career Archives - Julita Davies :: Consultant, Speaker & Trainer

How to Write a Professional Bio

Career Brand Management, Personal Branding

Professional bio: Learn how to write a standout introduction with practical tips for crafting a compelling and authentic narrative. This guide highlights key elements such as showcasing achievements, sharing your values, and incorporating personal touches to make your bio truly memorable.

Your professional bio is often the first impression people get of you. Whether it’s a potential employer, client, or business contact, the way you present yourself in a bio can influence whether they reach out or move on. A well-written bio goes beyond a simple introduction—it’s a powerful tool for showcasing your expertise, values, and personality.

What Is a Professional Bio and Its Benefits?

A professional bio is a brief introduction that highlights your career, accomplishments, and goals. It’s used across various platforms, such as social media, personal websites, company profiles, and networking sites. While resumes list qualifications, a bio provides a narrative that shows who you are, what you do, and why you do it.

The benefits of a compelling professional bio are many. It can enhance your Whether you’re seeking a job, new clients, or collaborations, a strong bio sets the tone for building professional relationships.

Practical Tips : What to Include in a Professional Bio

Crafting a bio can feel daunting, but breaking it down into essential elements can simplify the process. Here’s what your professional bio should include and tips on how to write it effectively:

Start with Your Name and Job Title
First and foremost, the first sentence of your bio should introduce who you are and your current professional role. For example, “Jane Doe is a Marketing Manager at XYZ Corp.” If you’re a freelancer or entrepreneur, additionally include your business name or personal brand. This helps establish your identity right from the start.

Share Your Key Responsibilities or Expertise
After stating your role, you should briefly explain what you do. Moreover, highlight your main responsibilities or areas of expertise. For instance, if you’re a software engineer, you might say, “specializing in developing scalable web applications.” This provides readers with a quick snapshot of your professional identity.

Highlight Accomplishments and Achievements
Furthermore, a bio is not just a list of roles—it’s also an opportunity to showcase what makes you stand out. Therefore, highlight key accomplishments, such as awards, certifications, or successful projects. Instead of simply stating that you are experienced, demonstrate your achievements with specific examples. For instance, “Increased social media engagement by 150% within six months.”

Incorporate Your Professional Philosophy or Values
In addition, adding a personal touch by including your professional philosophy can deepen the connection with your audience. This part answers the question, “Why do you do what you do?” Whether your values focus on innovation, helping others, or continuous learning, sharing your motivation adds depth and authenticity to your bio.

Tailor the Length and Tone to Your Audience
Moreover, different platforms call for different types of bios. For example, a LinkedIn bio might be more formal and detailed, while a Twitter bio is shorter and more casual. Thus, tailor the tone and length to suit the audience of each platform. For professional sites, a more formal tone works well, while a personal website might allow for a conversational approach.

Add a Personal Touch: Hobbies or Interests
While your bio should primarily focus on your professional identity, adding personal details helps humanize you. This could be a mention of your hobbies, where you’re from, or what you enjoy doing in your free time. For example, “When not leading marketing campaigns, Jane enjoys hiking and photography.”

Include a Call to Action
Depending on your goals, you might also want to end your bio with a call to action. For example, if you’re looking for new projects, you could say, “Feel free to connect for collaboration opportunities.” This invites engagement and shows that you’re open to new opportunities.

Stay Authentic and Honest
Above all, authenticity is key when writing a bio. It’s crucial not to exaggerate or inflate your accomplishments, as this can lead to unrealistic expectations. Be honest about your achievements and strengths while presenting yourself in the best light. Authenticity builds trust and ensures that your bio resonates with others.

Update Your Bio Regularly
Lastly, your bio isn’t a static document. As your career progresses, your bio should evolve too. Therefore, make it a habit to update your bio regularly with new achievements, roles, or skills. This keeps it fresh and relevant, especially if people visit your professional pages often.

How to Use Your PROFESSIONAL Bio

A strong bio isn’t just for introductions—it’s a versatile tool that can be used across various mediums. Whether on LinkedIn, a personal website, or even a company profile page, your bio helps define how people see you. It can open doors to new opportunities, build your reputation, and create connections. Ultimately, it’s more than just a paragraph—it’s a reflection of who you are professionally and personally.

