Introduction
Building a successful career in 2021 seems to be harder than climbing Everest. Management science has evolved over the years and now spans a variety of sectors, including communication, marketing, psychology, sociology, and many others. Such concepts as personal branding and networking become more important to every professional trying to make it in their chosen industry. Many factors have prompted the emergence of such phenomena as personal branding and networking. After all, the corporate environment has experienced a significant shift from businesses to individuals in terms of the responsibility for one’s career. Gorbatov, Khapova, and Lysova (2018) note that even traditionally stable industries and economic sectors continue to lay off millions of employees due to the cost- and time-efficient advances in technology, and artificial intelligence, in particular. This prompts the frequency of career transitions to rise, which requires an individual seeking work to expand existing networks of contacts and engage in professional branding activities (Gorbatov, Khapova, and Lysova, 2018). In the virtual age, personal branding and networking are both exceptionally important for career development and employability. This essay is going to underline the key aspects of these concepts and reflect on the career assessment completed.
Career development and employability
Personal branding includes a variety of strategies and activities dedicated to marketing an individual and their career as brands. In the context of career development, every professional has to embark on a continuous journey of developing and maintaining a reputation, which is a means to promote one’s services. An effective personal brand tells a compelling story and leaves a positive impression. In the digitized corporate environment of today, personal branding is a key to success.
It plays a crucial role in establishing and developing one’s career by building trust and communicating an individual’s distinct characteristics and expertise. Northeastern University (2019) reports that “an overwhelming 85 percent of hiring managers report that a job candidate’s personal brand influences their hiring decisions” (para. 8). In addition, a professional with a better reputation and unique brand has a higher chance of securing a valuable partnership, remaining competitive within their sector, and attracting attention from the media. A Forbes contributor Goldie Chan (2018) mentions that having a focus, remaining genuine, engaging in storytelling, and staying consistent are some of the most effective strategies for developing and maintaining a personal brand. Furthermore, it is crucial to demonstrate value by creating a positive impact and showing the lessons from past mistakes. Indeed, personal branding is a process, which takes a lot of time and effort as it constantly evolves and shifts.
Networking is the process of establishing and maintaining relationships with others. Instead of just getting someone’s contact information, an individual can invest in building a long-term, mutually advantageous connection with another person. First, networking allows a person to meet prospective clients or mentors, as well as acquire other resources, which are helpful in career development. In addition, it ensures that an individual has the knowledge of the latest trends in the industry (Miller Cole, 2019). Moreover, as one connects with people outside their industry, they increase their professional visibility and demonstrate their area of expertise to more people. In terms of the strategies to become a good networker, it is crucial to clearly define specific networking goals, develop a short and concise pitch, and visit different types of events for networking.
Assessment Reflection
There are two primary reasons why I have selected the Temperament test. First, it would help me to define who I am as a person, which I could then use to construct my personal brand. Second, I was curious about the ways I interact with other people and the world around me. I could use this knowledge to take the appropriate approach to network, which is another crucial aspect of career development.
The assessment has demonstrated that I am an extroverted, intuitive, thinking, and perceiving person. Thus, I acquire most of the energy from people and the world that surrounds me and take in new information in the form of abstract ideas. Furthermore, I make difficult decisions relying primarily on hard facts and logic rather than the feelings of others. Lastly, I am relatively flexible and prefer a spontaneous and intriguing future rather than the present.
As an extrovert, in order to excel at work, I have to present my ideas in front of people since this is where I shine the most. In addition, as I am more prone to spontaneous ideas and bursts of energy, I should not be afraid to voice my thought even if unprompted. Second, I recognize that my intuition allows me to be an invaluable asset to the team during brainstorming, which is why I need to make a good impression by participating in such sessions more. As a thinking type, I believe I could be appreciated for my rationality and objectivity. In regards to the perceiving side of me, I believe that I have to work on considering my options and the best interest of the company before making business decisions or committing to something.
Conclusion
In conclusion, career development and employability depend upon the use of strategies in personal branding and networking. Having a personal brand allows a professional to establish a favorable reputation, attract media attention, and ensure credibility via a positive image. Networking is crucial for making the right connections to boost a person’s career. Both personal branding and networking skills are exceptionally important to a young or an already established professional who wants to succeed and make an impact. In terms of my personal career assessment, I have decided to take a Temperament test in order to learn a bit more about myself. Thus, I have discovered that my Myers-Briggs type is ENTP, which means that I am extroverted, intuitive, thinking, and perceiving. I believe that I can use the new insights I have gained about myself in the process of developing my career and increasing my employability as a prospective candidate for a position.
References
Chan, G. (2018) ‘10 golden rules of personal branding’, Forbes. Web.
Gorbatov, S., Khapova, S. N., & Lysova, E. I. (2018) ‘Personal branding: Interdisciplinary systematic review and research agenda’, Frontiers in Psychology, 9, pp. 22-38. Web.
Miller Cole, B. (2019) ‘10 reasons why networking is essential for your career’, Forbes. Web.
Northeastern University (2019) 10 tips for building a personal brand & boost your career. Web.