How to Craft Your Personal Brand Statement

How to Craft Your Personal Brand Statement Before you write blog posts for the masses, before you apply for those positions, before you even set up your LinkedIn profile there is one thing you should do â€" craft your very own personal brand statement. Your bio, elevator pitch and any other descriptive text about you will invariably start out with your personal brand statement. What is a personal brand statement? Your statement is 1-2 sentences answering what you are the best at (value), who you serve (audience) and how you do it uniquely (USP). It sums up your unique promise of value. Your personal brand statement is distinctive to you and you alone. You could liken it with a tagline, strapline or even a catchphrase that product brands will have. The personal brand statement is not a job title. A job title is what others will try to classify you with, what employers and others want you to be to fit you into a corporate setting. You deserve better than that. Its also not your personal mission statement, career objectives or even life purpose. These are much more long-term concepts intended to guide you through life and not aimed at marketing you to anybody. A personal brand statement is memorable, punchy and solution oriented. As opposed to simply saying “John is a boiler man”, why not “John keeps families warm through bespoke heating installations”? To be continued Why do you need a personal brand statement? How many times have you been asked what you do? Do you feel like people really understand what you do or is it merely pleasantries? I bet you can tweak what you say and leave a lasting impression with that person, an impression that might just lead to business one day. Just being another hairdresser or plumber is not going to allow you to stand out. When you dont stand out, you will have to compete against everyone else on price which isnt a great situation to be in. To be successful in today’s economy you have to specialize; you have to choose a topic and master it. Your statement will clarify exactly what you do, how you do it and for whom. By communicating this, you and your target audience will know exactly what you are capable of. How do you write a personal brand statement? Start with listing your key career or business attributes on a piece of paper. Once the list is complete, take a good look at it and pick out the ones that make you unique. These will form your unique selling points, or USPs. Look at your unique values and key attributes and you should be able to develop a 1-2 sentence brand statement, answering these three questions: What value you provide (what problem do you solve) How you do it uniquely (your USPs) Whom you do it for (your target audience) Remember to be clear on the value, dont confuse anyone with any fluffy terms that dont mean anything. Furthermore, what makes you unique in one place may not be unique in another, e.g. big cities will have lots of specialists and experts in certain fields, small towns only one and that makes him or her unique to that location. Target your audience Whom are you aiming your services at? A particular industry, geography, age demographic? Try to stay somewhat focused on a sector of the market and don’t spread yourself too thin. The reason personal branding has become critical for business and career success is that nobody wants to buy from the person that does everything for everyone. Look at what target audience would benefit the most from your services and zero in on this. Stay authentic When writing a personal brand statement it’s easy to get carried away and putting down what you’d like to be one day. The old “fake it until you make it” approach does carry some merit but don’t overdo it. Never call yourself a guru, ninja, samurai, expert or even thought leader unless you truly are one. Only your audience can determine whether you are an expert and you will know if that is the case. The aim of your statement is to inform and inspire the reader, not to scare them off with fancy titles. Make it punchy and memorable Using technical or big words could alienate your target audience. You want a seven-year-old to understand and be able to repeat what you do. Whenever you introduce yourself at a networking event, stay punchy and memorable. Ideally, you will want that person you were talking with to tell other prospective customers what you do â€" this will cover a lot of ground, trust me. Keep it reasonably short Less is more as they say. Your ability to describe exactly what you do in one sentence says a lot about your introspection and professional focus. In some cases, you have to take up two sentences but always aim for one. I will give you a special dispensation to write more if you have done more things in your life than Tim Ferriss. It ain’t cast in iron You will soon find that you are going to tinker with your statement after it’s written up. It’s easy to change it but just don’t get carried away and change it every week. On the flipside, some people will never look at it again. Even though it’s time-consuming, your personal brand statement should be revised at least once a year to reflect changes and advancements in your professional career. In order to be effective, it needs to stay current. Example brand statement Back to our Scottish boiler man, heres an idea for a statement: “John keeps families in Edinburgh (target audience) warm (value) through bespoke heating installations using only the most advanced German boilers (unique)”. This clearly tells you what John does, for whom and gives you an insight into how. I would say the statement is memorable, I for one think of a family keeping warm and snug over Christmas all thanks to the fantastic boiler man John. Call to action Finally, its your turn to start looking at your statement. Don’t put this off, you’ll find that it’s a wonderful marketing tool that you are going to use over and over. Most people haven’t really thought about their statements so you will stand out with an effective one. Over time I would think personal brand statements will be part and parcel of any successful career or business. Do you have a personal brand statement? What is it?

