Smartlife

Several months ago, Smartlife published a series of posts on personal branding. During that time, I was approached by a local professional who expressed interest in acquiring the services of a personal branding consultant, but needed some help in articulating what he needed. So I volunteered to produce a Statement of Work for him. Here’s how I did it:

1. I had him fill out the Career Vault. (I can’t believe no one’s offered me a billion to turn that into an app yet.)

Comparing personal branding consultants can be a complicated procedure. Some offer what amount to the same services under different titles. Others have different credentials for the same services. A matrix offers a method of comparison that makes it a little easier to see how different consultants stack up. In this Excel-based matrix, personal branding consultants are listed across the top, while lists of services and certifications are on the side. As a starting point, I used the consultants from “50 Personal Branding Consultants Worth Working With.”

When you look at what services a particular career professional lists, it can be like wading through mud. Without a guide it can be hard to tell just what, exactly, is the difference between “career transition coaching” and “career advancement coaching.” These are valuable services without a doubt, but a better explanation of each service entails can make it easier to compare between two career professionals you might be considering — as well as ensuring that you really are getting exactly what you need to move your career forward. This list will guide you through the wide variety of career management services and help you refine your search.

Creating a personal brand is rapidly becoming a necessity: both employers and customers are choosing whom they work with on the basis of a person’s personal brand just as much as their other qualifications. But developing your personal brand might not be as simple as you might hope: it’s not just a matter of buying a domain name and putting together a business card. Developing and managing your personal brand requires a unique combination of skill, knowledge, discipline, self-perspective….