Do you need a personal brand to have a successful career?

Personal brands have been a prolific topic in 2024, with seemingly every career guru banging on about how to build your own.

But is it possible to build a successful career without one? Let’s investigate…

What is a personal brand?

I love Forbes’ definition of a personal brand: “your story and position within your industry”.

Your personal brand is essentially your way to stand out in your industry; it’s a way to communicate your unique skills and perspective.

It can be a real asset and give you an edge over the competition, especially if you work in a saturated industry like…well, most of them at this point.

Usually, you’ll build your personal brand online, with the help of social media.

Do you need a personal brand to progress your career?

Of course, the answer to this is no.

There are plenty of people building amazingly successful careers who have never even touched social media.

But, the job market is rough these days, and to be honest, it feels like it’s been rough for my whole career (which admittedly, is only a decade long so far).

So it makes sense, as a career-driven individual, to at least have a strategic online presence, even if you don’t post very often.

Plus, building a personal brand which showcases your skills, values and personality can see you through career pivots and even starting your own business. Because people if people know you, they’ll probably want to support you. Know, like and trust is key.

Why are personal brands such a hot topic at the moment?

Many industries are saturated at the moment, so ambitious jobseekers need to stand out in order to have a chance at standing out to employers.

Building a personal brand is an easy way to stand out, as most people have access to the internet and social media is free.

It’s also a great way to show prospective employers that you align with their values. For example, a marketer who wants to specialise in working with sustainable companies could share green marketing campaigns they love, talk about how they’re working to live more sustainably and give advice on how sustainable brands can market themselves.

Essentially, you’re giving them a taste of what it will be like to work with you before you even meet.

I work in IT and Tech, and there have been mass redundancies over the last 18 months. Building my personal brand may not guarantee that I walk straight into a new job if I get made redundant, but it strengthens my chances of shining amongst the many other applicants applying for roles.

Your personal brand makes you visible.

We know that it’s important to be visible at work. But being visible outside of work is also beneficial.

You never know who’s paying attention. If someone who works at a company follows you on Instagram, LinkedIn or even TikTok, and is hiring for a role that you’re a good fit for, they will have seen you demonstrating your expertise online and be able to get in touch.

How cool is that?

You don’t need tons of followers to build a successful personal brand. You just need to show that you know what you’re talking about.

How you can stand out without a personal brand

Even without an active social media presence, there are things you can do to make sure that you shine through when applying for your dream job.

• Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date, even if you don’t post

• Focus on building relationships in your industry, so you’re front of mind when people are hiring

• Be proactive in learning sought-after skills

• Attend relevant networking events to build your profile within your industry

Conclusion: no, you don’t need a personal brand to achieve career success.

But when it’s free, fairly straightfoward and gives you an advantage in a competitive industry, why wouldn’t you?

Do you think having a personal brand is essential to success in the modern world? Come and chat with us on Instagram.