In the words of Jay-Z, “I’m not a businessman. I’m a business, man”. In today’s day and age, having your own personal brand can make or break your career or business. Contrary to popular belief, developing your own personal brand doesn’t necessarily have to involve business at all. One’s personal brand focuses more on how the rest of the world perceives you and what you stand for as a person. By investing time and energy into your personal brand, you can open yourself up to numerous opportunities that will help you in the long haul. As college students, developing your personal brand now can be incredibly beneficial in the future, so here are a few tips on how to make a brand out of who you are.
- Be passionate about your growth
As with anything new that we try in life, the first time we do it, we might not get it completely right– and that is more than okay. Actually, it’s great. By making mistakes and learning from them, you can apply what you’ve learned to future situations. When developing your personal brand, reflect on the person you were last year or the year before that, going as far back as many years as you may need.
By comparing your then to your now, you will notice an undeniable amount of change that has helped foster your growth as an individual. Try to insert these changes or the growth you have made into your personal brand by developing a personal statement or using your story as an inspiration to others.
- Be true to who you are
Probably the most important rule to remember when developing your personal brand is to stay true to who you are. Never stand for something or do something that you will not be proud to tell your family or kids in the future. Always remain dedicated to how you want the world to perceive you and the morals you have set in your life. By creating boundaries and having the values that you follow ingrained into your personal brand, you can have direction for the rest of your life.
- Allow them to come to you
Last, but not least, is to allow others to come to you. When employers are looking for candidates, they are always going to choose the best fit for their company. With there being thousands of different companies, each with their own expectations and cultures, it is inevitable that you will be chosen as well. However, it’s important to take into consideration the fact that patience is required; not everything happens according to our timing, yet the best results will always come our way in the end. Put yourself out there; advertise yourself and your skills through your brand, and allow the company to genuinely want you– not the other way around.
The concept of personal branding has been booming over the course of 2020 and today, as people are going down new and exciting career paths. Since we are all still young and looking to enter the real world, now is the time to get a hold of your own personal brand and how you want to advertise yourself to future employers. Regardless of your personal brand or not, it is imperative that you keep your confidence. Every room that you walk into was meant to have you in it.