Personal branding is imperative to getting a job in any field–you want to show employers you’re dedicated, trustworthy, and knowledgeable about your industry. 
But many candidates on the job hunt don’t know how to go about this and commit a variety of personal branding mistakes. A post on Personal Branding Blog recently explored a few things job seekers should avoid when it comes to building their own professional image. Check out these personal branding mistakes you don’t want to commit:
1. Not thinking about your goals. What is it that you want to appear knowledgeable about? What sorts of things are you passionate about, and how does this relate to your career? What skills and specialties do you already possess that you can leverage for professional success? Ask yourself these questions to identify your specific personal branding goals, then start crafting your image appropriately.
2. Not regularly assessing your goals. Along with actually setting personal branding goals, you have to keep track of them and regularly assess your progress. Try creating at least a few goals that are quantifiable–for instance, track the number of hits on your professional blog, or set a specific number of professional recommendations you’d like to have on your LinkedIn profile within the month.
3. Not knowing how much you can handle. Make sure your personal branding goals are obtainable. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself with too many goals, so keep it simple and doable. You may want to make it your goal to respond to every blog comment you receive, but if your work becomes popular (which is probably what you want!), this could be unrealistic.
4. Not keeping active social profiles. While you should choose outlets that are relevant to your industry or profession, having a sharp online presence is a must when it comes to personal branding. Employers and colleagues may Google you at any given time, so it’s important to maintain a professional image on the Web. The key, according to PBB, is to “be where your audience wants to find you.”
Personal branding doesn’t have to be difficult, as long as you use common sense and good judgement. Check out other personal branding regrets to avoid here.
Have you ever committed any personal branding mistakes? Share your experiences in a comment below!
