Make Your Mark

Personal branding is essential for college students.

BY: JASMINE LEWIS

Some Bennett College students are known for what they are great at.  Senior Jordan Isaac, social work major, is the go-to in the theater department for her ability to channel mother roles into lovable characters.  Student Government Association President, Hershelle Gaffney is a globetrotter, having traveled to Nigeria, Ghana, and Copenhagen.  Jacquieta Beverly, a senior political science major is steeped in politics.  She worked with North Carolina House of Representatives member Alma Adams, Ph.D., to encourage Belles to vote and had an internship with Kay Hagan, a North Carolina senator.  These students aren’t just making a name for themselves. They are building a brand in college.

Personal branding is the “process of developing a mark that is created around your personal name and career” according to About.com.  A personal brand belongs to you, meaning that only you have the power to make it one-of-a-kind.  College students participate in activities, clubs and outside opportunities that determine who they are and possibly who they want to become. Eventually, you will become known for something beneficial to your career.

Brand X to Brand You

Millennials are graduating into a crumbling economy. How can you stand out in the job market? Branding gives students the opportunity to differentiate between themselves and their peers. A student’s brand makes it possible for her to be successful and get the job she wants because she will stand out.  In order to do this, students must understand who they are. William Arruda, a personal branding guru, has five questions that people must ask themselves to help them brand.

• What am I passionate about?
• What motivates me?
• What is my current reputation?
• What are my greatest strengths?
• Who do I know that can help me reach my goal?

Not only do you have to answer these questions for yourself, you also have to begin to act on them. Can you start a blog, group or business based on your passion? How can you develop a strong reputation? You should be able to express the essence of your brand in one sentence. Your sentence should describe who you are, what separates you from the best, and what makes you valuable and compelling to those around you. “This one sentence is an incredibly powerful tool that you can use at networking meetings,” Arruda says. You can use it to stay on brand.”

Connect Yourself

It is also important to build opportunities for internships and jobs. The more connections you have, the better.  You will know what you want and who can help you achieve it.  Stacey Milner, the founder of Executive Temps says that it is important to, “get some experience, do internships and do more than your job description describes.” More experience equals a great resume.  Volunteer or shadow people in your field. Consider every experience a step towards getting hired.

Stay Consistent

When Barack Obama was elected President, Michelle Obama had to find her own cause to promote as First Lady. Concerned about the health of children, Michelle Obama started the “Let’s Move” campaign. Today Mrs. Obama is recognized for encouraging youth to exercise and have healthy diets.  When Mrs. Obama was caught munching on a meal in McDonalds, it caused doubt about her dedication to the campaign.

It is important for your brand to remain consistent.  You may be an excellent worker with a ton of experience, but you also have to present yourself professionally at all times.

Facebook is Forever!

Social networks can be an advantage and a pitfall in personal branding.  According to the U.S Department of Education, 95 percent of companies use LinkedIn, a social networking site that that allows people to connect with different companies, internships, and people who can help advance and build their brands. But hiring managers click Facebook to see your character.

Your brand is always visible, even when you don’t realize it. Every update and uploaded picture on a social networking site is recorded in a database.  According to the “Social Media Revolution Socialnomics 2011” video, employers know when your social media is updated, so be mindful of what you upload to social networks.  On the flipside, there are advantages to using social media.  Social media allows you to spread your experiences on different media platforms.  Just remember your image when doing so.