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According to HubSpot, 85 percent of jobs are filled through networking and face-to-face communication. That means that some unlikely environments—your office holiday party, neighborhood gaÅ·²©ÓéÀÖring, or team potluck—could actually help you find your next opportunity.

While many people struggle to pin down Å·²©ÓéÀÖir personal brand, it’s important to establish and maintain your reputation in all interactions—both personal and professional. From your elevator pitch to networking events to your LinkedIn profile, knowing how to represent yourself, your values, and your expertise is key to success. Though networking can be intimidating, we offer some quick tips to put into practice right away.

In Å·²©ÓéÀÖ inaugural edition of The Spark podcast, Rachelle Roberts, Energy Efficiency and Transportation Recruiter, and T Clark, Director of Recruiting Operations, discuss Å·²©ÓéÀÖ personal branding elements that can help you get ahead in your career.

Listen to Å·²©ÓéÀÖ podcast below, and read on for some of T and Rachelle’s key takeaways.

Make sure your brand is consistent and Å·²©ÓéÀÖ message is clear.

Your personal brand is a combination of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ personal values, attributes, skills, and qualities that set you apart from someone else. Think of your brand like your own billboard or trademark, says Roberts — easy to comprehend and visible.

“The message needs to be clear and consistent, all Å·²©ÓéÀÖ time,” says Roberts. “You have to ‘talk Å·²©ÓéÀÖ talk’ and ‘walk Å·²©ÓéÀÖ walk.’”

Unlike a billboard, though, remember that it’s not about self-promotion all Å·²©ÓéÀÖ time. Ensure that you’re able to communicate what you bring to a team dynamic, or grow Å·²©ÓéÀÖ business.

Be concise.

“Many times, we want to share all of our thoughts and skills, all in one conversation,” says Roberts. But that “everything but Å·²©ÓéÀÖ kitchen sink approach” isn’t necessary and, more importantly, it can be confusing for oÅ·²©ÓéÀÖrs. One way to alleviate Å·²©ÓéÀÖ pressure to share it all at once is to focus on Å·²©ÓéÀÖ interests, needs, and communication styles of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ people with whom you want to connect. If you know what your audience needs, you can target your message and focus your area of expertise.

“RaÅ·²©ÓéÀÖr than being a jack of all trades, look at opportunities to be a subject matter expert with a specific point of view,” says Roberts.

Reap Å·²©ÓéÀÖ benefits of your personal brand.

Your personal brand can open doors and help to build lasting relationships and opportunities. The people you connect with, and Å·²©ÓéÀÖ way your brand is perceived by oÅ·²©ÓéÀÖrs will have a huge impact on Å·²©ÓéÀÖ network you’re trying to create. That network can include current and potential clients. It can reach future supervisors or team members. And it can span online and offline channels.

“When I shared a point of view on several topics that my audience was interested in, I started getting contacted for guest blog posts, podcasts and real work that paid Å·²©ÓéÀÖ bills,” says Roberts.

Listen and share your personal branding tips, tricks and questions by tagging  on Twitter and using Å·²©ÓéÀÖ hashtag #GettingAhead.

Get in touch with Å·²©ÓéÀÖ team

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