BRAND YOURSELF

A wardrobe consultant handed me her vibrantly colored business card today. On the back it read, “Shower Me With Style!” This visual and tactile image promised a warm shower from which I would emerge with a new look and fashionably dressed for success. She had me hooked: I was primed to ask her how she could follow up on her promise to benefit me with that “stylish shower”!

Branding, or burning a mark onto a product, is no longer the sole province of the large corporate entities, socially conscious non profits, start-ups or entrepreneurs. Job candidates are now being encouraged to stand out in this crowded marketplace by knowing their target audience and identifying their unique characteristic which will ensure their memorability! Although “elevator speeches” or personal introductions are highly recommended, it’s that metaphoric brand which speaks a thousand words.

Brands can be used in portfolios, beginning phrases in cover letters, as a heading on a resume, and an opening for a rich conversation. They will:

-leave a lasting image of you
-define you for you and for your audience
-show how well thought out your goals are
-instill trust
-clarify your image and your selling points
-build confidence in your product (YOU!) and
-give your identity a firm foundation is these unstable economic times

Ready to experiment with branding yourself? Tell us you story.

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