In our current tech-savvy and social media-driven epoch, brand is everything. So much depends upon how you are viewed by other individuals.
Indeed, this is even true in the world of finance, where professionals both young and old need to be attentive to how they present themselves to the world, both online and offline. Careers depend on it.
What is a Brand?
A brand isn’t just something you determine for yourself anymore. It’s not just about what you’ve listed on your resume, or which events you appear at. Branding is all about engagement – both with peers in your field and beyond, in the vast world of finance.
In other words, it’s a matter of reference checks – both personal and impersonal. So too does this include interactivity with others, job interviews, and even simple things like the amount of likes on your social media pages and the quality of comments; if you’re hoping to learn more about how recruiters look to peoples brands, you ought to click here to learn more about the ins and outs of the hiring process in the age of LinkedIn.
Everything you do matters and there isn’t a moment in which you can ever escape this constant cycle of productivity. In short, a brand is a life – it’s your life.
Carpe Diem
With all of this in mind, don’t wait to improve your brand, because your quality of life is wholly contingent upon it. It’s something to act quickly upon, because a good brand could mean a lot more opportunities coming your way, both personally and professionally. Here, then, are a few things to keep in mind.
- Have a focus
You can’t build a brand if you don’t have a goal – be sure to have some kind of thesis in mind as you present yourself to the world. Be both well-rounded and an expert in some specific kind of finance. Ultimately, it comes down to what your desired career path is.
- Be Authentic
Don’t forget your moral compass for the sake of clout. Only associate with people you find to be trustworthy, rather than mingling with powerful people who don’t abide by your ethical code. This means you should only be applying to companies for whom you have a great deal of respect. Indeed, you ought to be genuine and be yourself. This is certainly the best way to cultivate your brand, otherwise, people will see through it, and it could hurt you in your career. Being genuine makes it much easier to manage your personal brand – all you need to do is be yourself.
With all of this in mind, you should be well on your way to an extravagant and memorable brand that will offer so many possibilities as you traverse your career path.