Building a strong professional reputation while staying true to yourself can be hard work. We can help..

What do you do for a living? What are you good at doing? What are you passionate about? What makes you stand out from the rest? What do you want out of your career? Professionally speaking, who are you?

The answers to these questions form your personal brand. Your personal brand is the constant signal to your colleagues, managers and potential employers of what you’re about. Your choices and accomplishments shape and strengthen your personal brand, and in today’s tech driven world, your personal brand is shown off more powerfully by your online presence – your social media presence, a personal website, content you publish across the web and the kind of voice you use online.

If your answers to the questions above are shaky or you’re hanging on to old ideas about yourself, perhaps it’s time you paid some attention to what really makes you who you are. The start of a New Year is always the perfect time revive your career by creating bold, new and daring opportunities.

Be heard

Whether your goal for 2017 is to land a promotion, a raise or a new job, use the voice you’ve been given. Break out of the habit of being okay with flying under the radar –you’ll never know when an opportunity is staring you in the face.  Even if you don’t have the answers, make your presence known. Remember that some of the best ideas are the ones that can be built upon.

Be seen

While the Internet is a great resource for job hunting and networking, nothing beats meeting people in-person. After all, you can only achieve so much behind your desk. Take the time to go to industry events, conferences and social gatherings and make the effort to seek individuals who may help you take the next step to getting to where you want to be.

But most importantly… Stay true to you

“A practice of authentic self-trust offers a way to explore your possibilities, gifts, and passions,” writes corporate executive, Nan. S Russell. “Self-trust grows the inner path,” she adds. So practice being more reliable and have faith in your own ideas, motives, and intentions. Go with your gut and follow your own advice.

The best way to improve your reputation while remaining true to you is to follow through with what you say you will do. When you hold yourself accountable to your promises, you are more likely to do the same with others. That exchange of accountability allows you to build trust with others and with yourself. Your professional reputation will improve because you are more responsible, and people know that you stick to your word.

Most of the time, the person standing in the way of your success is you. By figuring out what makes you unique and trusting in what you have to offer, others will follow suit. And the best part is you’ll never have to question who you are. Your personal brand will speak for itself.

And when it does, it will be easier to find a job that meets your needs.