Success Tips for Expat & International Careers

Personal Branding in the Global, Multicultural Marketplace: Using Color to Build Your Personal Brand & Color Across Cultures

 

Because hiring decisions, like purchasing decisions, are based on emotions and then rationalized with logic, anything we can use to emotionally engage with our target audience can be useful in our brand building and job search efforts.

As studies have shown that humans are hard-wired to respond to color on an emotional and physiological level, color can be a powerful (and often under appreciated) brand communication tool.

The Use of Color

Color can be used in various ways in your brand communications - in your business cards, presentations, online profiles, blog or site, email signature, resume or CV or other career marketing documents.

Color can also be used with what you wear or even things in your office or workspace. I often advise my clients to choose some a piece of clothing in their brand color (shirt, tie, scarf) or accent pieces (jewelry, pen, business card holder) that they can wear or use consistently enough that people will start to associate that color with them. And I always recommend that whenever there are photo opportunities (bio pictures, presentations at conferences where photos will be taken) those signature pieces be worn or used.


The Meaning of Color

When the right color or colors are chosen and used strategically they can strongly reinforce your unique message of value and exert greater influence on your target audience.

Hence it’s important that you understand the meaning of colors so you can choose one(s) aligned with your personal brand.

Your Personal Brand DNA: The Power of Personal Branding

What Personal Branding Is and What It Isn't

The misconceptions about what personal branding is that I have been hearing about lately and the lack of understanding of how specifically it can help you reach your professional goals prompted me to share a few minutes of my presentation at the MIT Portugal Program's E3 forum and conference.

 

We All Do It Everyday

In this video I discuss what personal branding is and what it isn't, the fact that we all do it everyday, your personal brand DNA and the impact that personal branding can have on your career success.

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Megan Fitzgerald and Career by Choice can help you...explore international career options and find work abroad ~ understand your Personal Brand DNA® and how you perform at your best ~ clarify your personal brand so you can stand out and be sought after for top jobs overseas ~ develop marketing tools and strategies to communicate your unique expertise in a compelling way ~ strengthen your online reputation to attract employers and secure international jobs ~ become highly visible, recognized and well compensated for the value you create ~ overcome challenges and grow as a leader on international assignments ~ leverage social media to build your global online network ~ develop a global mindset ~ find an international career coach and experienced guide ~ conduct an international job search ~ optimize your choices and discover success abroad on your terms by being your best self. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Personal Branding in the Global, Multicultural Marketplace: Demonstrating Your Ability to Work Across Cultures & Build a Global Personal Brand

For those of you with an interest in understanding how to demonstrate your ability to thrive in cross-cultural work environments and build a truly global personal brand to support your international job search, I invite you to read my latest article as the international job search expert on job-hunt.org.

In the article I outline many of the skills and strengths associated with succeeding in cross-cultural environments as well as how you can demonstrate them to support building a global personal brand and your international job search. I also make suggestions on how to acquire cross-cultural experiences without having to travel to do it.

 

EXPAT and INTERNATIONAL CAREER SUCCESS TIP: If you are considering starting an international job search or just want to build a global personal brand, read my latest article about demonstrating your ability to work in cross-cultural or multicultural environments on job hunt. Then identify which abilities you'll develop or highlight as part of communicating your personal brand in support of your international job search.

How Blogging Can Support Your International Job Search

Many global professionals and executives or those aspiring to work abroad would describe themselves as busy. Especially those that are very career oriented. Some would say too busy to do something like work on their online reputation or start and maintain a blog.

They share that they believe speaking with recruiters and asking their network if they can keep an eye out for, or know of, roles that might work for them is essentially what they need to land their next job abroad.

But as I tell my clients, not having time or not believing that you can do something does not change the reality of today's digital and globalized marketplace.  The rules have changed. A strong online reputation is critical to optimizing your chances of landing work - and remain working - overseas. Especially given the competition they face for top jobs globally.

I've been blogging and writing about its merits since 2006, and I can say that over the course of the last 6 years I've witnessed an ever increasing impact that blogging has had on people's careers and businesses.

Expat & International Careers: Will Becoming a Board Member Support your Personal Brand and International Career Goals?

There are many reasons why senior-level professionals and executives consider joining the board of an organization. Some pursue such an opportunity to improve their brand reputation. Some do it for the additional compensation. And others want to become a board member to build their network or accelerate their careers. 

Whatever your reasons, prior to crafting a plan to pursue a board position, there are several questions you should ask yourself to ensure that taking a seat on a board is right for you:

1) Why do you want to be on a board of directors?

Some of the reasons for pursuing a board position are mentioned above. Others include acquiring specific experience, improving your international profile or playing a role in fighting for a cause about which you feel passionate.

If your reasons don’t include a true desire to support the interests of an organization and its stakeholders or shareholders, then being a board member may not be right for you.

If you fail to honor the commitment that comes with being a on a board, you can potentially sabotage your career goals – particularly ones related to your brand reputation.