Blog Post: You are a brand.....so market yourself

Every semester, I get the chance to speak in front of a college class filled with juniors and seniors who are either currently in the workforce, or will be entering shortly.  Last night was one such occasion.  What's really cool about the experience is that no two presentations are alike.  Last night was no exception.  The audio/visual devices were inoperable and I had to wing it.

The main point of the presentation is that you are a brand.  Just like Nike, Google, Starbucks and Disney, you have something to market and sell.  The questions you have to ask yourself are, What is my brand?  Am I communicating that to employers?  Am I creating that lasting impression to the recruiter I am meeting with?  Before you can answer these questions you have to drill a bit deeper.  Ask yourself, What am I passionate about?  What motivates me?  What do I truly want to do, not what can I do?  If you are not answering these questions, are you surprised that you haven't found that great opportunity for yourself?

At this point, you start creating your brand and market yourself to the companies and recruiters that fit your brand.  When revising your resume and cover letter, make sure your brand is prevalent throughout.  Tailor these documents to the opportunities you are applying to.  Incorporate the keywords from the job posting into your cover letter and resume.  That said, do not sacrifice your brand for the opportunity.

Last note, you are in sales whether or not you are in sales.  You are your brand 24/7 and you are selling yourself.