My own personal brand

Written by

I have never had to “look” for a job…

Of course, I have been in places, filled out applications and have gone through the interview process multiple times; however, I have yet to be turned down.

So, when I say I have never had to “look” for a job that means I have never really had to look.

Until now, when it really counts…

I am roughly two weeks away from graduation.

Ironically, today I went on a third interview for a “big girl” job that I really want. My mother has always said if I could just get the interview, I would get the job. Thus far, she has been right and tomorrow morning, I will find out if her philosophy still holds true.

I am finishing out my last week of classes as an undergrad, trying to figure out where I am going to move when my lease runs up in a month, waiting to hear back about this job, all the meanwhile neglecting to take my graduation gown out of the bag and put it on a hanger because a part of me is still not ready to close this chapter of my life.

However, we cannot delay the inevitable.

So, what has IMC taught me?

IMC has allowed me to recognize and perfect my own personal brand.

In my mind, college isn’t all about your major, the classes you are taking, your GPA, your fraternity or sorority, all of the other organizations you are involved in on and off-campus, the number of cords you get to wear the day you graduate—it is about taking EVERYTHING that you experience—and somehow incorporating that into yourself…your own personal brand.

You aren’t selling your degree when you go on a job interview. You aren’t selling your GPA, your honors or awards. You aren’t selling the number of community service hours you have completed over the past four years. On a job interview, you are selling you…your own personal brand.

So, to wrap this up…the reason I haven’t ever really had to “look” for a job is because I have been perfecting my own personal brand over the past four years and I am very confident in the brand I have made for myself.

I remember names and faces.

I will always shake your hand.

I remember useless factoids that sound impressive.

I mock the sayings of anyone who has something intriguing to say (especially my mother).

I know how to be charming.

Even though I may talk a lot, I am always interested in what someone else has to say and when I listen, I really listen.

I am honest.

I will always look you in the eyes.

I know where I want to go and by the time you get done talking to me you know I will make it happen eventually.

You cannot learn these traits out of a textbook. They are far more impressive than a GPA. These traits make me unique. They are mine and they are what make me memorable.

This is my own personal brand…

What’s yours?

Laura Ann Klinedinst

Employment Personal Branding

Comments

8 responses to “My own personal brand”

April 21, 2010

Ryan Kelley

First of all, good luck with your job search. I can really relate to the theory that not one specific aspect of your college career can define your personal brand. When we graduate we have to find a way to put our entire college experience into the interview. Since my freshman year in high school my dad has been stressing the aspect of being able to “sell myself” in an interview, and I am starting to realize what he was talking about. When we are interviewing for jobs we have to sell our personal brand, and explain why we are the best person for the job. It is a tough process, but IMC has taught us how to do it.

Reply
April 21, 2010

Gracie Anderson

I found this post to be not only very well written, but also very applicable to what we are currently working on in our intro to IMC class. We are constructing an IMC plan to market ourselves as a brand when we enter the job world. One of the main things that we have learned in this class is the importance of branding and getting a potential consumer to believe in what you are selling. When applying for a job the brand you are endorcing is you. Good luck with your big girl interview!

Reply
April 22, 2010

Chelsea Pegram

This post brutally honest and very true. I too have never had to “look” for a job. As graduation is approaching (too quickly) I must look at the reality of being thrown out into “the real world” and being on my own. Here is where branding is extremely important. You must make yourself unique and memorable, which cannot happen if you do not know who you are and at the same time have pride in who you are. Being in college at UNCW for the past four years has had a huge impact on who I am today and I am excited to see where I end up. I’m not perfect; no one is. Yet I am excited to share my brand with future potential employers and see where that takes me.

Reply
April 22, 2010

Haley Williams

This post is eye opening and honest. I respect your confidence and awareness of who you are. I have to say that these ideas resonate with me in that I have found myself with many opportunities and have never really had to “look” for something I wanted. Up to this point in my life, if I tried the slightest, what I wanted has usually come to me. Although I still have one year left at UNCW, I feel that it is time for me to begin putting the pieces of my Wilmington puzzle together and figure out who exactly I want to be professionally and what my personal brand is. This post, as well as our most recent blog for Intro to IMC, has pushed me to reflect on who it is that I will be selling once I am finished with my four years here. “The real world” as well as the potential for my first taste of true rejection is still very scary to me. While it seems like at this point I am growing closer to knowing what I want once I graduate more and more each day, there is still that feeling of uncertainty and for that I am extremely grateful that I still have one more year left. Honestly, I do not yet possess the maturity and independence to be where all the graduating seniors are now; however, I am working on it every day. Thank you for your insights and your ideas on what personal brands should be about and good luck to you!

Reply
April 22, 2010

imcclass

Haley, Funny after I wrote this post I had to go in for my mock interview for my COM 490 class. I had been in my suit all day and my professor of course, showed mercy on me and just asked me the five or six general questions you will usually be asked on an initial interview. I wasn’t really prepared (at all) for this assignment because I have been doing the REAL thing for the past few weeks; however, my response to her last question (and I am not sure how I came up with this) actually was right on the money. I was asked, “why should we hire YOU over someone else.” I began by saying how I possess qualities that no one else does such as….and then I stopped myself.

This is how I really answered that question (and I nailed it):
I do not possess any qualities that any other candidate does not possess; however, the difference between them and I and the reason you should hire me is because I am aware of my best qualities and I know how to use them to my advantage. I then went on to explain what these were and how they are applicable to the job. Being confident and owning these qualities is what sets me a part.

Just some food for thought….

Reply
September 6, 2010

Ashley

I am just entering into the communication department and i have just been introduced into many different ways of thinking. IMC has opened my eyes to the story and branding in a way that i didnt even think of before hand. This blog stuck out to me because I myself have never had to “look” for a job. I have been successful in all the places i have worked, but i have yet to encounter a “big girl” job and what that is going to mean when i sit down to tell “my story,” or sell “my brand.” I look forward to the knowlege and tools i will have once my journey at UNCW is over. In a sense lots of things are brands, and lots of things have stories, and it’s all about how you tell them to hook line and sinker exactly what you want.

Reply
September 6, 2010

JC Salter

This was really important for me to read, because tomorrow I will have to conduct a mock interview in class COM 325 and I will have to market myself as a brand. So that the class will get an understanding that I am comfortable with myself as a brand. Also, this will be even more important when in another semester I will be graduating, as well, going for interview(s) that will land me that dream job. I am very glad you have such great confidence about your brand. However, I feel like mine is still in a process. I guess everyone’s brand is constantly evolving. I’m hoping that in this fall semester’s time I will have a greater understanding through IMC class of how to market myself and get what I want to achieve.

Reply
September 6, 2010

Sydney Marion

I have never thought of branding the way you described it in your post. When I think of “branding” I automatically assume its an advertisement for a company or a marketing researcher trying to discover unique ways to reach potential customers. Never have I considered all of my experiences, qualities, and lessons throughout life to make up my own personal brand. This is a very unique way of looking at life as well as myself as an individual. I believe this is very true and hopefully when everything is said and done we can all be satisfied with the brands we have created. Good luck with your interview. Wish you the best of luck!

Reply