Advertising Yourself and Personal Branding

<p>We all know that writing your resume, or curriculum vitae, is an important step in any job search. This important document is usually your first impression to potential employers. If you are anything like me, you probably wrote your resume for your first job and have been updating it as needed over the years, simply adding the skill sets and details of your most recent position. But when was the last time you really tried to completely rewrite your resume? What are you doing to make your resume stand out from the competition? A good way to stand out is to change what you think a resume should be. Don't think of this process as simply a job search, but realize that you are selling your skills and services to potential employers. These are the customers for your skills and services. Do not limit your resume to just a list of your jobs and education, but rather make it an advertisement of what you can do for your future employers.</p><p>Imagine you were in the market to buy a lawn mower. Whatever mower you choose, it must meet your criteria that it cuts grass and is gas powered. You're willing to use a push mower, but if you find a riding mower for a comparable price, you'd definitely consider it. Now suppose you sat down with a stack of advertisements for various lawn mowers. How much time would you spend reading through a three-page flyer versus a quarter-page picture with the specifications listed as bullet points? You probably spend just about the same amount of time on each, but received more pertinent information from the quarter-page picture than the three-page flyer.</p><p>If your resume is longer than one page, you need to trim it down. Do you really think it's a good idea to let employers know that you've had six jobs in the past year? If each job was significantly different from the previous one, it might make sense to include them, but moving from essentially the same job to the same job, does not necessarily make you a better candidate for hire. Do you really need to share that you collect dolls as a hobby? Do you think that your "customers" care that you still know how to use Word Perfect? If you can't remove any more information from your resume, it may be time to look at a different format. Maybe you could switch from a chronological format to a functional format.</p><p>A personal brand is the same idea as a corporate brand. Almost all companies have a brand associated with them. This is not by accident. They've made a conscious effort to associate certain thoughts and ideas with their brand identity. What company comes to mind when you think of family entertainment? Your personal brand is built over time. It is what you are known for by your current and past colleagues. You do not manufacture it to land the next job. You either build your personal brand before the job hunt begins or you will need to re-brand yourself at your new job. Take the time to identify what makes you a unique individual and write that into a short paragraph. Read it back to yourself and see if it conveys the ideas and feelings you want to be known for. Could the paragraph be used to describe any of your colleagues? Keep rewriting that paragraph until it truly identifies your unique skills that a potential employer would love to hire. If you can't distinguish yourself from your colleagues, then you need to embark on self-improvement in order to differentiate yourself. Building your personal brand must also involve everyone within your circle of influence. It doesn't work if you're the only person that thinks you're the best at what you do. Once you've developed your personal brand, consider how you can integrate it into your cover letter or resume. Also, make sure everyone you've listed as a reference agrees you really represent what you've written as your personal brand.</p><p>Whether or not you like marketers, you need to realize that you are one when it comes to a job search. Like advertising a product, it's not enough to just put your name out there. Care and consideration for your message is equally, if not more, important. A more compelling message, a consistent brand, and targeted advertising are all elements of a successful marketing campaign. So don't just post your "updated resume" on the Internet. Consider rewriting your resume into a concise, easy to read, informational advertisement that can convey your message in a short glance. Make sure that everyone your future employer may contact can recognize your personal brand. Identify the companies you want to work for and send them personalized versions of your resume and cover letter. This may take more work, but the payoff is worth it.</p><p>Not everyone is a professional writer. Even professional writers have people review what they've written. More than likely, you have a small group of friends and family that can take a look at your resume and help you make it better. You can take it to the next level and post it on <a target="_new" href="http://www.resumerewriterewards.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.resumerewriterewards.com</a> and let the world help you rewrite your resume.</p>