In summary, a professional bio is a critical part of your personal brand. By including key details like your name, role, achievements, and values, you can create a compelling narrative that helps you stand out in the professional world. Tailoring your bio to fit different platforms, adding personal touches, and keeping it authentic will ensure that it resonates with your audience.

Interested in a workshop or individual coaching – contact me >>>

Executive Presence: The Key to Inspiring Confidence and Authority

Career Brand Management, Image, Personal Branding

Executive presence is the skill set that enables individuals to inspire confidence and project authority, particularly in leadership roles. Often viewed as a mysterious quality, executive presence is not an innate trait but a skill that can be developed and refined over time.

In its simplest form, it represents the ability to instill trust among subordinates, peers, and senior leaders alike. It’s about demonstrating that you are the leader others want to follow, can be relied upon, and possess the potential for significant achievements.

Understanding executive presence is crucial for career advancement. Opportunities such as promotions, high-visibility projects, and key assignments often arise in your absence, and the confidence inspired in decision-makers can greatly influence these pivotal choices. The more significant the opportunity, the more essential executive presence becomes.

1. Appearance, Poise, and Confidence

Your appearance plays a crucial role in how others perceive you in a professional environment. First impressions matter greatly, and the way you present yourself can significantly impact your credibility and influence.

Dress for the Occasion: The way you dress underscores the importance of presenting yourself in a polished and appropriate manner. By dressing well, you not only align yourself with the organization’s culture but also convey respect for both yourself and your colleagues.
Being Fit and Well-Groomed: Although beauty is subjective, research shows that attractiveness can influence career outcomes. However, executive presence is not solely about looking like a model; it’s about demonstrating your commitment to health and well-being. A fit and well-groomed appearance signals discipline and self-respect, which can enhance your executive presence and make you more approachable.

Poise and Confidence: Poise is an elusive quality that combines charisma and authority, enabling you to project confidence even in challenging situations. Individuals with poise exhibit an “easy self-possessed assurance” that naturally draws others in. True executive presence requires authenticity, meaning you feel comfortable in your skin and focus on fostering connections rather than seeking to dominate. When this self-assuredness is paired with appropriate verbal and non-verbal cues, it becomes magnetic, attracting people toward you.

2. Effective Communication

Effective communication is a cornerstone of executive presence. The way you speak significantly influences your ability to connect with others and command respect.

The Sound of Your Voice: Your voice is a crucial tool in your communication arsenal. If your voice lacks clarity or authority, it may be beneficial to invest in voice coaching to develop better pitch and breathing techniques.
Commanding the Room: Leaders with executive presence excel at making strong first impressions and establishing a connection with their audience. They skillfully incorporate storytelling and anecdotes into their presentations, making their communication relatable and memorable. Avoiding filler words enhances their credibility and reinforces their authority.
Body Language: Non-verbal cues often convey more than words. Research indicates that only seven percent of a message comes from the words themselves, while 38 percent relies on vocal tone, and a staggering 55 percent is determined by body language. Therefore, maintaining an upright posture and using open hand gestures can significantly enhance your presence.

By mastering these elements of communication, you can greatly enhance your executive presence, fostering meaningful connections with your audience.

3. Gravitas

Gravitas is a fundamental aspect of executive presence that encapsulates how you act in the workplace. It’s not about adopting a diva-like attitude; it’s about embodying qualities that inspire trust, capability, and respect.

Showing Grace Under Fire: Individuals with gravitas excel at maintaining composure during challenging situations. They project calm and resilience, quickly bouncing back from setbacks and openly acknowledging their mistakes.
Being Assertively Decisive: Assertiveness means articulating what you want clearly while remaining open to others’ perspectives. Assertive leaders make decisions without being overbearing, effectively influencing their peers.
Speaking Your Truth: Gravitas also involves the courage to express your views honestly, even when they diverge from popular opinion. This requires a willingness to offer constructive feedback with discretion and care.
Emotional Intelligence: High emotional intelligence is essential for effective leadership. It allows you to inspire and nurture relationships with team members, fostering trust and respect.
Strong Personal Branding: Authenticity is key to gravitas. Presenting the genuine you—complete with quirks and imperfections—makes you relatable and strengthens your leadership style.

