29 Aug 2023 | Nathalie Marquez Courtney

How to rebrand yourself at work

The Media Leader Jobs

When what you’re known for is not the same as what you want to do, it might be time for some personal brand rehab.

Working in media, you have no doubt worn many hats. But which ones are you known for, and could they now be holding you back?

“Your brand is what other people say about you when you’re not in the room”, goes the famous Jeff Bezos quip. Whether or not you have done it with intention, you have some form of personal brand right now––and it might not be doing you any favours.

While having a good reputation is something to be proud of, when what you’re known for is shifting away from what you want to be doing (and feel you have the skills to do well, if only people knew about them), it might be time for some personal brand rehab.

Personal branding is here to stay. Research is showing that Gen Z-ers see a personal brand as a crucial part of job-hunting, and a key way to build trust and engagement with potential bosses (70% of whom already use social mediato screen candidates).

A finely tuned personal brand makes it easier for anyone you interact with professionally to send more of the work you want your way, and have you as the person who is top of mind for the types of roles and projects you want to be doing.

For example, 72% of publishers say that they will be putting more resources into digital audio in 2023. So if you’re a copywriter with a passion for podcasting, tweaking your personal brand to better highlight this experience could lead to more opportunities that get you where you want to go.

Here are a few more reasons why a work rebrand could be a smart move.

Your personal brand covers too many bases

Think of your personal brand as an iceberg; you want only the very top to be visible. Finding and owning your niche is key. This may mean removing content from your portfolio, or culling companies from your bio and public channels (goodbye internship from seven years ago).

Be selective and strategic and only include things that reinforce the skills you would like to be known for.

Your brand hasn’t moved with the times

Media and agency land are fast-moving industries, and though your day-to-day work might have evolved dramatically, there’s a chance your personal brand hasn’t. Maybe you have been curiously exploring the many ways AI can make ad campaigns more efficient and data-driven––but no one outside your immediate work circle knows about it.

Here, it’s not so much about faking expertise as it is authentically sharing what you are learning. Consider making an effort to link to interesting industry reads on key topics (bonus points if you can expand on the original idea) or find ways to share insights from your work in a relatable way.

Showing your genuine interest and curiosity will mark you out as someone who stays relevant and up-to-date on industry developments.

You want to change careers

If you’re exploring a career pivot, you’re not alone. A global workplace study showed that 26% of workers plan on quitting their jobs this year.

To make sure your next move is aligned with your values, you need your personal brand to tell people not just what you do and how you do it but why. When it comes to switching careers, it’s crucial that you make your passions and interests stand out as much as your skills and experience.

Ready to make the change? The Media Leader Job Board is the perfect place to explore exciting new opportunities, as it features open roles at media companies that are actively hiring, like the three below.

Music Content Strategy Lead, TikTok, London

If you have a passion for music and dedication to music culture, as well as experience working with online platforms, you might be a fit at TikTok, which is looking for a Music Content Strategy Lead. Your work here will define the strategies through which the short-form mobile video platform encourages artists, tastemakers and other music creators to produce content that engages a passionate user base and drives music discovery. If this sounds like a good fit, find out more here.

Media Planning Manager, Publicis Groupe, London

Publicis is seeking a Media Planner to join its dynamic and innovative team, where you will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing effective media strategies for clients. Your expertise and creativity will be instrumental in delivering impactful campaigns across various media channels, and to be considered, you’ll need experience in media planning, and the role includes opportunities to assist with the creative/production side of the business too. Find out more now.

Midweight Creative, ITV Jobs, Manchester

ITV has an opportunity for a Midweight Creative/Copywriter to help the team come up with big ideas that live across ITV platforms such as ITVX. You’ll be building brilliant integrated campaigns, both horizontal and vertical integration of brands through creative partnerships. You will also help to create compelling scripts and pitch presentations, and will play a crucial role in helping to build a great reputation for the Creative Development team and achieve creative fame. Discover more about the role here.