1 Part of Branding Vital For Job Search

1 Part of Branding Vital For Job Search1 Part of Branding Vital For Job SearchBranding is the hot topic in executive job search these days. Branding is an aspect of the search that needs to be right, in order for to you to break into the hidden job market correctly. However, what Im seeing tells me that while most everyone is trying to brand, that branding could be significantly better.The element of branding to focus on is authenticity. Move branding from theory to reality by making it authentically you brand Y.O.U. as a matter of fact. The importance of building authenticity into your brand is this whats true for you is what you can confidently say to others. What you say with confidence is what makes you stand out, over and above the crowd, so youre memorable and top of mind to the other person.The 1st way to build a brand of authenticity is to look within. What are your top executive leadership skills? Top means the skills youre good at AND you love AND you want to do. On a prof essional level, you have a certain set of gifts, ones that show you at your best, that youre happy to share, that make the other persons (in this case, the employers) life and business better.The 2nd way to build a brand of authenticity is to look outside of you. You know that perception is reality, right? What other people perceive about you is a major component of your brand. Review your annual performance reviews, read through your letters of reference, and go over your recommendations on LinkedIn. Determine what themes emerge. If two or three or four people who dont know each other are all saying the same things, its highly likely they are describing the authentic you.The 3rd way to build a brand of authenticity is to speak your truth. You know what I like about your truth? When its authentic, its unique. Youre the only person who can say it. The best way to get to your truth is to think about how you may tell a story either after work at drinks, or at dinner, so envision yourse lf in a normal conversation with people you know. Lets say you just finished a multi-million dollar project, and at one point, it was a mess. Youre talking about what you did to make the customer happy and keep their business.Then think about the larger story. Consider whether youre always that person who swoops in and changes things around so the customers stay happy. What is it about you that youre able to do that time and time again? It could be because you have an eye for both sides. It could be because you have an ear for whats not being said. So what you can fold into your brand is, It seems like I am usually the one who just connects with what the customer is saying, I say that to our people, and get them to deliver. Thats what Im known for doing.So, refresh your brand. Build a brand of authenticity. Look within, look outside yourself, and speak your truth. As you network in conversations with people, youll do that with confidence and youll be memorable. As people start to ke ep you top of mind, theyll think of you for opportunities. Thats how you navigate the hidden job market correctly. Brand you is brand true.Whats one thing youve done to successfully reinvigorate your brand? Share your story in the comments