How to Discover Your Personal Brand

It’s important to have a personal brand. It differentiates you from everyone else, which is what employers and clients are seeking. But, what if you’re still not sure what your personal brand is?

Too many people rush into creating a personal brand without first discovering who they are, what they can offer and what they want to do for the rest of their life.

Discovering your brand is important because it allows you to visualize your career path and goals all-in-one. Some important questions to ask yourself:

  • What is your mission?
  • Who will you serve?
  • What’s your vision for the future?
  • What are your key attributes?
  • What are your personality traits?
  • What are your strengths?
  • What motivates you?
  • What are your goals?
  • What is your definition of success?
  • What do you want to be remembered for?
  • What impact do you want to have on people?

Pay attention to what others say about you because this is also part of your personal brand. Do co-workers describe you as creative? Intelligent? Incorporate these characteristics into your brand identity accordingly.

Your personal brand should reflect your interests and passions. You want to set yourself apart by finding your “niche” – or the position you’re best suited for. Your niche should be a specific subject or field you’re interested in and can offer expertise and advice about. If you’re not yet an expert in this field or subject, now’s the time to acquire those skills or further your education.

Whether you like it or not, your personal brand is how others will see you. Ideally, once you’ve discovered your brand, sooner or later, your name will be associated with those traits.

Picture of Heather R. Huhman

Heather R. Huhman

Heather R. Huhman is a career expert and founder & president ​of Come Recommended, a career and workplace education and consulting firm specializing in young professionals. She is also the author of#ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle (2010), national entry-level careers columnist forExaminer.com and blogs about career advice at HeatherHuhman.com.

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