Your Brand is Your Reputation

I've been asked a few times what does a brand really mean. Is it like Coca-cola? Apple? Are you trying to be the Bill Gates of computing?

Really the brand for your career is your reputation. The brand is what people think of you, and how they perceive you as a professional in your industry. Your brand answers these questions:

1. What are you good at?
2. What are you not good at?
3. Are you reliable at completing work?
4. Do you perform quality work?
5. What is the cost of your service?

 There are plenty more, but these are the types of questions you want to project and promote with your brand. These are the questions that you want someone to think positively about as they examine your presence.

Your resume speaks for you, but you can showcase much more, and give yourself a great reputation. If you network well, others will enhance that reputation, giving you a better chance of getting to the interview, or getting the job offer.