The Benefits of Executive Presence

In summary, executive presence is a multi-faceted skill set that includes appearance, communication, and gravitas. By actively developing these elements, you can enhance your ability to inspire confidence, project authority, and cultivate trust among colleagues and superiors. Moreover, executive presence elevates your professional image and significantly impacts your career trajectory, opening doors to new opportunities and leadership roles.

Ultimately, the benefits of executive presence extend beyond personal success. It fosters an environment of collaboration, respect, and empowerment, enabling you to lead effectively and inspire others. By mastering executive presence, you position yourself as a leader others want to follow, paving the way for a successful and fulfilling career.

If you’re interested in exploring this topic further or are looking for a keynote speaker or workshop, I’d be happy to help.
Whether it’s personalized advice or a tailored presentation you’re after, feel free to get in touch to discuss how we can work together. Contact me today!

Key leadership skills you need to invest in

Career, Career Brand Management, Personal Branding

Discover the 15 key leadership skills essential for guiding teams, driving organizational success, and advancing your career. Learn how abilities like communication, decision-making, delegation, empathy, and conflict resolution empower leaders to unite their teams and achieve shared goals.

Leadership skills are the strengths and abilities that enable individuals to guide teams, oversee processes, and drive their organization toward the achievement of its goals. These skills are essential for making thoughtful decisions about an organization’s mission, effectively allocating resources, and ensuring that employees are motivated to contribute to the shared vision.

Whether you’re a manager, project leader, or team member, leadership skills are crucial at every stage of your career—from applying for jobs to seeking career advancement. Employers consistently value leadership as one of the most important soft skills because it often incorporates other key traits such as communication, honesty, creativity, and confidence. Understanding and developing leadership skills can help you unlock your potential and succeed in any role.

Leadership is not just a single trait, but a combination of several key abilities such as delegation, conflict resolution, decision-making, and empathy. These skills empower leaders to unite their teams, support initiatives, and inspire others to perform at their best. In this article, we will explore 15 critical leadership skills that can help you foster a collaborative, high-performing team and advance in your professional journey.

LEADESHIP SKILLS TO INVEST IN

1. Effective Communication

Great leaders maintain open communication channels, using a variety of methods such as one-on-one sessions, email, video, chat, and social media. They convey ideas clearly, break down complex information, and ensure everyone understands the goals. This fosters a transparent and collaborative environment.

2. Relationship Building

Building strong, trusting relationships within the team is essential for driving engagement and performance. Leaders who invest time in forming authentic connections create a more cohesive and motivated workforce, leading to higher productivity and a supportive atmosphere.

3. Emotional Intelligence and Empathy

Empathetic leaders excel at understanding their team members’ emotions and perspectives. This understanding helps in addressing concerns and creating a positive, inclusive work environment. By managing emotions and showing care, leaders build stronger, more engaged teams.

4. Decision-Making

Leaders need to make informed, strategic decisions, often under pressure. This requires gathering insights, thinking critically, and balancing immediate needs with long-term goals. Effective leaders stand by their decisions but remain adaptable when situations change.

5. Strategic and Critical Thinking

Strategic thinking involves long-term planning and anticipating challenges, while critical thinking enables leaders to solve complex problems by analyzing various solutions and making logical connections between ideas. This powerful combination of skills ensures that leaders effectively guide their organizations toward sustainable success. By solving complex problems, they can achieve the best outcomes for their teams while remaining adaptable in an ever-changing environment. Ultimately, honing both strategic and critical thinking skills empowers leaders to navigate challenges more effectively and make informed decisions that benefit their organizations in the long run.

6. Adaptability and Flexibility

Flexibility is essential for leaders who need to navigate constant change in the business environment. Adaptable leaders adjust quickly, take on various roles, and problem-solve in real time, ensuring their teams remain resilient in the face of uncertainty.

7. Innovation and Creativity

Creative leaders inspire innovation and motivate their teams to think outside the box. They encourage brainstorming and value employees’ creative input, recognizing and rewarding new ideas that drive progress and competitive advantage.

8. Delegation

Leaders who delegate effectively empower their team members by assigning tasks based on individual strengths and skills. This not only builds trust but also promotes engagement, allowing leaders to focus on high-level tasks while their teams thrive independently.

