In 2025, how you portray yourself online is just as important, if not, more important than how you portray yourself offline. In the communications world today, personal branding is a critical part of success. As a sophomore in college, studying advertising and public relations, I have begun to reflect on how important it is to start shaping my own personal brand as a student.
So what is a personal brand? Its the way you present yourself, the story you tell about who you are, what you do, and what you have to offer. Just like a company with consistent marketing, an individual has a voice that tells their story. Essentially, personal branding is about being intentional, choosing how you want to be seen rather than leaving it up to chance. The “voice” is how you act, and the “story” is what you do. Together, they send a message to anyone who comes across you.
Personal branding is important for students for many reasons. Today, networking and internships are becoming mostly digital. Before even meeting a potential new employee, employers will check a candidates LinkedIn, portfolio, website, and social media. What you put on these platforms say a lot about who you are and what you value. Your digital presence is their “first impression” of you. Even if its just a birthday post for your brother, you are using your online presence to show future clients what you can do for them. This made me think, am I being intentional? What story am I telling here?
So how am I building my brand this school year? I’m glad you asked!
- First of all, I created this website. Being able to have all my work in one place will be a game changer. I look forward to being able to learn how to manage a website, especially if my future employer may ask that of me! It also gives me a central “hub” that I control, instead of relying only on third-party platforms.
- Secondly, I want to be more intentional on LinkedIn. I have had my LinkedIn for a couple of years now, and I’ve posted here and there, but I’ll be honest, I haven’t necessarily used it for its soul purpose: networking. Moving forward, I want to use it not just as a digital resume but as a place to share ideas, highlight projects, and connect with mentors.
- Third, I want to build my portfolio up. As of right now, the only sample work I have is from my university courses, which is definitely a great start! However, I would like to make my portfolio more diverse, especially while I am still figuring out where I want to take my career. Experimenting with projects outside the classroom will help me discover which direction I want to grow in.
- Lastly, I want to use my sophomore year to grow in areas like public speaking, visual design, and creating campaigns. These skills will not only strengthen my portfolio but also give me more confidence as I step into future opportunities.
Building my brand is an ongoing process that I will be working on for a majority of my career. But by laying a foundation while I am still in school I hope that future employers will see my passion for communications, and how I hope to be able to connect my education with my career in the field. My brand will evolve with me, but starting now ensures I’m moving in the right direction. At the end of the day, I want people to see more than just a student, but someone passionate, intentional, and ready to grow.