Branding yourself in a recession
Despite what the media or government says – we are still in a tough economic recession. People are still losing their homes and jobs; many are forced to downsize while others simply can’t find the now illusive full-time job. It is almost impossible to find a permanent full-time job and all that’s being offered now are short-term contracts and that’s if you’re lucky.
With so many qualified people looking for work, it is a necessity to reinvent yourself so you don’t look like everyone else. So everyone who’s been out of work and you’re at the point of giving up – don’t. Sit down and seriously consider how you are going to rebrand yourself.
Everyone has talents – find out what your talents are and exploit them to the fullest. Once you know what you’re good at – create a website/blog and promote it. You can do this in several ways. There are numerous FREE tools out there. For instance, you can use such social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter or you can just use e-mail to announce to your friends and colleagues what you’re doing and how you are able to help them. This may sound stupid, but it will pay off in the long term.
Now once you learn what your strong points are – it will strengthen your job hunting pursuits. Again – I cannot stress how important it is to create a brand identity for you. Remember, many individuals have exactly the same qualifications so you don’t want to look like everyone else. Learn to stand out and sell yourself. Obviously, this is easier said than done and I’m learning how to brand myself and I’m not completely there yet. But I am confident I will get there and when I do watch out world!
In today's economy you have to learn how to stand out!
If you have gone through the branding process – I would LOVE to hear from you. I am always willing to learn and I realize now is the time for me to market myself as something completely different.
Great post. I think this applies equally to small businesses who are struggling in this economy and wonder how they can establish better relationships with their customers. Blogging about tips, providing value-added information and forwarded to clients on a topic you specialize in is a good way to stay connected and become noticed.