10. Conflict Management

Leaders must be adept at managing and resolving conflicts. By staying level-headed, analytical, and impartial, effective leaders address disputes efficiently, turning conflicts into opportunities for growth and stronger collaboration.

11. Accountability and Responsibility

Accountable leaders take ownership of their decisions and actions, ensuring their teams follow suit. This builds a culture of trust and integrity where everyone is responsible for their performance and outcomes, contributing to team success.

12. Mentorship and Development

Effective leaders act as mentors, guiding and supporting their team members’ professional development. By providing constructive feedback, recognition, and opportunities for growth, leaders help employees reach their full potential.

13. Inspiration and Motivation

Leaders who inspire and motivate their teams create an environment of enthusiasm and commitment. By aligning team members’ goals with the organization’s vision and maintaining high morale, leaders foster a productive and driven team culture.

14. Recognizing Potential

A great leader is skilled at identifying and acknowledging the potential talents and competencies within their team. By recognizing and rewarding employees’ abilities, leaders foster a sense of value and encourage continued growth and contribution.

15. Feedback

Constructive feedback is vital for employee growth. Effective leaders provide ongoing, actionable feedback, helping team members understand where they stand and what areas need improvement, contributing to a culture of continuous development.

By integrating these key leadership skills, leaders can create a well-rounded, supportive, and high-performing team, ensuring both personal and organizational success.

Conclusion

Mastering these 15 key leadership skills is essential for both personal and professional growth as a leader. These abilities—ranging from strategic thinking and decision-making to communication, empathy, and conflict resolution—are not only vital for driving organizational success but also crucial for nurturing and empowering your team to reach its full potential. Effective leaders understand that developing these skills is an ongoing process, which allows them to adapt to new challenges, inspire their teams, and create a positive, high-performing work environment.

Furthermore, investing time and effort into honing these leadership traits benefits not only the leader but also the team, thereby fostering a culture of trust, innovation, and collaboration. As a result, teams become more engaged, productive, and better equipped to meet their goals. Ultimately, the commitment to growing as a leader will have a lasting impact on your career trajectory, the performance of your team, and the long-term success of your organization.

Interested in a keynote or training on the topic of leadership skills – contact me >>>

How to write LinkedIn headline?

Career, Career Brand Management, Personal Branding

LinkedIn headline: the easiest way to boost your profile visibility, generate leads, and land more job interviews. Look no further!

Your LinkedIn headline is one of the most visible parts of your LinkedIn profile and plays a crucial role in influencing someone’s decision to reach out to you or move on to the next candidate. It’s also a key factor in LinkedIn’s search algorithm. Optimized headlines carry significant weight when the platform determines which profiles to serve for different queries. In short, optimized headlines = more searches, more searches = more views, and more views = more opportunities and deals.

If you’ve read this far, you probably understand how important your LinkedIn headline is. But how do you optimize it effectively? In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to craft a powerful LinkedIn headline that boosts your visibility, increases job interviews, and draws in more qualified leads.

What is a LinkedIn Headline?

A LinkedIn headline is a concise summary that encapsulates who you are professionally. It serves as your first impression on potential connections, recruiters, and employers and it works like a hook that grabs their attention and keeps them reading.

Importance of a LinkedIn Headline

Visibility: Your headline appears right beneath your name and profile picture, making it one of the most visible elements of your profile.
Unique Value: If you don’t customize your headline, LinkedIn will generate a basic and generic one for you. This automated headline often lacks the personal touch and specificity that showcases your unique skills and experiences.
Goal-Oriented: The primary goal of your headline is to convince people to read the rest of your LinkedIn profile. This is a crucial first step on a journey that could open the door to new opportunities.

Crafting an Effective Headline

To create an effective LinkedIn headline, follow these best practices:

1. Make a Strong First Impression – Use engaging language that captures attention immediately. Your headline should act as a compelling introduction to who you are and what you do.

2. Avoid Generic Auto-Generated Headlines –Take the initiative to create your own headline. Generic headlines miss out on highlighting what makes you distinct in your field.

3. Include Your Current Role or Profession – Your LinkedIn headline should immediately convey your professional identity. Use the exact title you hold at your current company, including your level of experience (e.g., “Senior,” “Manager,” “Director”). If your current job title isn’t perfectly aligned with your career goals, feel free to tweak it slightly, but avoid misleading potential connections.

