Leverage this 14-Step Framework in your personal branding for career change – If you want to go from being stale to stellar for your new career!
So you’ve hit that stage in life where you’re supposed to be sipping cocktails on a beach, contemplating a smooth ride, or basking in the glory of an established career, right? Instead, you’re raring for a career change, itching for a new challenge, or perhaps you’ve been nudged toward a career transition due to circumstances beyond your control. If that’s you, grab a seat at the table—this one’s for you.
We’re going to dive deep into the riveting world of crafting your personal brand that stands out, to help you pivot like a pro in your new career journey. And all of this while avoiding major rebranding mistakes that one does during career transition!
We’re not talking buzzwords and jargon. We’re talking actionable insights that can take you from square one to being the person everyone in your new field is buzzing about.
Leveraging Personal Branding for Career Change – 14 Steps to Redefining Your Professional Identity
1. Self-Assessment: Your Untapped Goldmine
The first pit stop on our personal branding express is self-assessment. “What? I know who I am!” you say.
Sure, but do you know how your unique skill set applies to your new career? A deep dive into your strengths and weaknesses isn’t just self-help fluff. It’s strategic.
It’s about framing your years of experience in one field as invaluable assets in another.
Ask yourself what specific skills you bring to the table that younger or less experienced people might not have. Leadership? Crisis management? Client relations? Jot these down, because these are going to be the building blocks of your personal brand.
3 Things that help you in your self-assessment
- Identify Your Strengths
- Know the most revered transferable skills in the new field you are aiming for
- Identify your transferable skills that will be valued in the new career path
2. Market Research: Don’t Fish in the Wrong Pond
Would you wear a tuxedo to a beach party? Probably not (unless you’re going for a James Bond vibe).
Exploring new industries is similar. You need to know the norms, the trends, and the big players. Most importantly, who is your audience within these realms?
Crafting your brand without this information is like shooting a film without knowing the genre. A horror flick with romantic comedy vibes? Uh, no thanks!
3. Sprucing The Almighty Online Presence: Your Digital Handshake
When was the last time you Googled yourself? Go ahead, do it now.
What you find is what your prospective employers or clients will see. A mishmash of old LinkedIn jobs, outdated skills, and that embarrassing Facebook post from 2010 will not make a good first impression.
- LinkedIn is Your New Best Friend: Think of it as your online resume, your digital business card, and your professional social media rolled into one. Update it to reflect your current career aspirations.
- Personal Website: This is your digital kingdom. You control the narrative, showcase your portfolio, and post relevant content.
- Social Media Cleanup: It’s time for a little fall cleaning. Anything that doesn’t align with your new image needs to go or be made private.
4. Networking: The Art of Human Connection
Remember, the best opportunities are often hidden behind the faces of the people you know—or the people you should know.
Informational interviews are an excellent tool in your arsenal. These casual conversations with industry veterans give you insights you won’t find online.
And let’s not forget networking events. Virtual or physical, they’re like career dating. Make sure to show up with your best attire and a captivating elevator pitch. You’re not just there to eat mini sandwiches and collect free pens.
5. Skill Development: Become an Unstoppable Force
Unless you’re Superman, there’s probably a skill or two you’ll need to acquire or polish. Get smart about upgrading your skills!
Identify them and get cracking. Many skills can be learned online, often for free or at a reasonable price. Certifications, workshops, webinars—there are countless ways to up your game.
6. Be a Thought Leader, Not a Thought Follower
Why should people listen to you? Because you have something to say.
Blogging, creating LinkedIn articles, or even posting intelligent social media updates can establish you as a thought leader.
This might sound intimidating, but remember—you’ve got decades of experience to pull from.
7. Age is an Asset, Not a Liability
Let’s face it, ageism is real.
But rather than shying away from your age, embrace it as part of your brand.
Your years are not just numbers; they’re badges of experience, reliability, and wisdom that can only come from life well-lived.
8. The Iceberg Theory: What Lies Beneath the Surface
So, you’ve decked out your LinkedIn, you’re networking like a champ, and you’re even learning new skills like a 21st-century polymath.
However personal branding goes beyond the eye-catching website and a snazzy LinkedIn headline. It’s also about the substance that backs up the style.
Like an iceberg, the most substantial part of your brand is what lies beneath the surface—your work ethic, your reliability, your integrity.
These are the attributes that can’t be faked and that you’ve probably built up over many years in your previous career. Don’t underestimate the power of these intangibles; they’re what turn connections into lasting professional relationships.
9. Turn Setbacks into Comebacks
At this point, you might hit some snags. Maybe that job you were sure you were going to get goes to someone else, or the project you were leading doesn’t go as planned.
Listen, setbacks happen at any age, in any career. What sets the seasoned professionals apart is their ability to turn setbacks into comebacks.
Use these experiences not as discouraging stop signs, but as instructive yield signs that guide your next moves. Sharing your journey, including the challenges you’ve overcome, can be an invaluable part of your personal brand.
10. Mentor and Be Mentored
One unique thing about changing careers in life is that you’re a paradox. You’re both a newbie in your new field and a seasoned veteran of the professional world.
That puts you in a unique position to both mentor and be mentored.
Guide those who are newer to the workforce altogether, sharing the broader professional wisdom you’ve acquired over the years.
At the same time, don’t be afraid to seek guidance from those who are more experienced in your new field. This two-way street not only enriches your experience but also enriches your personal brand, painting you as both a learner and a leader.
11. Community Engagement: A Jewel in Your Branding Crown
Part of personal branding is how you engage with your community—both the community in your new field and the community at large.
From offering free workshops to writing opinion pieces that raise awareness about industry issues, community engagement is like social proof for your personal brand. It shows you don’t just talk the talk; you walk the walk.
12. Your Personal Branding Toolkit: Keep it Updated
Tools and technology are constantly evolving, and your personal branding toolkit should too.
What’s in vogue today might be outdated tomorrow. Keep yourself equipped with the latest platforms and technologies that can help you maintain and grow your personal brand.
For example, if video content becomes the new darling of personal branding, why not leverage it? Create video logs, interviews, or webinars that feed into your branding strategy.
13. The Final Lap: It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint
Here’s the kicker: Personal branding is not a one-off project. It’s an ongoing process.
As you grow in your new career, your brand should grow and evolve with you.
Keep taking the pulse of your brand, adjusting your strategy as needed, and most importantly, continue engaging with your audience.
Remember, your brand is not just what you tell people it is; it’s what they say it is when you’re not in the room.
14. Keep Calibrating: Your Brand is a Living Thing
Launching your personal brand is not a “set it and forget it” kind of deal. Keep tabs on how you’re doing. Analytics are your friends. Track your LinkedIn profile views, website visits, or whatever metrics matter in your field. And don’t turn a deaf ear to feedback. Adapt, modify, and grow.
Your Rebranding: A Symphony of Many Notes
In the end, your personal brand is a symphony of your skills, your experiences, your values, and your engagements.
It’s not something you build overnight, but when done right, it can set you on a path toward a fulfilling and successful second act in your career. So forget those clichés about old dogs and new tricks. Your new career adventure awaits, and your personal brand is your trusty compass.
You’ve got this. Welcome to the next chapter of your professional life. Make it a page-turner.