Tips for Personal Branding with Open to Work

“It’s so disheartening,” shared a 3x CMO, “I’ve never been a better candidate but keep coming up short.” In case you’ve been under a rock, it’s a brutal market for CMOs in transition. And unless interest rates drop, it’s likely to stay that way through 2024. There simply aren’t enough openings, especially in B2B, to meet the supply of highly effective CMOs. This situation is taking an emotional toll that decreases the chances of these otherwise talented professionals securing their next opportunity. It’s a vicious cycle. While a healthier emotional state won’t create more roles it can make the process less painful and more effective along with the steps outlined below. 🐧 Reconnect with your strengths: Call former colleagues for candid feedback on your strengths and shortcomings. You’ll be reminded of you at your best and where you found the most joy. You’ll know who you can count on for references. And you’ll draft some allies for your search. Don’t hesitate to call any of them. They know they are only one down-quarter from joining you. 🐧 Join a peer group: Do not go it alone. Knowing others are in the same situation is somewhat comforting while helping others is uplifting. Your peer group needs to meet regularly with a defined process, set agendas, and homework assignments. When you prep someone for an interview or review their latest content, you’ll be reminded of your overall competency. 🐧 Define your personal brand: Apply your strategic marketing skills to yourself. Write down your superpower(s) and other points of difference. Draft a personal brand statement and then discuss it with your peer group. If you use terms like data-driven and high-achieving, go deeper. You’ll know you've done it right when it drives your content. [Ask me for the CMO Huddles personal branding worksheet.] 🐧 Identify Your Top 25: Employers are close–mindedly looking for 5x5 matches. The 5 areas are category, growth stage, target (enterprise, SMB), ownership structure (PE, VC, public, private), and physical location. Use that knowledge to your advantage by creating a list of 25 companies that align with your most recent experience(s) and current location. This list will drive your outbound marketing campaign. 🐧 Execute Your Outbound: This involves creating content, searching your network for possible introductions, and a touch of stalking. Think of each piece of content as an insight-rich "love letter” to a CEO on your Top 25. If you have a LinkedIn connection to that CEO, ask them to share your post. If you don’t, start engaging (aka stalking) the CEO on LinkedIn or elsewhere. 🐧 Hone Your Skills: Professionals know their skills only stay sharp with constant and well-structured practice. Establish a rigorous interview prep process (ideally one that uncovers eye-opening insights). Start tracking the questions you are asked and the answers you provide in interviews. Review those with a member of your peer group. In sum, don't go it alone.

✨ Let’s be honest, most “personal brands” on social media feel like a Canva template with a pulse.✨ Same quotes. Same vibe. Same safe, polished tone that could’ve been written by anyone. But here’s the thing: people don’t connect with perfection. They connect with presence, the kind that’s honest, a little messy, and unmistakably you. When I first started showing up online, I thought I had to be polished to be taken seriously. I played it safe. I wrote what I thought people wanted to hear. And it flopped. It wasn’t until I started sharing real stories, the highs, the heartbreaks, the humor, the hard truths, that things shifted. That’s when people leaned in. That’s when they started saying, “This made me feel seen.” That’s when the right opportunities started showing up. If you’re trying to build a personal brand that actually moves people (and attracts the right ones), here’s what works: 1. Own your essence. Your story, your tone, your perspective, that’s the brand. The goal isn’t to sound like everyone else. It’s to sound like you, unapologetically. 2. Pick your platform and commit. You don’t need to be everywhere. Just show up consistently where your people are. And remember: visibility without intentionality is just noise. 3. Rotate your content like a pro. Educate. Share personal stories. Inspire. Be relatable. People should leave your posts feeling something, not just scrolling past it. 4. Engage like a real person. Reply to comments. Comment on others’ content with more than “great post.” Build community, not just content. 5. Share the real, not just the highlight reel. Your behind-the-scenes process? That messy middle? That’s what people relate to. And it builds more trust than a polished PR version ever could. 6. Watch what resonates, and refine. Look at what your audience leans into. Pay attention to the messages that get saved, shared, and DMed. Then do more of that. Because at the end of the day, your personal brand isn’t something you fabricate. It’s something you reveal. And when you do it with heart, honesty, and consistency, you don’t just attract an audience. You build a reputation. What’s one strategy that’s helped you show up more authentically online? I’m sharing mine, now you share yours. #PersonalBranding #AuthenticMarketing #ContentWithHeart #DigitalPresence #LinkedInTips 

