Professional Branding

How do you describe yourself professionally?   So many of us have developed a 30-second elevator speech that is cute, silly, and really doesn’t express what we want people to know about us.  Others ramble on about what they’ve done in the past, their education, and other pieces of information that put the listener to sleep before she actually figures out what they do today.

I’ve been offering workshops and talks to consultants, people out of work, and even those working who are concerned about how they are being perceived by those in authority.  How do you brand yourself?   How do you express who you are and what you do in a way that doesn’t sound like everyone else doing the same work?

One of the techniques I suggest to clients is to remember things they’ve done in their youth that they are proud of having accomplished.  These memories often remind us of who we really are – what are core values and strengths are that add to who we are professionally.  Try it!

We become who we are today because of who we were yesterday.  It’s interesting going back into your past and learning about what really mattered to you.

Redefining Your Professional Brand

Redefining Your Professional Brand

As I mentioned previously, I have been doing a series of workshops for ProMatch – a wonderful organization that helps people out of work re-define themselves and find their next job.

In a few weeks I will be conducting another workshop for them, this one helping people define and refine their brand.  In my opinion, your brand is far more than your elevator pitch. 

It includes:

·       Knowing your strengths, skills, accomplishments, interests and where they meet with the current job market;

·       Understanding where you position yourself, horizontally and vertically;

·       How to articulate all of that in an interesting and cogent manner;

·       Your resume, cover letter, business cards, and other marketing materials, and

·       Most of all:  Your image – how you sound, look, dress and behave.

It’s hard when you are out of work to think about yourself positively.  I hope to re-energize and remind the participants in this workshop how fabulous they really are. 

I am so tired of hearing poorly trained career counselors dumb everyone down.