Granting Benildeans the experience to learn from practitioners from different fields while providing them with useful tips on how to jumpstart their careers, the Career Placement Unit (CPU), in partnership with the Human Resource Management Society (HRMS), conducted their “Virtual Career Fair: Start-Up in the VUCA World” on Oct. 25 to 29.

CPU started the week-long event with a webinar on using one’s personal brand to widen the knowledge of Benildeans on the different experiences and practices that come with building networks and ensuring a strong corporate identity. 

The webinar, which was held via Zoom last Oct. 25, featured Ms. Aimeh Grace Nono-Lazaro, an experienced campus recruitment specialist from Ernest and Young Philippines. Throughout her session, she gave advice to students on how to build their personal brand and how to use it to their advantage to land their dream career.

Building a true and authentic personal brand

During her talk, Ms. Nono-Lazaro emphasized how personal brands require conscious and intentional effort, and must remain flexible over time for effective personal branding could differentiate an individual from competition within the industry. She also encouraged students to build their brands based on the skills and competencies they already possess, which would not only earn one higher potential among competitors, but also elevate their credibility.

On the actual brand creation, Ms. Nono-Lazaro gave tips that she ensured would help build something true and consistent. For the first tip, she shared the importance of identifying one’s goal. 

“The clearer you are on who you want to be and what you want your reputation to focus on, the stronger your brand will be,” she stated, also emphasizing how personal branding could increase one’s circle of influence.

Her second tip was to familiarize oneself with one’s strengths and weaknesses, further discussing the importance of being honest and unique..

“Personal branding isn’t about trying to form a new identity for yourself at its core. [...] It is an exercise in highlighting your true strengths and not just creating ones you don’t actually possess,” she said.

Furthermore, in relation to the remaining tips of being different and consistent, Ms. Nono-Lazaro discussed how brand creaton is building a reputation on the things one aspires to be known for. Being able to craft a strong authentic personal brand helps a person land more interviews and be considered for promotion. Having this personal brand is key to kickstarting one’s career.

“A consistent personal brand is a market tool that will serve you as your own personal billboard,” said Ms. Nono-Lazaro, reinforcing her statement of using one’s brand to “tell [your] story” and “explain [your] core values and offer details about [your] skills and passions.”

Before ending her talk, she underscored the importance of using one’s personal brand throughout the application, interview and onboarding process to help look for career opportunities that suit one’s skill set and are in line with their future goals.

The week-long event also held recruitment activities in partnership with Work Bank. CPU also launched a talk on job hunting during the pandemic titled “Job hunting in the pandemic,” having featured Ms. Nastancia Mendoza, a training and liaison of human resources at Work Bank. 

Lastly, the event also encouraged engaging discussions between Benildeans through panel discussions facilitated by Ms. Camille Albarracin and Ms. Evan Maderazo, allowing them to learn more about their respective careers and opportunities.

Career Fair is an annual event spearheaded by CPU to give Benildeans the opportunity to widen their networks through activities and talks that encourage them to use their unique skills and assets to land their dream career.