By Tracy McD.
Personal branding involves making sure that “what you say” is consistent with “how you say it” and what you present to others. Successful brands all shout out a consistent and compelling message for their marketing. You need to do the same — think of the job search as you marketing yourself as an employee. Let’s get started!
Know Yourself!
Reflection is imperative for a successful job search that leads to a fulfilling career choice. Ask yourself the following questions:
What is your job goal and what do you bring to the table for that job?
What are your 5 top strengths that would benefit the employer and how do you demonstrate them?
Once you’re comfortable with the “who am I,” you need to ask, how can I add value to a workplace? What successes or achievements have I had in my current role? How have I made a difference? Did I increase profits? Increase sales? Save time? Save Money? Increase efficiency?
These are the results and achievement-based statements that are important to put on your resume so that you can entice an employer to “buy-in” to your skills and invite you for an interview. Did you know the average recruiter makes a decision about your candidacy within 20 seconds of reading your resume?
That finite amount of time is all that you have to grab their attention — does your resume make the cut?
Resumes and Cover Letters
Creating a competency-based resume has merit because it gives you:
an opportunity to think about the variety of skills you’ve cultivated throughout either work experience, training, or community involvement
a new outlook on how you should integrate skills learned on the job or in training to market yourself in your resume
and lastly, how to incorporate these examples into interview scenarios
Connecting the dots for an employer in your cover letter (by highlighting what skills you have and how you demonstrate them) is a win-win strategy for you because you will be able to quickly identify an example or scenario in answer to questions in an interview as well.
Interviews
Preparation is key! An interviewer wants to know 3 things:
Can you do the job?
Do you fit on the team?
Will you stay?
If you research the company to come up with 2 facts — either products and services and/or mission statements — you can show the company that you are interested in them specifically. By preparing your resume and knowing your strengths you can provide solutions to the employers’ problems and show how you are the best candidate for the job!
Sharpen Your Image on Social Media
Does your LinkedIn account point to where you have been or where you are going?
Remember that job goal from above? Make sure that your LinkedIn profile is revised so that you are highlighting your skills and achievements that are relevant to the position you are moving toward.
If your profile doesn’t match your resume and the keywords are not relevant to your current job goal, then recruiters can’t find you!
Sometimes we must think outside the box to leverage the skills we have and recreate who we are to make the transition to a more fulfilling career!
Are you following groups and prospective companies to keep up with the field you are headed towards? Are you reaching out to people in your network who can help you in your job search?
This comprehensive approach allows you to market your skills to perspective employers on all platforms seamlessly. From resumes and cover letters to interviewing, networking and social media. You need to tell your story in a compelling and consistent way so that there is “no guessing required.”
If you need a hand in mapping a new journey and creating a strong personal brand, CSE Consulting can help. Book a consultation and get your personal brand in action!
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