Your personal brand is the story employers, collaborators, and mentors tell about you when you're not in the room. Use this checklist to audit, strengthen, and communicate your brand with confidence.
1. Know Your Brand Foundation
- I can describe my top 3 professional strengths in one sentence.
- I know what makes me different from others in my field.
- I have identified the industries or roles I am targeting.
- I can articulate my career story clearly and confidently.
- I know my core values and how they show up in my work.
2. LinkedIn Profile
- Professional headshot (recent, well-lit, appropriate background).
- Headline goes beyond job title — it communicates value.
- About section tells my story in first person with a clear focus.
- Experience entries include accomplishments, not just duties.
- Skills section is complete and endorsed by colleagues.
- I have a custom LinkedIn URL (linkedin.com/in/yourname).
- I post or engage with content at least once per week.
3. Resume & Portfolio
- Resume is tailored to each role I apply for.
- Every bullet point starts with a strong action verb.
- I have quantified results wherever possible (%, $, #).
- Resume is clean, consistent, and one to two pages.
- I have a portfolio or work samples ready to share.
4. Networking & Visibility
- I have a 30-second personal introduction (elevator pitch) ready.
- I attend at least one industry event or networking opportunity per month.
- I follow up with new connections within 48 hours.
- I have identified 5 people in my target field I want to connect with.
- I ask for informational interviews, not just job leads.
5. Interview Readiness
- I have 5 strong STAR-format stories ready (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
- I have researched the company's mission, values, and recent news.
- I have a list of thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer.
- I send a personalized thank-you note within 24 hours of every interview.
Ready to go deeper? Judy Parker's personal branding workshops take you through every step of this checklist — with hands-on exercises, real feedback, and a plan you can act on immediately.
Visit
jparkercommunications.com/workshops or email
[email protected] to learn more.