Personal branding - the MARKETING of an engineer

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Personal branding - the MARKETING of an
engineer

• Leslie Fox
• Career Services Consultant
• College of Engineering

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What is Branding?

• The American Marketing Association (AMA) defines
  a brand as a "name, term, sign, symbol or design,
  or a combination of them intended to identify
  the goods and services of one seller or group of
  sellers and to differentiate them from those of
  other sellers.
• Branding is not about getting your target market
  to choose you over the competition, but it is
  about getting your prospects to see you as the
  only one that provides a solution to their
  problem.

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What Do You Think when you seE This logo?
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And this?
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What About This?
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Can a person have a brand?
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Who would you hire?
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Your personal brand its not just looks

• Employers choose you based on
• Appearance/Body Language
• Introduction Your Commercial
• Resume/Cover Letter
• Interviews
• References/Recommendations
• And ultimately
• - Your unique selling points and how you and
• your skills match the needs of the company
• Why you are the best and only fit for them

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How would you sell yourself?

• Take a moment and write down your top 3 selling
  points (unique/strong skills)
• Examples?
• How about these?
• Co-Op/Internship
• High GPA 3.25 or higher
• Campus/Community Organization Leader
• Athlete
• Fluency in 2nd Language
• Specialization/Concentration Area
• Honors/Awards
• Graduate Degree

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How do you build your brand?

• Start Early
• Make yourself known to faculty
• In class
• In student groups
• Network
• Informational Interviews
• Mentors
• Professional/Student Associations

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Keep building!

• Work with Career Services and the Office of
  Professional Practice
• HIRE-A-VOL
• E-mails
• Make appointments
• Attend events and network ask questions
• Job Fairs
• Workshops/Presentations
• Information Sessions
• Student Group Presentations
• EF 301

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Build bigger!

• Get Experience
• Co-Op/Intern
• Summer Job
• Student Projects
• Student Group Opportunities
• Engineering related
• Leadership
• Community involvement

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What makes you so special?

• Learn what the company wants (research, job
  descriptions, websites, employees) and tell them
  why youve got it!
• Key Skills Technical or Soft Skills
• GPA Honors
• Leadership
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Looking for challenges
• Problem solver
• Team player
• THEN SHOW THEM WITH EXAMPLES FROM YOUR
  BRAND!

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How can career services help?
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Career planning

• Research Careers and Majors
• What Can I Do With This Major?
• Career Assessments

• Exploring Majors and Careers
• First Year Studies
• Career Counselor Appointments

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Career resources

• Career Resource Center
• Website http//career.utk.edu
• Workshops/Events
• Part-Time employment listings
• Disability Careers Office
• Mock/Perfect Interviews

• Peer Mentors
• Resume Critiques
• Walk In Hours (Mon-Thurs, 3 5 pm)
• Overnight - Mailbox
• HIRE-A-VOL
• EF 301
• Personalized Appointments
• Resume/Cover Letter
• Interviews
• Salaries
• And more

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EE/CE/CS Salaries

• Average Starting Salary BS
• CE - 59,576
• CS - 60,416
• EE - 56,910
• - National Association of Colleges and
  Employers (NACE) Summer 2008 Salary Survey

• According to the US Department of Labor, Bureau
  of Labor Statistics, median annual earnings of
  computer and information scientists were 93,950
  in the most recent data.
• According the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of
  Labor Statistics, the median income for computer
  engineers is 88,470.
• According the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of
  Labor Statistics, the median income for
  electrical engineers is 75,930.
• - The Sloan Career
• Cornerstone Center http//www.careerco
  rnerstone.org/

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Career events

• Fall Spring Job Fairs
• Fall Job Fair Sept 16th, Thompson-Boling, 10 am
  3 pm
• On-Campus Recruiting
• Information Sessions
• Summer Job Intern Fair
• Career Workshops
• Career Cookout Sept 3rd, Dunford Hall,
• 11 am-2 pm

• Kick Off To Career Success for Engineers Sept
  4th all day events
• Graduate School for Engineers Sept 30th, UC
  Auditorium, 6 730 pm
• Engineering Major and Student Information Fair
  Oct 7th, Estabrook, 8 am 5 pm
• Dining Etiquette Event for Engineers Jan 2009

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Welcome to brand u!

• Start Early
• Freshman/Sophomore
• Resume ready by Sept 1st of Senior year
• Use Resources
• Faculty
• Career Services
• Mentors/Network
• Know Yourself Unique Skills
• Flaunt it if youve got it!
• Know the company/job
• You are their shining star!
• Practice
• Success stories
• Use resources
• Its all about YOU!

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Any questions?

• Leslie Fox
• Career Services Consultant Engineering
• 100 Dunford Hall
• 865-974-5435
• lfox6_at_utk.edu
• http//career.utk.edu