CSS On The Business Daily: Branding Yourself For The Next Big Job

How important is personal branding during your job search?

If you look at the most successful names in the Kenyan corporate world, you’ll notice a trend of intentional personal branding tactics. Consequently, most of these big names are never out of a job. When they leave a job, companies compete with each other to bring them on board.

Therefore, it is evident that how you brand yourself as a professional will determine the kind of jobs you’ll attract.

Headhunters and recruitment managers spend time looking at prospective candidates that they can interest in lucrative positions. Your brand is also going to determine which jobs a headhunter would interest you in.

What are some of the ways you can improve your professional brand?

1. Define your brand

What do you want to be known for? What is your area of expertise? What traits would you want to be associated with? What are you passionate about?

Answering these questions will help you establish your brand. To be effective, be as specific as can be.

2. Improve your digital presence

In today’s business world, a lot of interaction happens on the digital front. For instance, recruitment agents sometimes result in sourcing for professionals from digital networking platforms such as LinkedIn.

Take time to work on your digital presence. Ensure you’re presentable and have a professional appeal in all the platforms you’re on. Moreover, take time to engage with others on various platforms. A dormant profile can sometimes seem unappealing to a headhunter.

3. Network

As the saying goes, “your network is your net worth.”

Take time to attend networking functions in your field. Interact with other professionals, exchange contact information, and check on them every now and then. When a job in your area of specialization arises, they’ll inform you first.

Perminus Wainaina, the CEO and Managing Partner at CSS shares with The Business Daily on the role of personal branding in the corporate world.

Read the full interview here, www.businessdailyafrica.com/lifestyle/society/Rise-of-Headhunters/3405664-5026890-rwn87r/index.html