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Career Pivots

Why you need a personal brand in a crowded job market

It can help to stand out before you even apply.

Anna Burgess Yang's avatar
Anna Burgess Yang
Aug 03, 2025
∙ Paid
illustration of a person standing in the middle of a flurry of resumes
Image created via Midjourney

Back in 2023, social media management platform Buffer wrote a blog post about how it had received 1,518 applicants for a single role on its marketing team.

While that’s a jaw-dropping number, it’s common for companies with well-paying jobs that boast a great company culture. In the current job market, many job-seekers are discouraged knowing they’re competing against hundreds (if not thousands) of applicants.

For some roles, a resume will only get you so far. A personal brand helps you stand out before you ever apply to a job, making the application process tip in your favor.

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