How My Personal Branding Helped Me Stand Out and Achieve My Goal Faster

Craft, Share, and Nourish: The 3 principles of personal branding

Vivi Shin
UX Planet
Published in
8 min readJul 15, 2024

Let me start with questions.

Are you tirelessly applying for jobs but not receiving responses?
Do you feel like something is missing but can’t figure out what?
Are you aiming for a specific goal or identity but feel unsure how to reach it?
Do you want to maximise your chances of landing a job at your dream company?
Ever wonder how some people seem to secure great opportunities so quickly?

If you answered yes, it’s time to think about your personal branding and see where you might be missing out.

Personal branding isn’t just for influencers or those in the spotlight; it’s for anyone with a goal. It’s a powerful tool that speeds up your journey to success. Everyone has a unique story and strengths that can form a compelling personal brand, opening new doors.

While it’s not the only path to success, it’s an effective strategy that worked for me. Discover how I achieved my career goals faster than I ever imagined. Through my experiences, you can uncover the essence of personal branding and gain actionable insights to apply to your own goals today.

Crafted a purposeful profile

: The embark of personal branding

Six years ago, I felt lost about where to start becoming a UX/UI designer without formal design education and minimal experience. Since I had nothing to lose and everything to learn, I decided to document my journey on my Korean blog and set up a profile.

A woman crafting some artefacts

On my profile, I boldly stated:

“After leaving a reputable fashion company, I am striving to become a global UI/UX designer and digital nomad.”

“The goal is not to read a book, the goal is to become a reader.
The goal is not to run a marathon, the goal is to become a runner.
The goal is not to learn an instrument, the goal is to become a musician.”

— James Clear, “Atomic Habits”

Reflecting on James Clear’s “Atomic Habits,” I realised how he discusses the principle of embodying your goals fully, not just aiming to attain a title. By boldly declaring myself as a future designer and digital nomad, I unknowingly set the stage for my journey.

This declaration wasn’t merely words on a profile; it became a catalyst for action. It motivated me to start sharing my own story and insights through blog articles on learning UX/UI. Each article wasn’t just about acquiring knowledge but about solidifying my identity as someone passionate about UX/UI design.

As James suggests, becoming a designer wasn’t just about landing a job — it was about cultivating habits and behaviours that aligned with that identity.

Shared stories and knowledge

: How personal branding led to unexpected opportunities

I eagerly shared every step of my learning journey, from grasping wireframes to diving into data-centric design, even though I was still learning and not yet an expert. Each article was a reflection of my passion and determination, often inspired by insights from industry leaders like a Head Designer at a growing startup. Writing became my way of exploring and growing.

One memorable morning, after staying up all night writing, I was thrilled to find a comment from the Head Designer praising my article for its depth and insights. Soon, my work gained momentum, spreading among peers and being featured in prominent design newsletters.

Starting with no subscribers, my audience quickly grew to hundreds and then thousands. Despite being a novice, my determination to transition into UX/UI design is evident in every word, and this experience was life-changing.

Even though I didn’t have a job in the field, a media outlet approached me to mentor people making career changes. Within just a few months of learning UX/UI on my own, I found myself guiding others.

My articles proved I had valuable insights and a dedication to helping those starting their journeys. It was a humbling and empowering experience, showing how sharing my journey and insights could make a real impact.

And that was just the start. I was also offered opportunities to:

  • Collaborate on case studies
  • Consider running online courses (which I often declined)
  • Take on freelance projects
  • Speak at universities to inspire students
  • Serve as a judge for UX/UI design competitions

Listing these opportunities is not about bragging about my accomplishments. It’s about proving how even small footprints can spark unexpected and impactful outcomes. Each experience reinforced the power of personal branding and sharing my journey, demonstrating how these actions can lead to remarkably fulfilling opportunities.

Nourish your personal brand

: How sharing content consistently and reshaping your personal brand led to achieving your end goal

While sharing my story, I was also on the lookout for new opportunities in the UX/UI industry. With no prior experience, it was tough to find a job. Most companies required at least one or two years of experience for an entry-level role. So, I focused on internship opportunities and did my best to secure a position.