4. List Your Primary Skills or Area of Expertise – Many companies now prioritize skills-based hiring. Including standout skills or certifications in your headline is crucial. Look at job listings to identify in-demand skills and highlight those you excel in that align with your career goals.

5. Highlight Your Unique Value – Your unique value is what makes you stand out from others in your field. This could be your specialized expertise, innovative problem-solving skills, or any trait that makes you valuable to employers or clients.

5. Include a Measurable Accomplishment (optional) – Whenever possible, aim to include a quantifiable achievement in your LinkedIn headline. Tangible results, such as “Increased sales by 30%,” boost your credibility and demonstrate your impact.

6. Mention a Personal Passion or Career Goal (optional) – Make your headline more compelling by adding a personal passion or career goal. This highlights your enthusiasm and helps connect with others who share your interests and values.

7. Use Relevant Keywords – Incorporate industry-specific keywords that can help improve your visibility in search results.

8. Maintain Accuracy and Honesty – Be truthful about your skills and experiences. Avoid exaggerated claims that can undermine your credibility.

Final Thoughts

Your LinkedIn headline is not just a formality; it’s a crucial tool for making a memorable first impression. By crafting a personalized, engaging headline that reflects your current role, primary skills, unique value, and measurable accomplishments, you can effectively communicate your professional identity and attract the right opportunities.

If you have a headline in mind, feel free to share it, and I can help you refine it further!

Interested in personalized advise on your LinkedIn profile – contact me >>>

and follow me on Linkedin >>

Examples of Strong LinkedIn Headlines

Sales

“Account Executive at XYZ Solutions – Empowering Businesses with Tailored Software Solutions | Achieved 25% YoY Revenue Growth”

“Business Development Manager | Connecting Startups with Innovative Funding Solutions | Passionate About Entrepreneurial Growth”

Marketing

“Content Marketing Strategist | Crafting Compelling Stories that Engage Audiences | Boosted Website Traffic by 40%”

“SEO Specialist at ABC Agency | Driving Organic Growth Through Proven Strategies | Certified in Google Analytics”

Technology

“Software Engineer | Developing Scalable Applications for E-Commerce | Committed to Agile Methodologies”

“Data Scientist | Transforming Data into Actionable Insights | Delivered Predictive Models that Increased Sales by 20%”

Finance

“Financial Analyst at Global Investments | Specializing in Risk Assessment and Portfolio Management | CFA Level II Candidate”

“Accountant | Streamlining Financial Processes for Small Businesses | Passionate About Tax Strategy and Compliance”

Healthcare

“Registered Nurse | Delivering Compassionate Patient Care in Emergency Settings | Advocate for Health Education”

“Healthcare Administrator | Improving Operational Efficiency in Patient Services | Focused on Telehealth Innovations”

Human Resources

“HR Manager | Fostering Positive Workplace Culture and Employee Engagement | Successfully Reduced Turnover by 15%”

“Recruiter | Connecting Top Talent with Leading Tech Firms | Expert in Diversity and Inclusion Hiring Strategies”

Education

“Educational Consultant | Transforming Learning Environments for Student Success | Advocate for STEM Education”

“High School Teacher | Inspiring Future Leaders Through Innovative Curriculum Development | Passionate About Student-Centered Learning”

Creative Industries

“Graphic Designer | Creating Visually Stunning Brand Identities | Portfolio Includes Work with Fortune 500 Companies”

“UX/UI Designer | Enhancing User Experiences Through Research-Driven Design | Passionate About Accessibility”

Career Brand Management – Skills Portfolio

Career, Career Brand Management

To maintain your own employability, you need to develop capabilities to acquire new skills on your own or develop those which are necessary for career success.

Today, you will find out how to assess your own skills, how to perform skills gap analysis and how to read the job ads to be able to tailor your resume to succeed in the selection process.

In previous article ‘Strategic Approach to Your Career’ I asked you to set yourself career goals. Those goals should be precisely defined to make sure you are focused on a specific area of expertise required for the particular job, industry or even company. The objective of the exercise was to define job title(s) of your dream job. The next step will be the assessment of your skills portfolio, a benchmarking process and skill gap analysis in order to create a self-development plan.

