branding – Be Gallant Coaching

4 Reasons why your brand can unlock your job search

Come sit ’round the fire, job seekers!

Let’s talk about something more valuable than your resume in the job hunt jungle: your brand.

Does it sound like a marketing buzzword?

Yes.

But IS it some kind of marketing buzzword?

…yes. But it’s actually the real deal this time.

It’s not just about what’s on your resume; it’s about who you are and how you present yourself to the world.

So, I’ve been chatting with a bunch of people lately (including some of you reading this), one on one, and when I ask about their brand, I see a lot of deer-in-the-headlights looks.

Blank stares, awkward laughs, you name it. I’ve also been hearing a lot of confusion on things like how and where to start in the job search, especially for those of y’all who are looking to change industries. Very understandable. It’s like we’re all in this maze, and nobody’s sure where the exit is.

But here’s the thing: your brand is your map. It’s what guides you to the right opportunities and helps you stand out from the crowd (click here for help on that).

Here are four solid reasons why nailing your brand is the key to job hunting success:

1. CAREER ALIGNMENT

Ever feel like you’re wandering aimlessly through a job fair, not sure which booths to check out? Your brand is like a compass, pointing you toward roles that fit your skills and values like a glove. It’s all about finding your groove and going after the gigs that make your heart sing, both from a values standpoint and a skills standpoint.

2. IMPACT COMMUNICATION

Hiring managers are busy people. Recruiters are also busy people. They don’t have time to decode your resume and figure out what you bring to the table. You need to be able to do this quickly by identifying what’s important to them, and drawing accurate parallels between what they need and what you have. That’s where your brand comes in handy. It’s your elevator pitch, your value proposition, your secret sauce for showing them why you’re the right person for the job. It’s what allows you to clearly communicate how you can move the needle in a way that is unique and necessary.

Oh, and if you’re wondering about how to communicate the transferability of your skills (I’m lookin’ at y’all, education and non-profit professionals) this is at the core of that.

3. NETWORKING PROWESS AND OPPORTUNITIES

You’ve heard the saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Well, your brand is your VIP pass to the networking party. When people know who you are and what you’re all about, they’re more likely to hook you up with the right opportunities and introduce you to their circle of connections.

4. CONSISTENCY & RECOGNIZABILITY

Think of your branding as your personal logo. You want it to be consistent across all your job hunt materials — your LinkedIn profile, your resume, your cover letter, you name it. That way, when employers see your brand popping up everywhere, they’ll recognize you and remember you more.

Figuring out your brand is not obvious, but it’s worth the effort. So, if you’re feeling lost in the job hunt wilderness, take a step back, pour yourself a cup of coffee, and let’s figure it out together.

The Build Your Transferable Brand program is meant to help you craft a brand that you are clear on and ready to use to your advantage in your job search.

Your brand will help you set yourself apart from others via the stories you craft in your resume and cover letter, interviews, LinkedIn, and networking opportunities. The transferability of your skills and the value of your impact will be clearer to the people you come in contact with.

And it’s only two sessions! If you’re still job searching or considering a pivot, meet with me for two sessions and I’ll have you up and running with a newly crafted brand you can actively use to your advantage this spring.

Early bird pricing is still active, so the program is only $295 and will last until May 5th. Click here and let’s get started!

So, you’ve heard about “establishing your brand” as it relates to your job search, right? Or maybe you haven’t.

Your brand is your own personal mark. It’s your style. It’s what you’re known for. It speaks to the problems you solve and how you solve them.

Everyone has skills, but your brand is uniquely you. As a friend of mine puts it, it’s your competitive advantage because it helps you stand out from the crowd.

One of the most common things the brave job seekers I work with need and WANT help with is learning how to communicate their brand effectively. But guess what…

Before you can communicate what your brand is, you have to IDENTIFY & DEVELOP IT. It’s not something you sorta automatically know one day like it’s your birthday.

It takes thoughtful and intentional reflection. It takes practice. It takes really knowing what matters to you.

It doesn’t have to be perfect, but you need to feel confident in it and your ability to communicate it.

Why? Because if you can’t confidently describe it, you can’t expect someone to know what makes you unique or how you in particular get things done.

And if they don’t know that, they won’t hire you.

But let’s back up a little. What is a personal brand?

WHAT’S A PERSONAL BRAND?

Your brand is composed of your values, your personality, your core skills, and how you wrap all that into a nice package based on themes.

Through your brand, you produce desirable outcomes in your career.

Outcomes that people in your industry (especially hiring managers in your industry) really want.

And since your combination of your values, personality, core skills, and themes is largely unique, your brand will help you stand out.

IF you’ve done the leg work of figuring out what your brand is and how to communicate it.

Now then, let’s take a look at some of the really important reasons why you need to know your brand.

3 REASONS WHY YOU NEED TO KNOW YOURS

Reason #1: More clarity → More confidence

When you know your brand well, you can communicate it more confidently, effectively and clearly. You can clearly articulate what problems you can solve and how you solve them.

Why does this matter?

Because ultimately, a hiring manager mostly cares about whether or not you can solve the relevant problems. If you show that you can do that well, your chances of getting hired go up!

Reason #2: It’s easier for recruiters to identify you

When you’re really tuned into your brand, that’s the vantage point you’ll communicate from. You can gear all your materials and online presence (i.e. LinkedIn, portfolios, etc.) to reflect your brand.

When recruiters go searching for candidates who closely match your brand, you’ll be easier for them to find and classify as an expert in the areas they’re looking for.

And yes, you should be engaging and posting on LinkedIn because, yes, recruiters do use platforms like LinkedIn to find and recruit candidates.

Reason #3: Find better job opportunities

Knowing your brand will help you identify better job opportunities.

If you’re really tapped into your brand, it’ll be easier for you to tell when a job or work environment isn’t really good for you…because it doesn’t match your brand.

The benefit of that is you’ll decrease the risk you run of accidentally accepting a job that isn’t well-aligned with what you want and need. Very useful for combating burnout.

NOW THEN…

So now you know why it’s important to know your own brand.

It makes you more visible. It improves your filter for the right opportunities. It helps people understand the value you bring to the table through the problems you solve.

That last part is very important. It’s a mindset shift you need to make right now if you’re job searching.

And it’s a mindset shift that the vast majority of job seekers NEVER truly make.

They’re constantly thinking like an Applicant. Stop thinking like an applicant if you want to nail your brand and end your job search.

Lemme help.I want you to sign up for a free webinar I’m hosting: Stop Thinking Like An Applicant!

It’ll be Wednesday, February 7th from 5:30pm – 6:15pm PT. It’s a quick webinar where we’ll look at a simple mindset shift that leads to more productive habits, which leads to more job search success: more interviews, more offers, more compensation.
Click here and sign up for free!