There is quite a lot of unfavorable news coverage happening right now about people we are familiar with whether they are athletes, actors or politicians. Through their actions or bad choices, they have damaged their image, or in St. Petersburg College’s Career Services, what we call their personal brand.

So, what is this personal brand thing?

Your personal brand consists of things we can see and things we cannot see: your reputation, morals, values, your job, resume, elevator pitch, leadership roles, how you dress, your network, and social media profiles. Those things are all a part of how you project yourself, showing others who you are, what you stand for, and how you see yourself.

We are all in charge of our choices and actions, and in your profession, your most important job is to manage yourself.

Crafting your personal brand

The old saying holds true: “You become like those with whom you associate with”.  Surround yourself with positive people and those you can learn from.

Be very mindful of social media; it is never a good idea to use that as a platform to vent anger or frustration.   A posted comment can be misunderstood or inappropriate and people have lost their jobs for that.  A text message that leaves your phone, becomes the property of the recipient!

Your image should remain strong and consistent to define who you are and set yourself apart from others. To craft your brand, begin by determining your unique value – your skills, strengths, passions and goals. Define your goals and be able to describe yourself up in a few sentences.  If you need help, ask some people in your inner circle how they would describe you.

Your brand will continue to develop and change over time as you progress through your education, mature, and as you experience new things.  Remain open to opportunities that will help you grow out of your comfort zone and help you reach your goals.

Every individual is unique and who you are will leave your fingerprint behind!