Breaking into the career space can be a difficult task for young professionals. How do you build a brand when you are fresh in the workforce? Even more so, how can the young professional introverts carve out their brand online? In a space that can feel competitive and loud, there are ways for introverts to lean into their strengths and stand out. These branding tips can help young professionals start on the right foot.
Networking can begin to feel like a disingenuous chore to introverted professionals. Large online video conference events and in person coffee-infused conversations can be exhausting. Rather than try to meet everyone you possibly can, focus on meeting a handful of people in your industry. Invest in learning more about these connections, and cultivate deeper relationships. Few, strong relationships are far more effective than fifty new business cards forgotten in your pocket.
Personal branding can feel like a strategy focused entirely on self-promotion. However, it is your abilities that matter more than telling others that you are the best at what you do. For example, if you are well-versed in UX design, talking about industry trends and timeless design practices matters more than showing off your latest project. It will also feel more comfortable talking about topics you have knowledge about, and help you build confidence in your abilities.
No matter what job you end up taking, you will have to work with all kinds of people, from all sorts of backgrounds. You won’t be the only introvert in the room, but you will need to be a team player and work with extroverted personalities. While it can be tiring to code switch and adjust to other working styles, collaborating with extroverts will ultimately help you and your team do great work together.
Introverted, young professionals coming into the workforce with a digital first platform might find building their personal brand foundation overwhelming. Networking can become more enjoyable when introverts focus on building a few strong relationships. Becoming confident in your industry knowledge and abilities can lend themselves to creating a name for yourself. Being open-minded and ready to collaborate with other personality types can elevate your work. Introverted professionals everywhere can create excellent personal brand foundations by leaning into their strengths.