Resume Enhancement Tips That Will Drastically Improve Your CV

Resume Enhancement Tips That Will Drastically Improve Your CV Writing a powerful resume is always a challenge for many job seekers. With today’s tech-driven employment landscape, it’s becoming increasingly important to learn how to optimize your resume for both human readers and electronic scanning systems. While there is no magic methodology for creating a perfect document that grabs the attention of potential employers, there are basic ground rules for resume enhancement. Check them out! Punch Up the Design Spice up your resume with color, charts, boxes, shades, tables, and images. Lovely designs will make your CV stand out. Just ensure that the tweaking matches industry norms for your specific field. For example, a graphic designer can express his/her creativity with more graphics than an accountant. Additionally, present your resume in a crisp, professional folder to make it stand out and leave a positive, lasting impression. Highlight Quantifiable Achievements A resume that doesn’t highlight any achievements is set to fail. Sell yourself on your best achievements by making sure that what you talk about is quantifiable. Don’t just stop at your past or present position but rather speak about what you accomplished in those positions. No recruiter wants to waste time on a resume with lists of job duties without real achievements. Improve your Resume’s Skimmability People skim more than they read, and you can grab the attention of recruiters by writing short paragraphs of about three or four lines. If you have a lot to express, break up the content into multiple paragraphs and bullet points. Additionally, create white spaces between paragraphs to create some breathing space. Avoid the words “responsible for” in your resume Drop the words “responsible for” in your resume to quickly improve your presentation. Responsibilities come with every job, and they won’t add much value to your new appointment. You need to focus on your skills and accomplishments. Recruiters always look for the results of your work as opposed to a boring list of tasks you performed. Eliminate clutter Avoid anything that takes up valuable space on your resume without adding real value that promotes your candidature. Non-standard fonts, excessive graphics, and articles (the, a, an) just make your resume bulky and boring. In other words, make your resume concise, straight to the point, and accomplishment-driven. Focus on Recent Accomplishments It’s advisable to go back 15-20 years’ maximum on your experience. Although the job you did 30 years ago played an important role in your career growth, it probably doesn’t offer any relevance to the position you’re applying for today. Again, you don’t have to highlight every single job you ever did. Being a promotional document, fill up your resume with only relevant and relatable experiences. Replace Objectives Statement with Summary Many employers no longer care about career objectives. Improve your resume by removing the objective section and starting off with a personal summary. A well-articulated summary is considered the modern gem to this dated segment. Understand your Prospective Employers One of the most uncomfortable truths in job seeking is that the resume has very little to do with the candidate. It’s all about the hiring company and the specific business needs of the hiring manager. Craft your resume to appeal to your target audience: recruiters and hiring managers. The best way to go about this is to tailor your resume to address the business problems of your target audience and illustrate how you can be the solution. Customize There is massively conflicting advice on how to improve a resume, but one area where everyone seems to agree on is the need for customization. Recruiters are only concerned about the business problems they currently face. Your resume should indicate that you clearly understand the pain points of their business and that you have the skills and experience to solve it. Customization is aimed at accomplishing two things. Firstly, it conveys your understanding of the business challenges, and secondly, it emphasizes your individual strengths and how they relate to the task at hand. Move the Most Relevant Accomplishments to the Top Even as you spend time to customize your resume for specific employers, it’s often a tedious task that takes time and effort. The quickest way to grab the attention of potential employers is to start with the most relevant information on top of the page. Move the experiences that closely match the requirements of the job you’re applying for to the top. You can break up the content into “Most Relevant Experience” and “Additional Experience” to make it more presentable and easy to skim through. Crafting an excellent resume requires significant efforts and is often a continuous learning process. Every word on your resume must count. So, make sure you make it lean and mean. Also, quantify your accomplishments by using numbers. Numbers speak a lot about your performance, so whenever possible, use percentages, dollars, and other figures that add credibility to your resume.

