I’m a contrarian by nature, and I do personal branding coaching, so you can take my comments with a grain of salt.

To me, a personal brand isn’t so much about the outward way you present yourself. In my world, it is about clarifying how you think of yourself internally so you can articulate who you really are. Many people, particularly when they are trying to branch out and do something very different, have a hard time thinking of and talking about themselves in a new way. It seems like branding helps them articulate who they are becoming.

Just food for thought…

Thanks for a great post.

Caryn

I find I meet so many people and I hear about so many people who are all doing great things on a daily/weekly/monthly basis that if I can’t search them and keep them somewhere–like on LinkedIn, Twitter, my feed reader, bookmarks bar, etc.–I will have a really hard time remembering them.

Accomplishments within your field are part of your personal brand. I think assuming that personal brand is artificial and is dreamed up one night on a computer is a really superficial reading of personal brand. It’s a lot more complex than that and involves many different aspects of each person.

However, even if most employers fail to adopt this technique, I still think your post indirectly raises a great
point for applicants to keep in mind. The interview process is a reflection of what an organization
will be like to work for. So if authenticity is what you’re looking for, keep an eye open for it
while you’re interviewing. The interview process isn’t a one-sided sales pitch for them to “buy”
you, its your opportunity to check out when they’re offering and see if its a place you want to be.
Thanks for the great post Cathy! I hope to witness the humane interview revolution sweep across
Canada and the US!

The only time I could see a conflict-driven interview being helpful is when the job itself is very conflict-oriented.

Thanks, Cathy.