Looking for and keeping a job is such an interesting concept to analyze. There are hundreds of books and thousands of articles on how to get a job, how to get promoted, how to be a great leader and so many more. With social media being such a huge force in our lives now, branding yourself in the most positive light is the key to success. However, with so many of these resources stating, “say this” or “do that”, how do you brand yourself and still be yourself?
One of the biggest keys to success in life is to be able to be yourself wherever you are. So many people have multiple identities; the two biggest ones being who they are at work and who they are outside of work. If this describes you, it is time to find a new job.
Isn’t it normal to have to change yourself at work?
In one word, NO. Not entirely anyway. Unfortunately, right out of the gate, getting a job involves learning all the right things to do and say. For example, in a job interview you will likely be asked to relate your biggest weakness. Can you say, “Well, quite honestly procrastination is a huge issue for me” or “I have trouble keeping myself organized?” Not if you want to get the job!
In that instance, you have to say something the hiring manager wants to hear and not the truth about yourself. You will most likely say, “I am a workaholic, sometimes I neglect my personal life to make sure my work gets done.” Alternatively, you might say you are a perfectionist. Is that the truth? Is that your biggest weakness?
During the course of your job, you will have to learn what to say and what not to say. You will have to learn what opinions you can have and share and what opinions you might have that you will have to keep t o yourself.
At some level, that is a standard rule in life. However, in many cases, you may have to share opinions that you do not even hold because you know it is very important to someone higher than you that you have that opinion. You might have to work on things that you do not agree with – not only can’t you say that, but you will likely have to express opinions opposite of your beliefs.
You will likely find yourself having to do this every now and then. However, doing this as a way of life is not okay. The more you do this, the more unhappy you will become.
So how do I brand myself and still be myself?
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to brand yourself completely as yourself. If you can, you are very lucky! This is my number one personal issue with corporate life.
In order to be successful, we have to spend a lot of time reading and learning how to say and do things that will impress others. The more we do this the more we have the tendency to brand ourselves into someone else. Living a different life at work than you do at home is less than ideal and may eventually cause you to hate your job (bringing your work self home may also cause you to hate your life!).
My best advice to you is this: When you are interviewing for a job, you will undoubtedly have to say and do things that may not really represent you. However, you can do some things, within yourself, to help you land in an environment that lets you be yourself as much as possible.
Take notice of the work culture while you are there. Is it really quiet and serious? Is it lighthearted and fun? Which do you prefer?
In the interview, ask questions about the company and the culture. My favorite is “what type of person is the best fit for this company?” Listen very carefully to the answers. You may have had to brand yourself a bit differently from who you are in the interview, but you can internally decide from asking these questions, how well you will fit into the company.
Take notice of all the different people you meet. Does your personality seem like a close fit to theirs? If you liked the person who will be your boss but not the other three people you met, that is a big red flag. These will be your future coworkers who can make your life miserable.
Lastly, do you believe in what the company does? If you do not, your key to success will be to brand yourself into someone else. That should be your first sign that the job is not right for you.
When you are at work, you should be able to be as much yourself as possible. Your ability to do this will depend on the company culture, your boss, the management team, the President, and many other factors. If there are many mismatches there then that is a sign that your job is not a good fit for you and it is time to brand yourself into a job that better matches who you really are.
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Jessica Simko is a seasoned senior level Human Resources professional with over 15 years of experience in all facets of Human Resources Management. She is a Freelance Writer and Entrepreneur specializing in career/ life coaching and social media. Connect with her on:
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