WORK IMMERSION WEBINAR DAY 1-B: BUILDING A PERSONAL BRAND

Last Friday, April 29, Manila Central University hosted another webinar about work immersion, with Ms. Theresa Aspiras as the guest speaker.

            Building a personal brand and identity definitely sounds like a daunting task to take. And from the takeaways I had during the work immersion webinar last Friday, it definitely is one. Our speaker, Miss Theresa Aspiras from the Phoenix Publishing House, shared a lot of insights about the system in job interviews and applications; how we should act before, during and after the interview, and even the perspective of the interviewer on the application. She presented 3 Vs in building our personal brand so that we could be recognized apart from others: The Visual, the Verb, and the Voyage. The Visual refers to the way we write our resume and the way we dress up when we proceed to the job interview. The Verb is our manners and speech. It is about how we speak and respond to the questions given to us by the interviewer, as well as our attitude towards it. Lastly, the Voyage is how far we will go with it. It is the way we work and act in the workplace. Miss Aspiras also recalled some of the discussions last week. She was very engaging and knowledgeable about the topic, so I gained a lot of learnings during the session. And writing this reflection right now, I would like to contemplate and focus on what I have realized from the talk.

            In a job interview, several people apply for the same position. The employers, of course, would hire those who stood out the most. Not only in terms of their accomplishments, educational attainment, and experiences, but even in details like their outfit and the way they carry themselves in it, their gestures, and even their choice of words. So in order to become distinctive from the others, there is what we call personal brand. It is what will identify us from the rest of the other applicants. Building a personal image or identity, as I have mentioned earlier, definitely takes a lot of effort and work. However, once identified, it builds a sense of trust between the employer and the applicant as they can recognize you as someone who can help their company grow in the long run. Employers look for qualities in applicants that they know would be of use as they expand their business. And as someone who is applying for a job, they must display that kind of character from the time they arrive at the interview until the conclusion. As stated earlier, one must dress and present themselves for the job they are applying for, not for what they are currently at the moment. If one is applying for the position of a manager, they must possess the confidence, the aura, and the visuals of a manager. It is like embracing the job already, even if there is no reassurance that you will be accepted in it or not. But at the same time, we must not overstate ourselves. What we are as a worker or applicant and what are true capacities and abilities are is what they should only see in us. It should not be more or less, not personal but professional, and definitely not false but true.

            Let me end this reflection with a quote, “Passion is the difference between having a job or having a career.” It is our passion and love for our work that turns it into a worthwhile experience—or rather, into a career. Therefore, even in the beginning of our working experience—job hunting and application—we must display our passion for what we are applying for. It is what will serve as our motivation despite the obstacles in our work. And if we are passionate and committed enough to work and learn, we will be able to soar greater heights in the future.