In every job ad, you can easily see two sections: required skills and future responsibilities. Those two give you an indication of who the company is looking for, and what tasks the person is expected to perform.
Those two sections should be a basis for the evaluation of your knowledge and the portfolio of your current skills, abilities and competencies.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES
There is a difference between knowledge, skills, abilities and competences. So, before we continue, let’s dive into each of them.

Knowledge is simply the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject, an awareness of some facts, acquired through experience, observation or learning process.
Skills are your ability and capacity, acquired through systematic and sustained effort, to carry out complex activities or job functions.
There are also your abilities, which are acquired or natural talent or power to successfully perform a set of tasks under particular circumstances.
Lastly, huge word now: competencies. They are defined as the applied skills and knowledge, that enable a person to act successfully and effectively in a job.

Skills can be developed and improved over time, by combining your abilities and knowledge. But the underlying abilities are necessary for the skills to be developed.
To give you an example: if you were a football player, you may be very good at juggling the ball. This is a skill, which you would not be able to perform without the ability to move quickly, be flexible, which is down to your muscles and physical condition.

Competencies specify how the job tasks are performed and what the person needs to do the job successfully. They are used for a spectrum of human resources activities including:
– assessing and selecting candidates for a job
– assessing and managing employee performance
– workforce planning
– employee training and development

SKILLS PORTFOLIO
As you know, from the previous article in the Career Brand Management series, career brand has two components: the emotional one which is personal image, and the functional – which is your marketable skills.
Those are generally divided into two categories:
– hard skills – Hard skills are teachable abilities or skill sets that are easy to quantify. They might be specific to an industry or a trade or a profession.
– soft skills – non cognitive skills or personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people.
Soft skills are a combination of interpersonal people skills, social skills, communication skills, character traits, attitudes and emotional intelligence. They are desirable qualities for certain forms of employment that do not depend on an acquired knowledge.

You might have come across the term ‘transferable skills ‘ or ‘portable skills‘. Those are non job specific skills, that you can take with you, and can be effectively used to serve another employer. Decision-making, leadership, communication or problem-solving are good examples of desirable transferable skills.

You should take some time to reflect on your own portfolio of skills and list your hard skills, soft skills and transferable skills. The list will be a very handy when it comes to creating your LinkedIN profile, tailoring your resume and writing your motivational letter.

HOW TO READ A JOB AD AND TAILOR YOUR RESUME
When companies and recruiters look for a candidate, they list the required knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies. When reading the job ad, take some time to spot the key requirements, list them as keywords and make sure that your resume and your motivational letter contain them.
In most cases, your CV goes first via electronic system that scans the documents for job titles and set of keywords. A final selection that passes the system, ends on the HR person’s desk. This means that it is critical for you to always tailor your resume and the motivational letter, to pass the preliminary selection process.

SKILLS GAP ANALYSIS – PRACTICAL EXERCISE
Look at the previous week’s article, what was your career goal, what was the job you wanted? Got it? You should have a define job title(s) for this. To be able to succeed in your career you have to develop skills that are critical for your dream job. Which are those? Check any recent job ads for your dream job and make a list of required skills.

What is between your current role and the dream role is either the expertise level, the experience or the set of skills. Remember, while the expertise and experience often come with time, the skills are something you can actively develop.
Now, search for a recent job ads for your dream position and list the key requirements, with a focus on skills. Examine the job description and break down skills areas and required mastery level.
You should have at least five on your list. Try to assess your level of mastery in each of them on a scale from 1 to 10, 1 being none and 10 being excellent. You should be able to benchmark yourself based on to-date experience and peer comparison.

As a result, you should spot the skills that need an improvement. Make a priority list of critical skills and plan how to develop those, probably best, one at the time. To do it efficiently you should:
– define a reasonable time frame to develop the skills
– set a mastery level you want to reach

Let me give you an example. If you would like to be a Sales Director, a critical skill could be leading weekly meetings and regular sales training. You do not feel comfortable speaking in front of the group, and you would like to improve your presentation skills. You have the skill to focus on, now set yourself a time, how many weeks or months do you need?
What mastery level you would like to achieve? And of course very importantly, how would you like to do that?
Think, what courses could you attend? How could you practice?
List the obstacles, if you feel there is something that would prevent you from developing the skill. Then try to see how to overcome it.

