A lot of people ask me, “Do I really need a professional brand?”

If you’re serious about having a fulfilling career and still getting paid what you’re worth, then the short answer is absolutely, YES! You need a professional brand.

There’s a lot of misconception with professional branding and, in this post, we’re going to challenge the ideas that hold you back from creating yours.

What is a Professional Brand?

Professional branding is not just for the celebs and big companies that have deep marketing & advertising budgets. It’s for you too.

Your professional brand is your reputation. It’s how you show up and how people perceive you. You communicate your professional brand all the time.

It’s an important part of being intentional about managing your career. Whether you know it or not, believe it or not, manage it or not, you have a professional brand today. And you can use it to stand out as you progress in your career.

Your Professional Brand is EVERYWHERE

When I’m working with a client, we build their professional brand from 3 main angles:

>> How they show up on paper through their resume.

>> How they present themselves digitally on their LinkedIn profile.

>> How they sell themselves in person in an interview.

When it comes to making your next career move, your job is to create a consistent and aligned image or brand across all three of these areas.

When a hiring manager assesses your resume, reviews your LinkedIn profile, and meets you in person, you’re giving them a preview of what they can expect from you on the job.

Showing consistency builds trust and draws them to you like a magnet. Your credibility is built through a well-defined brand and as long as there’s a match, your consideration for the job strengthens with each step.

Am I Showing Up the Way I Want to be Perceived?

Many of us don’t actively design our professional brand. Instead, it happens by default and we assume that our work will speak for itself. But that’s not always the truth.

As I shared in my blog on 3 reasons why selling yourself is so hard, most managers are so busy that they may not see all the ways you contribute and value you offer to the business. If you rely only on your work to speak for itself, they might miss how you’ve impacted the organization.

Your professional brand follows you everywhere you go. So remember, if you don’t brand yourself, others will do it for you.

Brand Yourself Into a Brighter Future

Having a clear professional brand isn’t just about appearances – it’s also about knowing the value you bring to the table.

Your professional brand speaks to both your present & future value and how you best fit into the next organization you choose to join. This is not only about your accomplishments and successes, but also about how you recovered and learned from the less than bright spots in your career history.

Intentionally managing your brand will help the right people see where you want to go next, instead of only where you are today.

Ask yourself: What do I want to be known for? And build your brand story around those moments that tell your full career story.

Even if you’re not actively looking for a new job or changing careers, your professional brand signals to everyone within your network that you just might be the right person for their next hire.

It highlights your best features, so you get more business, more opportunities, and more recognition while portraying your authentic self.

I’ve personally seen how professional branding has helped my clients land their next ideal fit career move and make incredible professional changes so I know just how powerful it can be.

So, if you want to learn how to sell yourself with ease & confidence, let’s get your Career Strategy Session on the calendar ASAP!

We have some time set aside to speak with professional women, just like you, who want a proven path to get noticed at work, sell their worth, and leave interviews with the offer letter already in hand.

Schedule a call time that works for you here.

Be real. Be true. Brand you. And let your natural awesomeness shine.

To your success,

Cindy Harvey is a Career Strategy Coach and Founder of Amelia Dee, a career strategy company for women. Cindy helps corporate career women learn how to make the next phase of their careers the most fulfilling version they’ve ever had.

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