If you check any job analytics prediction website, you will find tech at the top. Despite this, getting a job in tech can be hard! This is especially true if you haven't built up industry contacts over the years. Of course, if you are new, or perhaps worked at the same company for many years, this may not be an option.
So what is one to do? The first step is to establish your brand.
What is Personal Branding?
According to PersonalBranding.com (and why would we question such an authority):
What is Personal Branding: "The conscious and intentional effort to create and influence public perception of an individual by positioning them as an authority in their industry, elevating their credibility, and differentiating themselves from the competition, to ultimately advance their career, increase their circle of influence, and have a larger impact."
That is a lot to unpack. But starting at the top, we have a few key features. Conscious and intentional effort to create (or influence) the publics' perception, of well, you. Note here the emphasis on conscious and intentional.
If you are not crafting your brand, it is being decided for you. Yes, I know most of this sounds like woo woo to us working in "hard skills technology", but the truth is, if we don't make an effort, we are simply rolling the dice. And when it comes to my career, that is not a game I want to play.
Next, the definition lays out the intended goals (if not the desired effect yet). That is to position yourself as an authority, elevate your credibility, and differentiate yourself from the competition.
But Eric, I am NOT the industry leader in my field!
That may be true of your entire field, but you can be the leader in both your niche and your current position. The truth is, most of us don't need, or maybe even want, the world's premium programmers teaching us the basics or working in our company. There is room for you in your industry (at your level) as a leader now.
Even if you are day one searching for a job, you can have credibility in that. Thanks to social media, we can enhance the visibility of our expertise by posting blogs, teaching the basics online, connecting with others on Twitter or LinkedIn, and a host of other personal branding tactics.
Let's look at the last part of the definition. That is, ultimately advancing our careers, increasing our circle of influence, and having a larger impact. Finally, we have reached our desired effect. Please don't tell me, you don't want those things!
What Next?
What have you done to craft your brand this year? If you haven't started yet, now is the time. Drop me a line below with your best tip, or step you took this year.