My name is Kendall, and I have been an intern at Shan Bates, LLC for almost a year! I am currently a Sophomore at the University of Nevada - Las Vegas, pursuing a degree in Marketing. Through this internship, I have learned the importance of branding. It is more than just a name and slogan. It is the little details no one notices; the font, color scheme, your message, planning, and presenting why people should choose YOU. Branding starts with yourself, and in honor of National Intern Day, here are a few things I do when introducing myself.
Physical Appearance
One thing that has stuck with me for years is the 2-of-3 rule by Myka Meier: hair, makeup, and dress. Sure, I feel the best when I wear a nice outfit with my hair and makeup done, but we may only sometimes have the time for minimal grooming. You appear more put together if at least two of the three appearance tips are completed. For example, if you have your hair and some makeup set, you may not want to wear a cocktail dress, but maybe sweats. That’s why so many people still look flawless in pajamas because everything else had effort put into it.
As my closest friends know, I do not purchase the highest-end clothing that may be trending. I enjoy thrifting clothes to cut down on fashion waste and save my paycheck, and there are always name-brand items for a steal! I purchased Ralph Lauren jeans and a sweater for $17 once! Also, at Assistance League of Las Vegas, a nonprofit in which I am a member, I assisted a customer purchase a Balenciaga puffer jacket for $80 when the retail price tends to be in the hundreds. Also, I have found many of my best-fitting dress pants at thrift stores after searching for days at retail locations. If you ever want to find something in a pinch but do not want to spend the price, check out your local thrift store!
Digital Appearance
Would you let your grandmother see what you like and post on social media? With more and more changes to social channels, it has become easier to watch what others share and like within their platforms. There has even been an update on TikTok where you can see who views your posts. Everyone has their analogy when learning what to do and not do on social media, but I practice keeping everything clean. If I feel embarrassed if an employer sees it, I do not post it. I tend to post silly and goofy things on my platforms, but not enough to make an employer flag me as a risk for their company.
From a physical brand perspective, consumers may look at with whom they partner, their mission, whether they are a physical or online business, and what work the brand may have done in the past. This is why after many years of a brand being built, they could receive backlash after something wrong happened years prior. Everything on the interweb stays forever, so how will you structure your digital footprint?
Networking
Many college students focus more on the present than the future while attending school. Some struggle to find a job post-college due to lacking connections and not knowing where to start. I am thankful that my employer at UNLV has allowed me to attend various events with him to network with personnel in the industries I want to pursue.
However, I began networking before attending college. My most significant networking opportunity was (drum roll please): VOLUNTEERING! It may seem random, but I have received many connections by donating time! Making a genuine connection with someone with a similar interest can go a long way. In high school, a food truck company offered me a job that assisted Opportunity Village’s Magical Forest after one shift with them. A few days later, I received a business card from an employee at Opportunity Village to reach out to her when I finally begin a job search. When people see your standards of business and life, they will open doors for you.
During my internship with Shan Bates, LLC, I learned that a brand is more than just a color. It is about how you want people to view YOU. The importance of putting effort into yourself can elongate your future in the demanding world of business. As a college student, juggling work-life-school balance is difficult. I have friends who still wonder how I juggle everything. To them, I am always busy. To my professors, I am just another student. To new people, I am a shock to them. Everyone has a different view of me, but they can all agree on one word to describe me: determined. Start with you, and everything else will fall into place.