10 AGCAREERS.COMAGRICULTURE & FOOD CAREER GUIDE seek input from those around you; make sure that whoever you’re asking will give you an honest answer and not just want you to want to hear. Examples of good people to consult are mentors, coworkers, team members, community leaders, and not your best friend or direct family members. Once you’ve established how to describe yourself, consider your situation and how you want to present this information. For example, if you’re a candidate in a municipal election, you should use wording like “Community Builder” instead of “Lifelong resident of Norwich.” Between those two examples, one is proactive, impactful, and looking to the future, while the other may be relatable, but it doesn’t push your image as a leader. If you are still struggling to develop your personal brand, here’s a way to reframe the concept; in the past, people handed out business cards to connect after a meeting or event. In today’s world, it is about leaving a lasting or memorable impression, often followed up virtually by a call, text, or social media. A personal brand is essentially a verbal business card designed to clearly articulate who you are at the same time as differentiating yourself. WHAT IS A PERSONAL BRAND STATEMENT? A personal brand statement is an integral part of your brand; it’s a catchphrase that says something about your expertise and what makes you unique. It gives people a glance into what you can do, so they’ll be able to understand how you can benefit them. And if it’s catchy enough, that’s how people will recognize and remember you. It can be challenging to come up with a compelling personal brand statement. It must be strong, descriptive, short, and catchy all at the same time. People reading the statement should know exactly what you can do and what you specialize in. It should also spark their curiosity and make them want to know more about your services. Let’s say you’re a motivational speaker and career counselor. Your personal brand statement could be something like this: “I help individuals reassess their life choices to discover their true paths to success.” You must carefully choose the right words and arrange them in the right way to get your message across effectively. But most of all, your personal brand statement should reflect your brand’s identity and values. In other words, it should reflect yourself and your abilities. GROWING YOUR PERSONAL BRAND ALONGSIDE YOUR CAREER Your career will continue to grow and evolve, and as it grows, so will your experiences, values, and responsibilities, so it’s important to ensure that the brand you’ve created for yourself reflects this growth. To stay on top of your brand and how you’re presenting yourself, you should check in with yourself, look at the different ways you’ve changed, and update your brand to match your personal and professional development. Above all else, ensure that whatever your brand, it accurately and honestly demonstrates who you are and what you believe. ADVERTISING YOUR BRAND After you’ve invested the time in creating your personal brand it’s vital to start putting it out there for everyone to see, because what’s the point in branding if nobody’s aware of it? Starting this process is easy. You can include your brand in your social media bios, personal posts, and job applications. I’ve even seen people who include them in their email signatures. Remember that you promote yourself and move your career forward whenever you advertise your personal brand. IN CONCLUSION Building and maintaining a personal brand isn’t easy; it requires you to take an honest look at yourself and get a better understanding of who you are, but once you’ve created your brand and a pairing statement, the advantages, whether personal or professional, will over time be hard to deny. AG Illustration by REDPIXEL on Adobe Stock
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTQyMDk=