The Resume Is Dying: Why You Need a Personal Brand Instead
For years, a solid resume was essential to catching an employers' attention. However, the job seeking environment has changed, and employers are now looking for candidates that can show who they are with facts. With a resume, you can tell employers what skills you have and how many jobs you've had previously. It's indeed important, but it's becoming outdated and doesn't convey to employers how proficient you are in a given skill.
Today, new standards have been set, and workers are implementing new strategies to approach employers. If you're struggling to secure a new position, here are five reasons why you should create your own personal brand. These tips will allow you to change your mindset and get hired.
It Demonstrates Trustworthiness.
After landing an interview, it is vital that you build trust in order to get the job. These days, competition is getting tougher, and employers are looking for trustworthy candidates. If you get an interview opportunity, you have to do what it takes to make your prospective employer feel comfortable. To build a personal brand, you'll need to make use of your interpersonal and organizational skills. During the interview process, it's important to have clear goals and to have a plan to ensure you will achieve them.
A personal brand will tell employers what drives you and how you stay motivated while working. Employers and even other co-workers will feel more comfortable when they are aware of where a job candidates' energy comes from. As teamwork is crucial for a company’s success, it’s important that your co-workers know more about you.
It's a Great Tool to Build Connections.
Networking is crucial to getting a job these days. A personal brand is an excellent tool to build connections and increase your job opportunities. It'll help you create a reputation that will make employers feel engaged. You can also attend events to get more exposure. For example, speaking events are a great place to start collecting business cards. They'll allow you to work on possible leads and connections so that you can achieve success.
For example, software engineers often attend these events to share their knowledge and help others. As a result, they may meet potential employers and colleagues who can provide them with better job opportunities.
It Makes You Stand Out.
Many unemployed people have enrolled in coding bootcamps to learn new skills and stand out from the competition. But, simply learning new skills won't help you influence people. If you really want to make a difference, you must inspire others to become better each day. You have to let your imagination flow and try new ways of making them feel special.
Personal branding allows you to transmit who you are and how you achieve your goals. Setting goals is crucial to staying on track and knowing when it's time to celebrate. Today, employers are looking for candidates with clear objectives who are willing to work hard each day.
It'll Help Increase Your Credibility.
Have you ever thought about what somebody thinks when they see your name? When you give people a reason to trust you, they will also start to admire and respect you. Building your brand will help you gain recognition in your area of expertise. As you speak with confidence from a factual standpoint, you can become a leader.
Building a personal brand will drive you to the top of the job marketplace. When professionals are more visible, their audience will perceive them as experts in their field. Consequently, even if your business cards don't look professional, people will look at your abilities and see that your skills set you apart.
It Makes You More Memorable.
Developing your brand will make your interviewers remember you. If they have already Googled your name and read an article about your experience, or a speech you made, you'll hold a place in their mind. Increasing your chances of being remembered is a sign that you’re doing it right. Be authentic and communicate your passion to others. It will help you find new job prospects and will also help you grow as a professional.
Conclusion
The rules of the game are changing and if you want to stay relevant, you must adapt. Personal branding is what will take you one step closer to achieving success. A strong personal brand will help you stand out even in a saturated marketplace. Don't forget that building emotional connections with others means you will have a more significant impact. Let those in your network know what makes you unique and show them how you leverage your talent.
Author: Artur Meyster, CTO of Career Karma (YC W19), an online marketplace that matches career switchers with coding bootcamps. He is also the host of the Breaking Into Startups podcast, which features people with non-traditional backgrounds who broke into tech.
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