5 Essential Tips for Interview Success

5 Essential Tips for Interview Success Whether youre applying for your first job and are new to the interview process  or  are just a bit out of the swing of things, a job interview can be a daunting experience. Thorough preparation and the way that you present  yourself on the day can be crucial to your success, so there are a few things you should keep in mind to ensure that everything runs smoothly. To guarantee  that you stand out from the crowd and identify yourself as the ideal person for the job, follow these simple tips: 1) Do your research: Ahead of your interview, make sure that you have thoroughly researched the company, including what they do, what their company culture and values are, what the team structure is like and even who their competitors are. Make yourself familiar with who your  interviewer is, so that you have an understanding of what their role is at the company and what kind of professional relationship you would have with them if you were to land the role. It will reflect well on you if you are knowledgeable about some of the companys  past and ongoing projects and can share some relevant and innovative  ideas about how you could be of assistance to them in real life scenarios. 2) Understand why there is a vacancy: Is this job opening  a newly created role? Or are you replacing a previous employee and will be taking on their existing responsibilities? Try to find out ahead of your interview, as a different approach and skills  may be required to succeed. Identify your relevant skills that will be of benefit in this role and explain how they would suit the requirements of the role. 3) Know the path that you would like your career to follow: Have a clear idea of where you would like your career to go and what you would like to achieve. Build a story, so that you can explain the journey that has lead you to your interview with their organisation. You want them to feel like the role you are interviewing for is exactly the right step for you to take in your career and that it is something you really want and wish to progress in. Explain how your past experiences will be valuable in  this role and how they will benefit you and the team. Dont be afraid to tell your interviewer about what you have learnt from past failures if you can illustrate what you have learnt from it and how it will benefit you in the future. 4) Body language can speak volumes: Body language can tell you a lot about what somebody is thinking or feeling. Pay attention to how your interviewer is behaving to gage how your interview is going. If theyre fiddling or losing eye contact, they may be losing interest in what you are saying, so best to wrap it up. Also, if  they cross their arms, its possible theyre feeling a little bit uncomfortable. Be aware of  your own body language, as nerves and your general interest in the role can  be interpreted  by the way you compose  yourself. Eye contact is also essential for establishing a connection with you interviewer and will make you appear confident in what you are saying. Try not to maintain direct eye contact for too long though, as it can appear like you are challenging the interviewer. 5) Thank your interviewer: Its needless to say that you should thank your interviewer for their time at the end of your job interview, but its also good practice to send  them a follow up message promptly after your appointment  to show your appreciation for the opportunity, whether it’s in the form of  a handwritten note or a personalised email. It will leave a good lasting impression and  demonstrates your commitment and genuine interest in joining the company.

