Maybe you loathe social media. We understand. However, you should try to overcome your loathing as you huddle in your Athens Ohio housing long enough to build your personal brand. With the COVID-19 public health emergency still hanging around, you should have more time than ever for this sort of self-improvement effort.
You’ve grown up with branding. Marvel Studios. Doritos. Spotify. PlayStation. YouTube. These are the big brands that continuously call out to Gen Zers. But what about your own brand? You really, really, really need to think about branding yourself? And we mean right now, while you’re attending college.
The payback comes from the increased attention you’re likely to get when it’s time to look for that first big job. You don’t want to walk into the interview with nothing but a paper resume. By the time you get to your interview, the interview committee should be familiar with your website, blog or social media posts. They should recognize that while you’re new at this game, you have made genuine efforts at brand building. Here are some tips on brand building that can help you get started:
1. Define yourself. Maybe you’ve never thought about who you really are, or who you hope to be, but creating a brand can help you get started in that direction. What are you passionate about? What do you excel at, and how will these qualities help you in your professional life?
2. If you have an idea what you want to major in, tighten your focus and identify those areas that light a fire inside you. Say you’re a communications major. Don’t just think about working in advertising, for a newspaper or as a social media marketer. Go deeper. Have a passion for politics? Take some political science and government courses. Interested in the arts? Develop your expertise in theater, film, painting or whatever. Majoring in nursing? Focus on a research specialization that interests you, and aim for an advanced degree that will put you in position for advancement and a high salary.
3. Take advantage of campus opportunities. Student organizations and other activities on campus and in the community give you many opportunities to grow your brand. If you play sports, think of ways that can help boost your profile. For instance, you might put together a benefit game or a race for a charitable organization. There’s nothing like showing you’re community minded to boost your appeal to a potential employer. Even when hunkered down in your rental in Athens Ohio as a result of the lingering pandemic, you can find ways to get involved in positive local projects.
4. Network. You’re always networking, right? Look at every introduction as an opportunity to expand your network of acquaintances and friends. We’re not saying be superficial and use people, but do be aware of the possibilities to increase your knowledge and skills, while building your web of relationships so you can one day do a better job in your profession. On social media, try to get past an interesting person’s avatar and superficial comments and develop a more personal connection.
5. Make your bow in a blog or website. These days it’s relatively easy to create a website and maintain a blog. If you do embark on this step, put some muscle and persistence into it and don’t let it lapse so it looks like no one’s home. Put some thought into blog topics in a way that illustrates you’re engaged in your studies and in preparing to find a place in your chosen profession.
Even after you land your first job, you’ll want to maintain your brand in new and creative ways as you mature personally and professionally.