If you would like to develop in depth knowledge of online advertising, perhaps a course in Google Advertising would be an idea. Do you have the resources, money and time to commit? You may consider the online resources, that are cheaper and offer more flexible learning system.

ACTION PLAN
1. Set yourself a clear career goal and define dream job titles
2. Assess your current portfolio of skills
3. Benchmark your skills against those required for your dream job
4. Conduct skills gap analysis
5. Set self-development plan to acquire new or develop existing skill to needed mastery level

NEXT WEEK

Stay tuned for more tips on Career Brand Development. Next week you will find out how to market yourself. I will give you a few tips on creating your professional resume and LinkedIN profile.

Career Brand Management – Strategic Approach to Your Career

Career, Career Brand Management

Having a list of New Year’s Resolutions? Well, how about your professional goals? Have you thought about your career in 2017?
It is time for Your Career Brand Management.

This series of articles is designed to help you create, manage, and communicate a strong career brand for professional growth and career success.

Research shows people do not spend much time on planning their professional career. And they should, because the job market changed dramatically in the last decade. People change jobs more often than in the past and have to put more effort to manage their own employability. A degree is no longer a guarantee of the career success. Many professionals work in positions that have nothing or very little to do with their academic qualifications and the career pathways became non-linear. Job market is more competitive and less secure.

So how can you succeed in the race and achieve a competitive edge in the job market?

The term career management is often used to describe workforce development programs undertaken by corporations or organizations and aimed at managing the careers of their employees. For many individuals, participation in such a program can be very beneficial. Yet, many people either are not given such an opportunity, or simply relies on company navigating their career without much planning. Often people just take a tactical approach, jump into opportunities or take immediate actions for quick payoffs. A strategic approach is focused on long-term goals, and career planning decisions.

WHAT IS A CAREER BRAND?

Career Brand is a perception of someone’s work related capabilities and expertise by various audiences, most notably employers.

Career brand has two components:
– a functional component
– an emotional component

Career Brand Components

Functional component is your marketable skills. Those are generally divided into two categories:
– hard skills – Hard skills are teachable abilities or skill sets that are easy to quantify. They might be specific to an industry, trade or a profession.
– soft skills – non cognitive skills or personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people. They are desirable qualities for certain forms of employment that do not depend on an acquired knowledge.

An emotional component is your Image. Your image is a combination of 3 elements:
– Appereance
– Behaviour
– Communication

Your image is a critical part of your career brand and has to be consistent with your functional component, and has to support your professional goals. Most importantly, both personal skills and image can be successfully self-managed and self-marketed in a strategic way.

A strong brand is one that is based on a strong skill portfolio and is reinforced by a powerful personal image.

Skills alone, are not a guarantee of success, neither is your degree nor years of experience. You need to find a way to effectively market yourself. On the other hand, heavily promoted personal image, that is not rooted in real skills, may vanish quickly.

HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR OWN EMPLOYABILITY?
To maintain your own employability, you need to focus on 3 areas:
– you need to assess your skills portfolio and develop those, which are necessary for career success
– you need to develop capabilities to acquire new skills on your own
– you need to market yourself effectively

SET YOUR CAREER GOALS
But before you start working on a critical skill set, you should be able to set yourself career goals.
This brings us to the first practical exercise I have for you. Sounds simple, but often turns to be quite a challenge. Since it is a beginning of the year, I would like you to answer this question:

What is your career goal? Who would you like to be in 3, 5, 10 years career wise?
Define: What position would like to be in? What company? What industry?

If you have a clear answer for this, second question is why?
Why would you like to become that person?
Answer: What impact you would make? How your life would change? What would you achieve?

Take your time to answer those 2 critical questions, because your goal and motivation should be a driving force behind everything you do. Think, if the career goals reflect your personality and your values? Think of the steps you would need to take to reach your professional goal? Think of what would stop you from achieving your goal?

NEXT WEEK
Next week we will focus on skills portfolio and skills gap analysis. I will also explain the difference between skill based and competency based job ads, and show you how to read the job ads and create CV and motivational letter, that best address the requirements, but also is a best way to market yourself.

