Create Your Personal Business Brand

For a product to succeed in the marketplace, it needs a great brand reputation. For you to succeed in getting the job you want, you need the same thing.

In a competitive job market, it’s important to stand out in the crowd. Your personal brand is what will help you do that. It’s an integral part of your ability to “sell” yourself to employers.

But what is a personal brand? And how do you use it in your job search? Read on to find out, and check out job search resources and AARP's Employer Pledge Program.

Your Personal Brand

Your personal brand is composed of several things:

• Skills and qualifications: Your key talents and abilities, and what you’re good at 
• Achievements: How you’ve made an impact
• Passions: What you love doing and how it’s infused in your work   
• Value: What you offer that an employer needs
• Look: Your attire and overall appearance

It’s a great idea to develop a brand statement. For example, Jane Murdoch is a conflict management professional. Her personal brand statement might be, “I turn conflict into agreement.” A brand statement keeps you centered on how you want to define yourself.

Using Your Brand in Your Job Search

You can use your personal brand in all phases of your job search, including networking, how you present yourself in your résumé and cover letters, and in interviews.

Networking

Networking is more important than ever in today’s job market. A personal brand can help you feel more self-assured as you network. Here are some ways to display your personal brand:

• Introduce yourself using elements of your brand. Example: “I’m Jane Murdoch and I turn conflict into agreement. As the owner of Better Communications, Inc., I teach people how to resolve conflicts and manage change.”

• Print up business cards. The most effective cards include the individual’s photo, contact information and personal brand statement. For example, “I turn conflict into agreement.”

• Set up your profile on social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn. The connections you make online could open up job leads.

Résumés and Cover Letters

Strengthen your résumé and cover letters by highlighting your unique skills and abilities, and how you’ve applied them.

• State a brief career objective or skills summary at the top of your résumé. Show that your expertise matches the requirements of the particular job.