By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
“I know you are taking it in the teeth, but the first guy through the wall… he always gets bloody, always. This is threatening not just a way of doing business. In their minds, it’s threatening the game. Really, what it’s threatening is their livelihood, their jobs. It’s threatening the way they do things. And every time that happens, whether it’s the government, a way of doing business, whatever, the people who are holding the reins – they have their hands on the switch – they go bats**t crazy.”
from the movie, “Moneyball”
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Tips for Career Branding That Will Take You Far
Tips for Career Branding That Will Take You Far
When I worked in recruiting, I developed a lot of expertise. I was known to some in the New York City market but nowhere else. Everyone had inflated job titles like VP, Talent Acquisition for North America . . . with 2 weeks of experience. That wasn’t me.
I didn’t use a title by this time, even though I had more than 20 years of experience. I realized neither job hunters nor corporate recruiters were being signaled by the recruiter’s title of their experience, let alone competence, because of title inflation.
I started to think of how to differentiate myself, and brand myself in a way that signaled my expertise. Into my mind came the phrase, “The Big Game Hunter.” It was familiar but different from the term “headhunter” that most know, but one I was able to trademark for all categories of employment.
Career branding is a strategy that will help you stand out from others and position yourself for professional success. If you’re feeling uninspired about your job search or career, or just want to stay ahead of the competition, it may be time to develop a career branding strategy that will help you not just now but for years to come.
That being said, many people are hesitant when it comes to branding and their careers. They act like they’ll need an ad team from Mad Men or marketing degrees to develop one. But that isn’t true and is an excuse for self-sabotage by inaction.
Branding your career as an individual doesn’t have to be complicated; even small steps can affect your future job prospects. Let’s look at 4 simple tips for career branding that will help you for years.
Evaluate where you want to go
Where do you want to go with your career? Are you happy with your job and the work you’re doing? Do you want to move up? Are you looking for something completely different? Do you know how people like you develop the expertise to get to where you want to go?
Assess your strengths and weaknesses and think about the type of work you want to be doing. Are there any specific companies or industries you’d like to work in? If you can’t find anything that fits your career goals, is it time to consider starting your own business?
Meet with people who do that type of work to see if it is what you really want to do.
Once you’ve identified the types of careers and industries you want to explore or businesses you are interested in, it’s time to talk with real people who are doing that work. Find out where networking events are occurring and attend as many as possible. You can also connect with people on LinkedIn in the professions you are curious about or who are doing the work you aspire to, so you can hear from people who do that work and get a reality check. Like many an Ivy League-educated lawyer, you may discover that you’re completely uninterested in what you thought you wanted to do and discover something new, and better suited to your skills and passions. If you ask, you will probably also learn steps that they took to get to where they are, which will save time with your efforts.
Define your brand and your target audience
Now that you have explored options and collected information, define your brand. What do you want people to think about when they hear your name or see your resume? What are your core values? What do you want to be known for? What are you most proud of? What types of industries and positions do you want to target? Be as specific as possible.
For example, if you want to work in the healthcare industry, there are many subspecialties you can pursue, from nursing to pathology. Yes, you can be a generalist, however, firms value specialists more than generalists, especially early in your career.
Once you’ve identified your target audience, you need to know how you’re going to reach them. This can be done through self-branding, asking for advice from knowledgeable friends or former colleagues, or hiring a branding company to help you develop your personal brand. Whichever route you choose, make sure your brand is authentic for you and represents your best self. It’s also important to make sure that your social media is aligned and congruent with your brand and the message you want to convey to people.
Network and showcase your skills and successes
Once you’ve started to promote your brand, it’s time to network with potential employers and recruiters. Network, network, network! Become active on LinkedIn. Find groups that are related to your industry, both online and offline. Participate in discussions in groups, in networking groups, and in the feed. Share your expertise and knowledge. No arguing! Discussing is OK! You never know who is reading your posts, and you may spark someone’s interest and have an opportunity land at your feet.
Choose 1-2 achievements from your past and create a visual representation of them, such as a poster or infographic (Canva is great for this). You can then use this as a social media cover or profile picture, or provide it to people you meet at networking events and job fairs.
Recalibrate your thinking
If you’ve tried all of the above and are still uninspired by your career, it may need to recalibrate your thinking. This doesn’t mean that you change careers completely, but rather, embrace the aspects of your job that you enjoy and find ways to make it more fulfilling. For example, if you’re working as an accountant but would prefer to work in marketing, you can adjust your daily duties to make them more closely aligned with your goals. All of these steps can help you develop a career brand that is true to your values, passions, and skills. This will help you stand out from the crowd and get the attention of potential employers. Even if you’re not currently looking for a new job, implementing these tips will strengthen your professional brand, making you more marketable in your current position.
Branding yourself today will probably not benefit you today. As someone who has, I can assure you that it can benefit you for many years to come.
I released a lot of new content this past week. It included:
What’s The Best Way to Find a Job Using LinkedIn? Part 2
How Do You Display a Side Business and Your Main Job in Your LinkedIn Profile?
Do Recruiters Read Cover Letters?
What Percentage of People Do You Think Have Stolen $10 of Stuff from Their Employer? Why?
Pre-employment assessment, skill testing and interviewing
Why You Put Contact Info on Your Resume
If You Think Your Work Is Better Than Other People’s
Stupid Resume Mistakes: Too Little Information
Listing Accomplishments in Your Resume #shorts
Avoiding Mistakes https://wp.me/p4aIk1-xh
Unlocking Your Job Search with Simple Hacks
Expert Resume Tips for Landing a Job
A Stupid Job Search Mistake That Never Works
The Missing Ingredient in Most Interviews
Posting Your Résumé on the Web
Using Small Town Networking Techniques For Getting Hired In Big Cities
How Do You Reach Out to People Who Review Online Applications?
No BS Career Advice: April 20 2025
Getting a Job with a Large Company
Job Search Lessons from the Broadway Show “Cats”
When Your Current Employer Wants More Than Two Weeks Notice
The Second Most Important Place on Your LinkedIn Profile
How Does A Recruiter Focus on Helping People Find Jobs?
LinkedIn Profile Optimization for 2025
Is There a Company You Really Want to Work for?
Branding for Blue Collar and Other Workers
Use Downtime to Listen and Learn
Branding for Blue Collar and Other Workers
The Battle Within During a Job Search
Do You Want the Best Résumé You Can Write or . . .
Learning No BS Job Search Advice From The Big Game Hunter, Jeff Altman
Networking Advice from “The Godfather”
Interview Red Flags: They Are Always Late AND …
How To Avoid Unexpected Financial Setbacks And Protect Your Business
Career Mistakes: Not Having a Conversation When Receiving a Call
A More Advanced LinkedIn Strategy
The Music of Answering Questions
The skills needed to find a job are different from those needed to do a job. You may be great at what you do, but job hunting, especially during difficult times is very different than being a good employee.
Become an Insider at JobSearch.Community at any level and you’ll receive access to all my video courses, books and guides plus the ability to ask me questions and/or be coached by me so that you don ‘t have to figure out what to do and how to respond.
Join me as an Insider at JobSearch.Community for advice about your job search and coaching from me (on Insider+, Insider Premium, Insider 30, Insider 60 or The Insider Bundle). You can also schedule a free discovery call with me to evaluate me as a coach.
Share this. Subscribe if you haven’t already. Click the like button. Comment. Do things to help others in need of finding work.
Jeff Altman
The Big Game Hunter*
Ⓒ The Big Game Hunter, Inc., Asheville, NC 2007