Transform your job search with personal branding. (a 3-step framework) Personal branding isn't a buzzword—it's essential. Here's a simple framework to build yours: 1) Identify Your Brand Pillars. How would you define your professional identity? This could be your innovative approach to: — Campaigns. — Leadership style. — Storytelling with data. ➝ List your strengths and ask colleagues for their input to ensure alignment with how you're perceived. 2) Communicate Your Brand. Consistently convey these pillars using your: — Original content. — LinkedIn profile page. — Professional interactions. ➝ Craft a compelling LinkedIn summary that encapsulates your professional identity and goals. 3) Live Your Brand. Reflect your personal brand pillars in: — Your day-to-day actions. — Your approach to meetings. — Online content that you share. ➝ Regularly share insights and engage with your network on topics that underscore your expertise. Branding can make the difference between: ❌ Being overlooked ✅ Being sought after How do you live your personal brand every day? P.S. Share your practices below. ——— If you liked this, why not share? ♻️ Follow + hit the 🔔 to not miss a post All my content on 1 page: #DavidsDaily #Networking #Marketing #Jobsearch #Careers

To me, a strong personal brand for a UXer isn't just about being seen on popular platforms. It's this ↴ You start by knowing there’s no perfect time to begin. You begin from wherever you are. You tell a story about your journey, including your struggles and successes. This will connect with people who are just a step behind you in their careers, making you relatable. You give feedback to others. This helps them and also makes you better. When you look at someone else’s work, you often find new ideas and solutions for your own problems. You share what you’re learning now, the obstacles you face, and how you plan to overcome them. Being open like this builds trust and shows you’re a genuine, approachable person. You get involved with the community. You reply to comments, join discussions, and show real interest in what others are doing. This isn’t about promoting yourself, it’s about growing your skills and helping others. You build a network of peers, not just followers. These connections can lead to collaborations, referrals, and support when needed. It’s about long-term growth, not quick wins. As you build your brand, you start to understand what you’re really good at. You get a better sense of who you are and the unique value you bring to others. Now you know how to create content that stands out. Your unique perspective makes your content different from others. You stay real and consistent. Being honest in sharing your journey, thoughts, and work builds a strong personal brand. Consistency in your message and values helps people know what you stand for and trust you. Building your personal brand becomes rewarding. You start getting invitations to write guest posts, work on exciting projects, be interviewed, and speak at events. Opportunities come to you because of the brand you’re building. You notice your confidence grows. You’re no longer "just another UXer", you’re a recognized expert in the niche you created. You sleep better at night knowing your personal brand is working for you, creating opportunities and opening doors. That, to me, is a powerful personal brand. It takes time to build but offers amazing, life-changing opportunities. And it's achievable. #ux #personalbrandsforUXers --- ✍️ What's your take? ♻️ Share if it's helpful.

Last week, I met a potential client who used to manage a business with $10M in EBITDA/year. Now, he's launching a startup and wants to build his personal brand. Here’s what I told him: 1) Be transparent: Share your journey, both the highs and the lows. People love authenticity. 2) Engage your audience: Ask for feedback and involve them in your decision-making process. This builds a loyal community. 3) Show progress: Update on your milestones and setbacks. Make your audience feel part of your story. 4) Share your learnings: Your experiences can help others establish you as an expert in your field. 5) Stay consistent: Post and engage regularly, it keeps your audience interested and invested in your journey. Building in public is challenging but rewarding. It builds trust, fosters a community, and attracts opportunities. If you're starting something new, you should share your journey with the world. It might just be the game-changer you need. PS: What's your take on building in public? Have you tried it? Share your thoughts!