3 Ways of Accelerating Your Career with Personal Branding

 Have you ever wondered how your favorite companies achieve a certain aesthetic, or how girlies on the Internet have that cool-girl energy?

The answer: they all mastered their branding. 

Whether you’re part of a multi-million-dollar company or a marketing girly starting out, personal branding can be everything. 

Personal branding can make or break a career. Companies want to get to know you beyond your resume. This includes everything from your online presence to your personality and how you work with others. 

Creating a personal brand can show employers how you stand out from the rest. 

Keep reading to learn three ways of accelerating your career with personal branding.

What is personal branding and why does it matter?

Harvard Business School describes personal branding as “the intentional, strategic practice of defining and expressing your value.”

Harvard Business School says it best, but to put it in simpler terms:

Knowing who you are and strategically sharing your personal value can show others what you can bring to the table. 

Think of it like this: if you were in a TV show or movie, what would you be most known for? 

Remember High School Musical? Gabriella Montez always wore her “T as in Troy” necklace and had a book in her hand. Cat from Victorious had her iconic red hair, and she was always singing and making us all laugh. 

Your personal brand makes you the main character. Brands want to know your story and what kind of value you can offer.

When you always carry an emotional support water bottle or have a Smiski phone charm, odds are you’re already growing your personal brand. 

These are physical examples of a personal brand.

If you want to be known as the girly who always has her life put together or at least seems like it, you can build a positive reputation and use these professional skills.

Here are three ways of accelerating your career with personal branding both online and in person.

Let’s connect on socials

Your social media presence can set you apart and inspire brands to hire you. Nowadays, employers can find applicants on social media during the hiring process to see if they would be great on their teams.

Your personal brand online can be viewed by everyone, so pay attention to what you’re sharing.

It’s great to share your latest accomplishments: whether you reached a personal best during a workout or received a promotion at work.

Friendly reminder: stay away from anything that would be NSFW. If it’s something you wouldn’t tell your pastor, the tea can stay between you and your friends and not online. 

Social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok are not only for the marketing world to reach new audiences. These platforms are great outlets to showcase creativity and personal branding in everyday life. 

LinkedIn

LinkedIn can be tricky since there is an aspect of professionalism, but you can make it fun. The platform is still part of social media, so users can share anything they want. 

This course from LinkedIn Learning explains how to accelerate your career with personal branding online through an easy certification course.

You can share your expertise and grow your online network by sharing your opinions and becoming a thought leader.

Instagram

Instagram is the place to share your photos and videos with your personal branding. Whether you travel around the world like Olivia Duce or do fun monthly lists like Eli Rallo, these girls have their personal branding down.

It’s all about bringing your personality and being authentic. At the end of the day, people love to see you for you. 

Find your own voice online. You can influence others, growing your credibility as someone audiences trust.

TikTok

TikTok is another growing social media platform to share your photos and videos. TikTok's algorithm is different from other social platforms.

By creating fun and interesting content that stays consistent, you can evolve your personal brand. Influencers such as Anna Sitar and Yolanda Diaz stay cool and relevant because they stay true to who they are. 

Posting every day with a fun intro or catchy songs will have you accelerating your career with personal branding in no time.

LOREM IPSUM or whatever Photoshop says

When applying to jobs, applications often need a strong resume AND a portfolio. Portfolios are harder to create since there are more opportunities to share who you are. 

Portfolios are an important professional asset just like your resume. They are definitely worth the extra time and effort to ensure they are show-ready. Employers will appreciate your attention to detail and hopefully hire you in a heartbeat.

Sky Society has great information on their socials and blog on how to design a portfolio. They provide amazing examples of what to include and how to stand out as a marketing industry girly.

It can be hard to choose what to include in your portfolio. The most important pieces are contact information, past experiences or projects, and about me.

Your portfolio can be super fun and playful like Sha'an d'Anthes. They can also be simple with a clean girl aesthetic like Lindsey Rem.

Time for a self-care day

In this digital era, your online presence can sometimes feel like it is the most important part of you.

From having an aesthetic social feed to updating your resume with a matching portfolio, your internet persona would mean nothing if it doesn’t match how amazing you are as a person.

Self-care is essential to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Jenn Im's video on self-care shares her favorite ways to take care of your physical and mental health.

There are many ways to take care of yourself and reset after a busy workday.

From going on a hot girl walk with friends, listening to music, or catching up on the latest episode of your show, the possibilities are endless.

Remember who you are

In the animated movie The Lion King, Simba lost his way after tragedy and hardships. Simba tried his hardest to run away from home, and he thought all hope was lost.

His father, Mufasa, came and reminded him, “Remember who you are.” Stay true to who you are and what you believe in. Simba fought for his happy ending, and you can too.

Look to your family and friends, mentors, and coworkers. They will guide and support you if you ever get lost along the way. 

This can go both ways. For example, scheduling a check-in with others can show that you care for their well-being. Quick coffee chats or meet-and-greets with coworkers can help make a positive impact on how others perceive you.

A unique online presence and positive personal beliefs are starting steps for accelerating your career with personal branding.

Each social media platform has a different audience. Your profile can be a great way to build your personal brand. From LinkedIn and Instagram to TikTok, you can tailor your content to make an impact on various audiences.

Make those aesthetic videos and start a new social trend, but don’t forget to be who you are. Personal branding is important, but it is all about YOU.

A well-put-together portfolio can be the difference between you and the other applicants. By authentically showcasing key skills and experience, you can land your next dream career.

Lastly, the right mindset and self-care practices will keep you motivated each day.

Call your friends on the drive home from work or light your favorite candle while you cook dinner. Turning off your brain even just for a little bit will keep you refreshed and focused when it is time to work.

Change your life by accelerating your career with personal branding. Remember to make it your own, and you'll reach your career goals in no time. 

Challenge yourself this week by creating a mini personal branding guide. Use your favorite colors or fonts to design a social media post introducing yourself, and make it a highlight on your stunning portfolio.

Of course, don't forget to treat yourself to your favorite sweet treat afterwards!

🪽 Written by Dana Deleon