Personal branding begins long before you have a title and a job.

For students and early-career professionals, personal branding is often misunderstood as self-promotion. In reality, it is much simpler and far more powerful.

Your personal brand is how others experience working with you and what they think you are all about.

It is shaped by how you approach problems, how you treat people, what you choose to get involved in, and where you invest your time and energy.

Whether you are in law, finance, accounting, or another professional services field, your reputation begins forming early. Employers, mentors, and future clients notice patterns long before resumes are updated.

The key is intentionality. Ask yourself how you want to be known when you leave this stage of your career.

In this week’s issue of FirmBuilders, we explore how students and early-career professionals can begin shaping a personal brand that supports long-term success.

For step-by-step instructions for building your brand, follow here and subscribe to our newsletter.