Brand Yourself Before You Write Your Resume!

UPDATED: October 24, 2017

Almost anyone can write a resume, but can you present the person behind the duties and responsibilities in a way that makes the hiring manager want to interview you? Once you get past the hurdle of the online computerized application tracking system (ATS), you must engage and entice the person reading your information to feel as though they have a sense of you as a person, your potential unique value to the company, your personality.  Wait.  Did I say show your personality on your resume?  Yes, I did, but how? This is where Personal Branding comes in.

If you take the time to clearly define and articulate what you do exceedingly well, what makes you uniquely valuable, explain your reputation and your most marketable personal characteristics, is it easy? Even very talented professionals often have difficulty putting this together in a cohesive, relatable fashion.

For one thing, your own brain has biased filters that get in the way of objectivity. Exposing your innermost personal traits is tricky and opens your vulnerable areas. What do you share?  What do you leave out? You want to have the recruiter or hiring manager have a sense of you, the person, right?

One easy solution is to talk with a professional resume writer or career coach about taking some scientific industry assessment instruments. These assessments are entirely objective and non-threatening. I do suggest you take more than one to uncover the common themes of characteristics that reoccur. When complete, you will have an excellent short list of keywords that accurately describe your attributes, talents, and preferences. Then you can craft a personal branding statement that represents you.

If you are stuck you can always start by completing these very basic statements:

• Most people describe me at work as…
• I enjoy tackling challenges that are…
• The successes am I proudest of are…
• I thrive in environments that are…
• My personal philosophy in life is…
• My important personal values, those I must have are…
• My life’s calling or purpose in life is …
• My unique marketable talent is…
• If I had to describe myself in three words, I’d say, I’m…
• When my name is mentioned, the image of my reputation is…

Make your resume distinctive, concise, and compelling and/or gain clarity around your vision for your future.  Should you need my services, please contact me.