So,
You’ve just landed a new job. You’re super excited. You should be. After all, it’s your first job. Like many young professionals, you want to scale the corporate ladder. Yes. You want to be a CEO someday. The problem is, you don’t have the slightest clue how to do it.
No one will tell you this, but to jump-start a flagging career, you have to transform from being “just an employee” into a brand.
Make Sure That You’re a Cut Above the Rest
This is where it all starts, really. Be different. The mention of your name should elicit positive and pleasant reactions. Go beyond being a hard worker because, with all due respect, that might not get you to the next office. In other words, market yourself as an individual with unique capabilities.
Take Coca Cola, for instance. You know this as a soft drink with a specific taste, right? On top of that, you can quickly pick out its bottle’s shape and logo. Mercedes Benz, on the other hand, is a brand name that embodies safety and automobile luxury at its best. Likewise, you should seek to become a brand with inherent characteristics, quality and value. Be savvy, informed, and eager to learn. Most importantly, do what matters and learn to sell yourself.
Develop a Strategy to Promote the Brand Known as “You”
Think about professional services firms for a sec. Their business model is almost the same, irrespective of what they’re selling. Most hardly own any assets. Many rent practically every tangible item. On the flip side, however, they “own” lots of soft assets known as employees – smart, motivated and talented individuals. Their revenues are enormous – and terrific profits to match. Why? Well, they understand the power of branding.
The point is, as a junior employee, you need to figure out how to fit into your employee’s long-term goals. That way, you can develop skills, learn new stuff, hone your skills, and move from one project to another. Be different from every other smart employee walking around in expensive suits and hire-powered laptops. And if you’re brilliant, you’ll eventually create a distinctive role for yourself. In short, perfect the art of promoting the brand that is You.
In conclusion, standing out as a brand allows you to distinguish yourself from fellow professionals and colleagues. Also, it makes it easy for your superiors to identify you. It is a sure way to chart your path to the corner office. The long and short of it is –to ascend to the pinnacle of your career, identify the essential requirements of your job and develop special characteristics that’ll make you easily identifiable.