In today’s rapidly evolving job market -- particularly the landscape that awaits the newest generation of graduates -- students can no longer rely on degrees alone. Employers increasingly look for individuals who demonstrate maturity, curiosity, emotional intelligence, and a sense of responsibility long before they enter full-time work.
Personal branding, therefore, begins much earlier than many students assume: It starts during their formative years in university, through everyday conduct, choices, and habits that collectively shape how others perceive them.
Professionalism: The first building block
Professionalism is one of the strongest early signals of capability. A survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) found that professionalism and work ethic are among the top competencies employers expect from fresh graduates, often outweighing technical skills. Students who show up prepared, meet deadlines, communicate clearly, and maintain consistency build a brand of reliability. These small acts create an impression of discipline that often opens doors faster than any certificate.
Learning to show up and follow through
One of the simplest yet most powerful elements of personal branding is the ability to take responsibility. Whether it’s replying to emails, completing assigned tasks, or following classroom instructions with care, these behaviours reflect how a student will function in the workplace. When students practice this mindset early, they gain a significant advantage over peers who treat university as a place detached from professional expectations.
Communication and EQ as differentiators
Strong communication is no longer a soft skill; it is a core competency. This includes listening attentively, asking thoughtful questions, and adapting tone depending on the context. Harvard Business Review notes that communication paired with EQ-based listening is one of the strongest predictors of team effectiveness. Students who develop social awareness -- how their words and behavior impact others -- quickly stand out as future leaders. EQ is also reflected in conflict management, empathy, and the ability to collaborate across personalities, all of which significantly influence employability.
Treat group work as professional training
Though often dismissed as routine assignments, group projects are early simulations of workplace collaboration.
When students treat these tasks seriously -- managing differences, coordinating schedules, negotiating roles -- they are unknowingly shaping the collaboration skills employers desperately seek. Academic group work is not just a grade; it is practice for functioning on professional teams.
Cultivating professional conduct in academic Life
Professionalism is not limited to corporate settings. It is reflected in how students behave on campus: Arriving on time, respecting faculty, maintaining digital etiquette, dressing appropriately for presentations, and communicating with intention. These habits create a brand of maturity. Over time, faculty, peers, and mentors begin to associate the student with credibility, leading to referrals, recommendations, and leadership opportunities.
Mastering presentability
How students present themselves, whether in class, at events, or online -- shapes their personal narrative. Presentability is not about expensive clothing but about neatness, awareness of occasion, and the ability to communicate respect through appearance. Students who put thought into grooming, body language, and posture convey self-respect, which often influences how others perceive their competence.
Developing visibility through networking
Networking for students is not about collecting business cards or sending generic LinkedIn messages. It begins with building meaningful connections with faculty, alumni, mentors, and industry speakers at campus events. Asking questions, seeking guidance, and showing genuine curiosity often leave stronger impressions than forced introductions. Over time, these relationships become bridges to internships, project opportunities, and professional exposure. Students who engage early expand their visibility in ways that set them apart when entering the job market.
Building a thoughtful online presence
Students no longer need to be “high-volume content sharers” to build a personal brand online. Instead, they can create a digital footprint anchored in authenticity and learning. Thoughtful posts, reflections on books, insights from classes, or commentary on industry trends show intellectual engagement. Sharing progress -- rather than perfection -- helps students position themselves as developing professionals rather than passive observers of their own growth.
Understanding the long shadow of the digital footprint
In an age where every moment can be turned into content, the appeal of sharing light-hearted memes about university life, witty commentary on friends, or humorous takes on faculty can feel harmless and entertaining. Yet students often underestimate how enduring these digital traces can be. Recruiters today routinely conduct online screening as part of their hiring process, and the tone, language, and behaviour displayed on public platforms subtly inform their perceptions of a candidate’s judgment and professionalism.
While creativity and humour are valuable traits, patterns of excessive trolling, disparaging comments, or content that belittles peers may unintentionally signal a lack of maturity or emotional awareness. What seems like temporary fun during university years can influence opportunities later, sometimes in ways students never imagined. A mindful approach to online presence -- balancing authenticity with responsibility -- helps protect one’s future reputation while still allowing room for personality and individuality.
Strengthening presentation skills
Academic life offers multiple opportunities to practice presentation, public speaking, and writing. Students who volunteer for group introductions, participate in debates, lead class discussions, or create short presentations steadily build confidence. These micro-skills later translate into strong interview performance, the ability to defend ideas in meetings, and the capacity to articulate thoughts under pressure.
Move beyond the ‘ready-made work’ mindset
Graduates who think critically and offer original insights stand out immediately. Instead of depending on ready-made reports, borrowed content, or overly simplified summaries, students should learn to analyze, interpret, and express ideas in their own voice.
This habit strengthens reasoning, creativity, and decision-making -- abilities that employers consistently describe as essential. When students develop their own thinking, even simple assignments become opportunities to display potential, initiative, and intellectual ownership.
The early advantage belongs to the student
Every choice a student makes -- how they communicate, behave, participate, and present themselves -- contributes to the impression they build over time. Ultimately, the only person who stands to lose from disengagement or indifference is the student. The advantage belongs to those who recognize that personal branding is not a performance but a long-term commitment to growth, responsibility, and self-awareness.
When students take ownership of their conduct and development, they position themselves to be noticed, recommended, and remembered for all the right reasons. Their potential becomes visible -- not because they waited for opportunities, but because they actively prepared for them.
Kishwar Mubin Chowdhury is an Assistant Professor, Dept of Management and HRM, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB).