Personal Branding

Branding is often associated with products and services, but personal branding takes the concept a step further. It’s not about what you sell, but who you are.

Your personal brand is a holistic representation of you—your image, reputation, and the values you project. Every detail, from your professional attire to the look of your office, and even a seemingly small item like your business card, plays a role in shaping how others perceive you.

Why Personal Branding Matters

In today’s competitive world, building and maintaining a strong personal brand is critical for career advancement and success. Your brand is the cornerstone of your professional identity, and it’s not something you can afford to leave to chance. A well-crafted personal brand can open doors to new opportunities, foster trust with business partners, and create lasting relationships. People do business with those they know, like, and trust—and a consistent, authentic brand helps you earn that trust.

Strategic Planning for Personal Brand Success

Creating and managing your personal brand is a strategic process. It’s not just about how you present yourself physically, but also how you communicate, behave, and interact with others. To begin this journey, you must first evaluate your current image and the way you’re perceived. This reflection allows you to identify gaps between how you see yourself and how others view you. From there, you can start to craft a plan that bridges that gap and aligns your image with your goals.

This strategic planning involves asking important questions: What message do I want to convey to my audience? How do I want to be perceived by my colleagues, clients, and peers? What values are at the core of my professional identity?

When you define your message, you gain control over your narrative. Whether you’re in a job interview, meeting new clients, or attending a networking event, your personal brand helps you make an immediate and lasting impression. It signals to others whether you align with their expectations and can fulfill their professional needs.

A Continuous, Evolving Process

It’s important to recognize that personal branding is not a one-time effort—it’s an ongoing process. As you grow in your career, your goals may shift, and so must your brand. Regularly evaluating your brand allows you to ensure it remains relevant and continues to serve you well. Staying consistent is key, but that doesn’t mean you can’t evolve. As you develop new skills, take on different roles, or expand into new areas, your brand should reflect these changes, while staying true to your core values.

Reputation and Perception: The Foundation of Your Brand

Your personal brand is deeply tied to your reputation and how you’re perceived by others. These perceptions are shaped by numerous factors, including your behavior, communication style, and how you handle various situations. However, while you can control the elements of your image, such as how you dress or communicate, you cannot control how others interpret those signals. Everyone views you through the lens of their own experiences, beliefs, and values, making perception a complex and nuanced part of personal branding.

It’s crucial to understand that your brand is not inherently good or bad—it’s either aligned with your audience’s expectations or it’s not. The key to building a successful brand lies in making it resonate with your target audience. A strong personal brand enhances trust, credibility, and professional relationships. By focusing on authenticity, you’ll ensure your brand consistently reflects who you are at your core, rather than an image you think others want to see.

Personal Branding and Career Development

Building a personal brand is not just about making a good impression—it’s about shaping your career trajectory. A strong, well-managed brand can be a powerful tool in advancing your career, enabling you to stand out in a crowded market, land job offers, and secure leadership roles. It also plays a vital role in your long-term reputation. In the age of social media and digital footprints, your personal brand extends beyond face-to-face interactions. How you present yourself online through platforms like LinkedIn, or even your social media profiles, is just as important as in-person interactions.

A successful personal brand is built on authenticity and consistency. It should never feel forced or unnatural. Instead, it should reflect the values that are an inherent part of you. By focusing on developing your strengths and managing your weaknesses, you can craft a personal brand that boosts your professional effectiveness and enhances your social life.

Owning Your Brand: Control Your Narrative

To truly leverage the power of personal branding, you must take control of your identity and manage it with purpose. Ask yourself: What do I want my audience to know about me? How do I want them to feel when they interact with me? Whether you’re working with business partners, clients, or interviewing for new opportunities, your brand should convey confidence, trustworthiness, and expertise.

Dave van Hose from Speaking Empire puts it well when he says, “Show up like no other.” This means making a remarkable and memorable first impression, one that resonates both emotionally and intellectually with your audience. People tend to trust those who make them feel comfortable and confident, and your personal brand can help you achieve that.

By mastering the art of personal branding, you gain control over both your career and your personal life. A strong, strategically planned brand helps you gain the trust and respect of others, positioning you for success. With consistent effort and a clear focus, your personal brand will not only enhance your reputation but also unlock new opportunities and set the foundation for a prosperous career.