As a recruiter, I have come across hundreds of job candidates who have no idea who they are. They struggle to answer the question, “tell me about yourself—who are you?” and do not know what their strengths are or how they can add value to a company. Many believe that their CV alone will lead to career success in today’s job market.

However, having a strong personal brand can open up a world of career opportunities that would have otherwise remained unseen. According to Celinne Da Costa, “a strong personal brand allows you to stand out in an oversaturated marketplace by exposing desired audiences to your vision, skill set, and personality in a way that is strategically aligned with your career goals.”

Personal branding distinguishes you from others and highlights your unique strengths and value. While having a great CV and LinkedIn profile is important, they are not enough to truly stand out in the competitive job market. Building a personal brand involves strategically and creatively presenting your unique value to the world. This allows you to avoid “career meltdowns” and make informed decisions about your future.

Creating a personal brand can take time and requires a lot of self-reflection. However, following these five key steps can help you achieve personal branding success:

1. Set your personal goals: What do you want to do in the next five years? What is important to you?

2. Create your unique value proposition: What are your personality features? What benefits do you offer? Who are you and why do people enjoy working with you? What do you do and how do you solve problems? What sets you apart from others?

3. Write your professional story: Incorporate your value proposition and unique traits into a story that tells people who you are and what makes you stand out.

4. Determine which platforms will support your personal brand: Decide which social media accounts and online platforms will best represent your brand and allow you to share your voice. LinkedIn and a professional CV are key for career positioning.

5. Become recognized for sharing your knowledge and expertise: Share your knowledge and help others through social media, writing, commenting, video, networking, etc. Find your uniqueness and use it to attract clients, opportunities, or jobs.

Having a personal brand is crucial for career success in today’s job market. Recruiters often use social media to screen candidates during the hiring process. When you do not have control over how you want to be seen, you leave it up to someone else to make a judgment for you. As Michelle Obama writes in her book, Becoming, “if you don’t get out there and define yourself, you’ll be quickly and inaccurately defined by others.”

Your personal brand is your mark on the world and how people see you. It allows you to position yourself in a way that makes you stand out from other job applicants. Having a personal brand gives you control over how you want to be seen, and your confidence and self-belief enable you to leverage opportunities and make informed decisions about your future.

Overall, building a personal brand is essential in today’s competitive job market. It strategically and creatively highlights your unique traits and value, setting you apart from other job applicants. It is the key to your networking success, landing your dream job, and building an influential business. Don’t let someone else define who you are—start investing in your personal brand today.