WHY should students think about their own personal brand?
A brand isn’t limited to just products or companies, it’s a great idea to start thinking about your own personal brand as building one can help you to promote yourself to potential employers and showcase your skill set. It can also help you connect with others and find interesting opportunities for your future.
Here are FIVE tips to help you start building your brand:
1. Think about your vision
Understand what it is you would like to be known for and develop your brand with this in mind. You may want to think about what you want in 5, 10 or 20 years’ time, or you may have a specific career in mind. Whichever it is, start to be strategic in your goals and how you plan to achieve them.
2. Be the best
Your work should be of a consistently high standard and furthermore, everyone should know it. Having said that, be humble, but strive to stand out. Whether that’s coming top in your exams, being the top picked player in a sports team, whatever your field or interests, think about how you can showcase your talent.
3. Get your name out – but be aware of what you share
You need to create value for your brand. It is essential you utilise the internet as a way to promote yourself, albeit sensibly. Create a website that highlights your knowledge and skills, like a CV. Set up accounts on sites like LinkedIn and Twitter as these platforms are invaluable tools for promotion and can let potential employers get a feel for what you’re about.
Make sure you have you have the correct privacy settings for personal social media accounts; universities and employers will and do check these. And be careful what you share! Consider getting two accounts on platforms like Facebook – one for personal one for more professional purposes!
4. Make yourself an invaluable ‘expert’
Use the internet, blogging and social media to create content and publish your work or ideas. Blogging will give people an insight to your student life early on. Don’t make this too casual if you’re going to let potential employers view it though.
It is also worth considering writing for student newspapers and magazines. This will help you to look like more than a student but the next potential expert in your field and an invaluable member of any team. Plus, having links to your content looks great on a CV!
5. Network to promote your brand
Networking is key to open new doors, whatever you want in later life. If you have a strong brand people will remember you and it could lead to exciting opportunities in the future. Take advantage of university events with lecturers and employers and talk to as many people as possible. This will help build your confidence and interpersonal skills.
It is also important to maintain the relationships you make on a professional level as you would a personal one, keep in touch at least once a month with members of your network, invite them for coffee or send them something interesting you have written/read about.
