Your personal brand is how others begin to understand who you are and what you bring to your work. It takes shape through how you talk about your experience, the projects you share, and how you show up on platforms like LinkedIn or GitHub.

At CMU-Silicon Valley, personal branding is about clarity and connection. When you are clear on your interests and values, it becomes easier to communicate them and easier for the right opportunities to find you.

Whether you are updating your LinkedIn, preparing for interviews, or reaching out to someone in your field, this section will help you share your story in a way that feels confident, authentic, and aligned with your goals.

Important reminder: Your brand is more than an online presence

Your personal brand is not just what appears on LinkedIn or GitHub. These tools can help you share your work, but they are only one piece of the picture.

Your brand is shaped by how you approach problems, what you care about, and how others experience working with you. It reflects your values, your strengths, and your direction.

This page will help you manage what you share so that it feels aligned with who you are and where you are going.

Examples of personal branding that helped students land an offer 

  • One CMU-SV alum landed an interview from Apple after writing a Medium post about a product concept and sharing it on LinkedIn. It reflected both their technical insights and their passion for product.
  • Another student created a YouTube channel focused on their area of security expertise. It helped them build credibility, deepen their learning, and stand out in interviews.
  • A recruiter mentioned it at multiple events and kept it as a reference, saying the student stood out from every other candidate they met.

Step 1: Define your unique value proposition (UVP)

Start by reflecting on the value you offer. This can evolve over time, but clarity will help you write your bio, update your LinkedIn, and talk about your work more confidently.

Ask yourself:

  • What do I want to be known for?
  • What problems do I enjoy solving?
  • What strengths or values show up most in my projects and conversations?

You can bring these questions to a career advising appointment (schedule on Handshake) or brainstorm with a Peer Career Consultant if you are not sure where to begin.

Step 2: Build an aligned online presence

Your online presence should reflect the same story you are telling in person. When your LinkedIn, GitHub, or portfolio clearly shows what you are working on and where you want to grow, it helps others understand your goals and strengths more quickly.

  • Update LinkedIn, GitHub, portfolio, and/or Medium profiles
  • Make your headline clear, and your “About” section easy to scan
  • Showcase current projects that reflect your skills and interests

If you are not sure where to start or feel overwhelmed, bring a draft to our team. We can help you edit your bio, choose what to feature, or review your profile together.

Step 3: Share your voice

Your voice is part of your brand. This does not mean posting online all the time. It means being thoughtful about how you engage, what you share, and what you say about your work.

Start small:

  • Share an article with a short reflection
  • Post a takeaway from a recent project or event
  • Comment on a topic that connects to your interests
  • If you enjoy writing or speaking, try a LinkedIn post, a short blog, or a video explaining something you’ve explored

You do not need to be perfectly polished. Just be clear, curious, and consistent.

Personal branding does not have to be flashy. The goal is to make your story easier to find, easier to understand, and more likely to stick.

In what way can you start building your personal brand now?

Meet with your go-to Career Consultant (schedule a 1:1 meeting on Handshake) or attend a Personal Branding (register on Handshake) workshop to get started.

 

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Importance of storytelling

“Whether it’s a course project or a passion project (the latter is especially worth highlighting), showcasing your work can make a big difference. Completing a project is important, but it’s equally vital to ensure that others know about it. In many ways, storytelling is the currency of your career!”

Oscar Denys, AI Product Manager @ Cloudflare