Non-Verbal Branding for Todays Savvy Job Seeker - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Non-Verbal Branding for Todays Savvy Job Seeker - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Did you know that 55% of communication is non-verbal? Think about the last time you were at a party and someone was talking with their hands or a political debate that was scrutinized after for every facial expression the candidates made. Humans love to ‘speak’ even when we don’t say a word. Observing your body’s effect Have you ever sat in a café or park and observed others (a.k.a. people-watching)? Given today’s interest in others, there’s a good chance someone has watched you as you walked down a street heading to an interview, sat in a café preparing for a meeting or simply sat in a park thinking about your day. What is your non-verbal brand saying about you? Does the way you raise your eyebrows tell others your interested or upset? Does your body language align with your personal brand? Your body, brand interviewing Many hiring managers make up their mind in the first 8 seconds of an interview. How is this possible when you’ve barely said “hello”? Their decision is based on your non-verbal personal branding. We all know Eliot Spitzer didn’t speak a word in the first 8 seconds of the interview for his new CNN Parker-Spitzer role; his brand spoke before he did. Job search personal brand elements include everything from your posture and handshake to your choice of attire and hairstyle on interview day. (hint: maintain a confident posture during the interview) Is your body language aligned with your job search personal brand? Does it send a consistent message to the interviewer? What your business cards say During the interview it’s important to ask for a business card and when networking, to have one to hand out. Your stationary speaks for your personal brand just as your body and voice do. It had been less than 5 minutes after I met Mark when he asked for my card and responded, “Wow, great card. Business must be going very well.” I simply replied, “Yes, it is, thank you.” Mark, a V.P., Marketing for a NY-based digital media group was playing with my card like a kid plays with a new toy on Christmas morning when he handed me his and said, “I had a limited budget to work within.” I smiled and replied, “It’s very nice. By the way, it’s 16pt. satin finish (alluding to my card’s finish)” and then changed the subject to their new client, who I happen to know. The bundled brand As a savvy job seeker in today’s high-stakes job search game, it’s essential to bundle the non-verbal and verbal elements of your brand. Take time to include everything from your wardrobe to your posture and stationary and present a cohesive, clean and concise personal brand both inside and outside the interview. Author: Adriana Llames is a veteran career coach and acclaimed author of Career Sudoku: 9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game, released with top book seller Amazon.com. She is creator of   “HR In-A-Box,” a Human Resources software product helping small businesses across America and a professional keynote speaker motivating and inspiring audiences with her focused programs on “9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game”, “Confessions of a Career Coach” and “Nice Girls End Up on Welfare.” For more information, visit www.adrianallames.com