A doctor recently told me about a 24-year-old man who got a new job.
In this economy, he was thrilled to get the offer.
On his first day at the job, someone took him around to meet people, including his boss's boss, and that manager's boss.
One of the upper-level managers took one look at him and said, "No - you can't work here," and terminated his employment immediately.
What was the reason? The new guy had discs in his earlobes (which the doctor described as "African-style jewelry" and my nephews call ear gauges).
This one physical "thing" got in his way and he lost the job he already won.
(And, I'm thinking, the person who hired him got a talking-to.
) So there this 24-year-old was, in the doctor's office a few days later, to have the gauges removed from his ears and to get his earlobes repaired.
After he heals, he plans to go back to that company to ask if he can still have the job.
He'll be lucky if they haven't given it to someone else.
When he made the decision to get rid of the earlobe discs, he was not just making a change to his outward appearance.
Certainly, he was also changing on the inside.
This guy decided to change his personal brand.
I tell younger people all the time: If they want to get a great job in their career field (when there aren't enough jobs to go around) - they need to start working on their personal brand now, on the inside and the outside, to create a brand that others want to "buy".
The hiring employers really are like your customers.
If they see or sense something they believe won't be a good fit for their company, they will not hire you.
(Or, they'll hire you and you'll get fired on your first day, like the guy above.
) If you know someone between the ages of 19 and 29 who needs to make a plan and be more strategic about their job search in their career field, pass on the personal branding message so that they don't blow it like "earlobe guy.
" © 2010 Borgeson Consulting, Inc.