10 New Years Resolutions to Supercharge Your Career

10 New Years Resolutions to Supercharge Your Career January is the perfect time to give your professional life a boost and set career goals for the coming year. Here are 10 of the best career resolutions to make, along with a few actionable tips on how to achieve them: 1. Perform an annual career checkup Before you can set any career resolutions, the first step is to give your past year a detailed review. Use this time to assess whether you want to grow in your current role or hunt for a new one. If you’re thinking of using your talents elsewhere, these questions will help you assess what is working and what to look for in your next company. Here are some good questions to ask: What is my proudest professional accomplishment from the past year? Did I receive the support and resources needed to effectively do my job in 2016? What could help me hit my goals? Have I learned something new from my manager? Is there a team within the organization where I would feel more supported and/or challenged? Are there any new skills I acquired this year? Does my resume need an update? Is this a positive and motivating environment? Do I enjoy the dynamics and office politics? Am I excited about coming to work each day? Do I feel fulfilled in this role? What is the most important constructive feedback I received this year? How can I carry that with me into 2017 and improve?  2.  Give  your online profile a makeover In 2017, the first thing a potential client, employer or collaborator will do is type your name into Google. Do a quick check and see what pages come up in search results. Then if you can, go in and fix up those links. Here are a few things to check: Photos â€" For everywhere that a profile photo shows, such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, make sure you have a bright photo that actually looks like you. No pets, partners or costumes should be in this photo. Keep it simple, clean and professional. Accomplishments â€" For anywhere a bio or resume is listed, add one or two key accomplishments from 2016. Did you run a major campaign, increase profitability of the business by XX percent or speak at a known conference? Freshen up your brag bullets. Personal site â€" Consider putting together a personal site to showcase your work that will come up high in search results. Weebly, Squarespace and WordPress all have easy to use, affordable (and often free!) templates to quickly build a portfolio. 3. Build  your professional network 70% of jobs come through networking. If the idea of going to boring industry events night after night sounds draining, here’s a few fresh ways to build your professional network in 2017: Ask colleagues from other departments to lunch. Take the time to learn more about their backgrounds, goals and hobbies. Host a networking brunch. Invite professional contacts to each bring one guest. You will meet new people and also be remembered as a connector. Remember to strengthen your existing relationships in addition to meeting new people! Dig up old contacts you met once or twice and reach out to grab happy hour cocktails. Try Shapr, a free networking app that introduces you to nearby professionals with common interests. Skip events and awkward icebreakers and just head straight to coffee for meaningful conversations. 4. Learn  new skills Sharpen your professional skills and learn a few shortcuts for getting faster and better at your job. Here are a few options: Let your supervisor know you’d like to get better a specific skill and be proactive in asking for advice. A good manager will help map out a plan such as mentoring you on a related project or giving you opportunities to learn that skill on the job. Take an evening class. Some companies offer tuition reimbursement for professional development â€" explore if your company offers this policy. Browse Coursera for a free online course or use your lunch break to check out YouTube tutorials. 5. Become  an expert in your field Get informed about the industry mavens, trends and changes within your field using these steps: Identify the top blogs in your industry and subscribe to those newsletters. Get a Twitter account and follow industry leaders. Be active in retweeting and sending out your own tweets sharing industry news. Volunteer to speak a conference. One of the best ways to absorb a subject is by preparing to teach others! See if there is a local event where you may be able to discuss some aspect of your industry and learn from others. 6. Volunteer  to lead a big project Ask for more responsibility on a project that will help you grow and look great on your resume. If there are no current projects available, come up with a new idea to boldly present at your weekly staff meeting. 7. Get  better at receiving constructive feedback It’s incredibly valuable to get better at accepting and learning from critiques. This year, take these steps to grow from your reviews: Take a breath. If you find yourself getting anxious or worked up, write down all feedback during reviews, take a walk and then read through the feedback with fresh eyes. Say thank you. Offer your appreciation for people taking the time to help you improve. Schedule a follow up. Once you have processed the feedback, try to make adjustments or come up with solutions. Then offer a time to present your ideas and get clarity that you’re moving in the right direction. 8. Organize  your files and desk Clear the clutter. See if you can feng shui your coffee cups, pens, books and papers. Once your physical space is in good shape, do a cleanup of your digital files. Sort through your documents and get rid of those that are no longer needed. Then create a clean archive so you can easily find any files for reference in the New Year. 9. Be  more productive Make 2017 the year you work fewer hours and get more done. Here are a few tips for staying focused: Take Facebook off your phone or at least turn off notifications. Unless you run your company’s social media, you can wait a few hours to see photos from the weekend. Use a project management tool like Redbooth to organize and prioritize your tasks. Track due dates and visit this check list every morning to make sure you’re focused on the high priority projects. Instead of 20 minutes trying to fumble in the break room, start bringing your coffee to work. Pre caffeinate on the way and be ready to start when you sit down at your desk. 10. Improve  your work-life balance All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. A terrific resolution is to get better at leaving work when you leave the office. Here’s some ideas: Take work email off your phone so you’re not tempted to respond to emails in the evenings. Plan a real vacation. Just ask for the time off and book a plane ticket. Find a hobby that helps you unplug. Join a book club, sign up for guitar classes or become a regular at a gym. Schedule more quality time the people and pets that matter! Take your pooch to a dog park, work on an art project with your kid or share cooking duties with your partner a few times a week. About the author: Mandy Menaker is the Head of PR and Brand Development at Shapr, a networking app for meeting inspiring professionals near you. When not writing about networking, fitness, and travel (three very awesome things) she can be found cycling through Manhattan with her 6 lb Maltipoo catching a ride. Connect with her @mandymenaker on Twitter or visit  http://mandymenaker.com.

10+ Years on LinkedIn Why Its Still Indispensable To Me - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

10+ Years on â€" Why It’s Still Indispensable To Me How Remains Invaluable To Me . . . and All Executive Job Seekers

