New Ways to Sell Your Personal Brand

September 5, 2013 – While strong skills and experience are essential to getting a job, many employers take other factors into account as well. A new CareerBuilder study finds that a sense of humor, an eye for fashion, or even knowledge of current affairs and pop culture could also play some part in influencing a hiring manager's decision. The nationwide study, conducted online by Harris Interactive, included 2,076 hiring managers and human resource professionals across industries. Employers were asked, if they had two equally qualified candidates, which factors would make them more likely to consider one candidate over another. “When you're looking for a job, the key is selling your personal brand. Employers are not only looking for people who are professionally qualified for the position, but also someone who is going to fit in at the office,” said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. “Once you get the job, however, the process doesn't simply stop. Employers will continuously assess personality, performance and behavior when considering prospects for promotions. You want to treat your current job like an extended interview for the next job you want in the company.”