Finding a job is hard work. Even with education and experience the competition is fierce. How do you stand out in the sea of white lab coats to get the coveted open position? You need to start thinking like a marketer and advertise your brand. Your brand is… you! and there is no one in the world better qualified.
You may think that a developing your personal brand wouldn’t be needed in health care. But with any job market it’s important to put your best foot forward.
One of the first steps in branding yourself is to decide who you are. Go so far as to create your mission statement about yourself. Highlight your skills and strengths and focus on what is unique. Your entire graduating class took the same classes as you, but what makes you different?
Everyone has opportunities available that can help you stand out in the crowd. Below are three opportunities where your brand can make a statement:
Online Presence
Once you have your mission, you want people to see it. Go where the action is. Set up a LinkedIn account and fill out your profile. This is where you would put your exceptional mission statement. Be sure to include a profile picture. No one wants to interact with a blank face. While online, look at all your other profiles, including Facebook and Twitter. Are you conveying a professional message? If you Google your name are their potentially embarrassing photos that appear. Clean up your online presence because when you send in your resume to a potential employer, take a guess at what they look at first.
Face to Face
Make the most of networking events or educational conferences; it can be your time to shine. Have your ‘elevator pitch’ ready. This is a short (30 seconds) wrap up of you, the ‘in a nutshell’ speech when someone will ask you about yourself. This is your chance to tell them the wonderful things about you. Don’t be afraid to show your personality. Just keep it short and sweet.
Follow Up
If you are like most people, after leaving a conversation or even a job interview, you realize you forgot to mention something. A follow-up email or hand written card will be that opportunity to say something if you have forgotten. If not, just say it was nice to meet with them, perhaps including an interesting link or nugget of information that relates to your conversation. Again, simple and short is the best option. This would be the time to connect with your new colleague via online connections, such as LinkedIn.
From beginning to end your brand should always reflect a consistent representation of you. Whether someone looks you up online or meets you in person, there should be a connection between them all.
For more information about developing your personal brand, visit the references below:
http://www.careerjoy.com/node/2095
http://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2012/02/14/the-first-step-to-building-your-personal-brand/