Fortunately, I came across a startup developing a residential community app that was seeking a UX/UI visualiser for a casual internship role. Recognising this as my gateway into the field, I eagerly applied, submitting my resume, portfolio, and links to my blog and key articles. Following a single interview, I was offered the position.

They even organised a dinner to get to know each other. During the dinner, I asked the CPO why they hired me despite my lack of experience. His response touched me deeply. He said he had read most of my articles and was moved by my story. He saw my passion and determination in transitioning from the fashion industry to UX/UI design.

It wasn’t about ticking boxes for experience; he saw potential and dedication in my story and articles, and he believed in giving me an opportunity. That’s how my career as a UX/UI designer began.

But this was just the beginning.

While the internship was a solid starting point, my ultimate ambition was to rise as a product designer in a global company — an aspiration that was still emerging in the industry. So, I updated my profile to reflect this new chapter.

“I started from the ground up, evolving into a UX/UI designer. I’m striving to thrive as a global product designer.”

Even while at the startup, I continued to share new articles and published my first UX/UI case study in both Korean and English. At a time when sharing UX/UI case studies publicly was uncommon in Korea, my article quickly gained traction and went viral, reaching a total of 30.5k views. Many people contacted me afterwards.

One day, the CEO of a startup reached out to offer me a full-time role as a product designer.

The company was small and just starting out, but the product’s vision was compelling. Most importantly, it was the product design role I had been striving for. I accepted the offer without hesitation and, after a few interviews and a design challenge, I got the job.

Curious as to why she chose me, I asked the CEO. She explained that while searching for a designer, a colleague forwarded her my article, recommending me as someone who stood out. My revamped profile conveyed my ambition to become a global product designer, convincing her that I was the right fit for the role.

That’s how I found myself in a job I hadn’t even applied for — proof that the seeds I had planted in the digital world had borne fruit.

Throughout this journey, I nurtured my personal brand by consistently sharing content and reshaping my identity to align with my evolving goals. Every article, every case study, was a step in nurturing my brand and making it grow. This dedication to my personal brand not only opened doors but also provided me with invaluable experiences and connections that shaped my career path.

Key takeaway

This journey has shown me how important personal branding truly is. It’s not about creating a superficial facade or pretending to be something you’re not.

Personal branding, to me, is about authentically defining and refining yourself. It’s about articulating your values, skills, and aspirations in a way that resonates with others and attracts opportunities aligned with your goals. By taking consistent actions that align with the personal brand you’ve set up, you can redirect yourself towards achieving those goals.

You might forget my story, but remember these 3 principles if you strive to build your personal brand to achieve your goals:

  • Craft: Shape and refine your personal brand to align with your evolving identity and ambitions.
  • Share: Consistently share insights and experiences that resonate with others. Writing on a blog is just one of many ways. Choose the medium that works best for you, whether it’s Instagram, LinkedIn posts, YouTube, or another platform.
  • Nourish: Persistently nurture, cultivate, and reshape your personal brand as it evolves by connecting with others and gaining practical experiences.

These principles are the foundation for achieving your goals authentically and effectively, opening doors to unexpected opportunities and genuine connections.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. 😊 I hope it has offered you valuable insights and inspiration for your own career journey.

After reading this, have you come up with the identity you want to achieve? How do you feel about it? Leave a comment with your thoughts or any feedback you have. I’d love to hear from you!

In my upcoming articles, I’ll dive deeper into personal branding, sharing specific methods and skills, and how it played a crucial role in landing a job overseas. Stay tuned for more!

☕️ Need some one-on-one guidance?

Get ready to level up your career or personal development with my one-on-one mentoring program. As your personal guide, I’ll help you navigate the ups and downs of your journey towards success.

Check out more details about my mentoring program and reviews from satisfied mentees, here.

🙋 Have any questions or inquiries?

Reach out to me at hello@vivishin.com or Follow me on IG @hello.vivishin & feel free to DM me.

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