

What do we mean by a professional personality?

Think of all the most successful people you know. What do they have in common? The answer is they aren’t building empires by waiting around, hoping they’ll win the lottery one day. They’re leveraging the power of building personal brands. So why can’t you?

Having a personal brand is essential for anyone looking for a job for a simple reason — it’s the best way to give employers an idea of what to expect from you. Far from being a buzzword, personal branding is now a must for budding entrepreneurs, freelancers, and any professional looking to improve their network. It’s what sets us apart from our competitors; it’s what makes employers connect with us on a personal level.

But first, let’s get into the basics with these job search tips:

If you want your FREE Ebook Click the link below

What is a Personal Brand?

Personal Branding is the process of creating a unique voice that separates you from other competitors in your field. It helps you define what you stand for as an individual. It’s a combination of your expertise and experience. It’s where your online and offline personalities meet to tell a professional story. As a job search tip to keep in mind, it’s the perception you would like employers to have of you.

Why is it Important?

It builds credibility: You’ll be amazed at how much importance employers, clients, and peers place on this simple word. Your experience or expertise rarely gets you rejected or accepted for a job; it’s a simple matter of determining whether you can deliver on your promise.

It helps you differentiate yourself: We spend the first 15 years of our lives trying to fit in with the kids at school and the next 50 years trying to stand out to potential employers. What differentiates us from the hundreds of applicants vying for the same job? Our own unique stories or personal brands.

It helps make an impression: Remember how we were advised to keep our CVs short and to the point? The advice was meant to help us make lasting impressions with very few words. Well, in 2023, we may rely more on social media to do the job for us, but the goal remains the same. A personal brand is a dynamic resume, perfect for our times.

It helps build a connection. A personal brand is the best way to make employers and clients understand who you are. There’s no point harping on about what you stand for during interviews when you can show employers what you mean instead. It helps them connect with you, and they are much more likely to trust your expertise.

The Job Market

At the lowest point of your job search, it may seem like the job market has reached a point of saturation. That there are too many applicants for too few jobs. That everyone else’s skills and experience surpass our own.

It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but it’s one that’s not backed by statistics. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate as of January 2023 was at an all-time low. More jobs are being introduced every single day, and once you follow the right job search tips — such as building a personal brand — nothing is stopping you from:

Dealing With the Competition

As its name suggests, a personal brand offers a unique insight into your life and experiences. It shows clearly what you bring to the table and helps you identify what value you can offer that other applicants don’t. As suggested earlier, it’s as essential for employers to know your ability to stand out as it is for them to know how many master’s degrees you’ve been successfully awarded.

Adapt to the Market

Social media has created a massive shift in the job market. What once seemed unprofessional and a waste of time is now considered an essential skill set that employers highly value. Job search tips are especially important to keep in mind when it comes to networking and using social media.

Even if your job doesn’t involve social media, there’s a larger point being made here- it’s about the importance of adapting. Building your personal brand, creating your niche, understanding the current market state, and positioning yourself as a master of the times can put you miles ahead of your competition

Soneca Guadara

Soneca Guadara is an Image Consultant and Personal Branding Strategist. She is the CEO of Style by Soneca. She has been helping high-achieving entrepreneurs, investors, founders, executives, and celebrities create their best personal brands. As an entrepreneur and influencer on social media, she has learned the importance of creating and maintaining your personal brand. She helps entrepreneurs leverage their personal brand to develop the authority, influence, and trust they need to exceed their business goals.