How to Create Your Personal Brand

Generating Your Personal Brand and Narrative

Your personal brand provides a glimpse into who you are, how you communicate, and what you have to offer an organization. A strong personal brand leads to a compelling personal narrative, making you appear more qualified and confident to prospective employers. This guide will help you clarify your personal brand and create a baseline version of your personal narrative that showcases your uniqueness.

1. Prepare for the Exercise:

   • Dedicate approximately 10 minutes of uninterrupted time to focus on this exercise.
   • Open a new document and name it with your name and the title "Personal Brand."
   • Ensure you have a timer ready on your phone or computer.

2. Brain Dump with Timed Writing:

   • For each of the following questions, set a one-minute timer. Write continuously for the full minute, focusing on getting your thoughts down without worrying about grammar or structure.
   • Questions to Answer:
     • What professionally motivates you?
     • What skills or talents are you most proud of?
     • What skills are you curious about but have yet to build?
     • What kind of tasks and projects energize you?
     • What subjects most interest you?
     • Ten years from now, what do you want to have contributed to the world?
     • What do the people you most admire have in common?

3. Create Your Personal Brand Summary:

   • After answering all the questions, open ChatGPT and use your responses to update the baseline prompt provided below.
   • Baseline Prompt:
     Using the questions and answers below, write a [X00-word] personal brand summary that someone could use on their [Select one: LinkedIn, email outreach, portfolio bio, etc.].
   • Optional Prompts:
     • More Technical: Include specific technical keywords relevant to your field.
     • Job-Specific: Customize your narrative for a specific job by incorporating details from the job description.

4. Review and Edit:

   • Carefully review the generated response. Adjust the tone, length, and content to ensure it authentically represents you.

Conclusion: By following these steps, you can develop a strong personal brand that resonates with potential employers and helps you stand out in your job search. Remember, your personal narrative is a dynamic piece of your portfolio that can and should evolve as you grow professionally.