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Build a Strong Personal Brand: How to Stand Out in a Competitive Job Market

When landing a new job, getting noticed in a sea of candidates with similar qualifications can be challenging. The solution is to showcase your personal brand, what makes you different from others, and the value you would add to a company. Stand out in a competitive job market with these tips to build a solid personal brand:

Clarify Your Core Values and Traits

A strong personal brand is based on your authentic self. Before you start trying to build your brand, clarify your core values and traits. This includes your beliefs, passions, characteristics, interests, and skills. Once you have defined what makes you unique, you can use that as guidance for building your brand.

Develop a Brand Summary

Put your brand into words and develop a concise but compelling brand summary that can be used to guide your strategy. In just a few sentences, communicate what differentiates you from other professionals and the value you would add to an organization. You can also have it for reference to craft your resume and cover letter or when interacting with hiring managers.

Establish a Strong Online Presence

A major influential factor in your personal brand is how you come across on digital platforms, so make it a priority to establish a strong online presence, such as including your brand statement in your LinkedIn or other social media or website bios, using a professional photo, and posting relevant content (such as blog posts) that showcases your professional expertise and personality. This way, if hiring managers are searching for prospective candidates online to recruit or reviewing your presence if you’re running for a role, you can make a positive impression on your own terms.

Network to Build Connections

The key to a personal brand that effectively gets attention and boosts your reputation is to network to build connections. Get to know other professionals in your industry by attending networking events, job fairs, or industry conferences and staying in contact, such as on LinkedIn or in-person meetings. Be genuine in your engagement and show interest in them by asking questions about their experience or any insights they would like to share.

Explore New Opportunities

Are you ready to land a new role? Turn to IFG as a resource for your job search! Our team of recruiting experts works with job seekers to match them with the opportunities from our clients that would fit their qualifications and personal preferences. Contact us today to meet with an IFG Business Partner.