Smart Job Negotiations Ensure Fit - Hire Imaging

Smart Job Negotiations Ensure Fit - Hire Imaging In my last two posts, I’ve shared some of my favorite strategies in smartly negotiating your next role. The first post covered not bargaining before the deal, and delaying money talk first two . I most recently addressed voicing vulnerability and not jumping on an offer . Today’s fifth and sixth strategies in my six-tip suite are often overlooked. 5. Redesign the Job Accountabilities It is important to negotiate what the job really entails, because this range of your compensation is determined by the responsibilities you step into. It is not uncommon for folks to capture more money by reshaping the job into a larger one. Of course, sometimes it’s set. No bargaining room. Sometimes it’s for the making; it’s your job to share what the employer might not have thought of. You start with a positive comment about the job and the company; you suggest that they might benefit by adding responsibilities to the job. You offer to share your ideas on what could be added. “Bob, there is no question this is a great position. However, based on what you have told me, I could be even more valuable if a few correlated pieces were added. There are several areas where my experience could make a difference. I’d love to talk about them briefly, so we can see whether they could be part of the job description.” You can then discuss whether the company might capitalize on your experience, showing with personal stories  how you have made contributions before. If the interviewer agrees these are significant, have them added to the job description. Really; reshaping the job can often be just that uncomplicated! And aligned with my strong belief in non-confrontation, the manner was pleasant and straightforward. 6. Act with Unbroken Excitement When you insert unbridled enthusiasm  into your statements, it becomes nearly impossible for the employer to conclude that you should not be with them. Eagerness becomes even more important when you have been underpaid. In theory, an offer should be based on your value to the company. In reality, employers often make offers based on the candidate’s current earnings. Balance your excitement with thorough coverage of criteria on which to base the offer. It might comprise the job’s importance to the firm, what you would make with a raise where you are, your total compensation package, what you believe your market value to be, and any other offers you’re considering. Consider the approach below and how you might invite the employer to explore the situation. Again, there is no confrontation; no demand. There are only questions. You can actually empower the employer’s decision as to whether the offer is too low.   In the following scenario, the candidate conveys enthusiasm, sincerity and slight vulnerability. The situation is devoid of any aggression, cornering tone or cold manner. “Bob, I want to say again how happy I am with the offer. I’m excited to join your firm, and the feeling quite honestly continues to build. I want this job! I envision a scenario of staying with the company for a long time. There is one snag I have to push through, and I wonder if you can help me. I’ve been underpaid for a long time, and I need to begin earning at a rate reflecting my ability to contribute. If I stayed where I am, I’d be due for a raise, which would put me close to your offer. In talking with other companies, I’ve found out that some of them appreciate this, and they have mentioned ranges that are 20 to 30 percent higher. Now, I don’t want to work for them â€" I want to work for you. But I do have some compelling needs. Perhaps the company could approve a higher offer. Can we explore this together?” Negotiations can be complex or simple.   They can be apples and oranges. For some, it’s higher promised income. For others, parameters of the role and other factors weigh more heavily. If you don’t have the full success in negotiations that you hope for, then shift from the “present” and focus instead on futures: a review after six months, a better title, and an automatic increase after time. There are many things to go after that make you jump out of bed on Monday mornings. Photo: Noortje Schmit

How to Makeover Your Resume for Social Media Marketing

How to Makeover Your Resume for Social Media Marketing An executive resume bio requires you to narrow down your experiences. In the past decade, the job market has been adapting to the growing technological age we live in today. Naturally, this means the old ways of job hunting are on their way out, and those who are searching for a new career have to adapt their application methods in a way that helps them market themselves to today’s hiring managers. This is vitally important for those interested in getting into social media professionally because the entire industry thrives on snappy marketing and wit by nature. Here is some advice to help aspiring social media marketers spice up their resumes and LinkedIn profiles and land better job opportunities. Focus on Your Skills Practically every job in this day and age requires some sort of skill, meaning your skills are the most vital part of catching an employer’s eye and landing a job. You must market yourself in a way that presents what you can offer to a company in terms of job experience and professional skills in a way that is concise, direct and appealing. Cut Out Any Fluff You should only include skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. In other words, make sure your  executive  resume  bio  stays simple. Resumes are  supposed to be brief and eye-catching. While you’ve probably gained many remarkable accomplishments, it’s not worth informing employers about every single one of them. Pick only the ones that matter to the field you’re hoping to enter. Some relevant skills relating to social media marketing are video production, especially for YouTube and other streaming sites, blog writing, researching for marketing purposes, the ability to advertise well on social media and a good grasp of Twitter, as well as other social media networks. Include Any Relevant Career Experiences Just like your skills, you should really only talk about career experiences that pertain to your aspiring field. This will give recruiters an idea of what you’ve done before and can thus bring to their company. Get to the meat of your social media skills. Cut out everything that has nothing to do with social media work and your skills in relation to the field. If you do these things, you’re guaranteed to be much closer to the type of resume employers are looking for. When you first craft a resume or begin delving into  LinkedIn  profile  development, it may seem all too tempting  to put as much of your professional background onto your resume as possible to appeal to employers. However, this isn’t the best way to land jobs. Recruiters often have to sort through several hundred resumes at once, leaving only a few seconds for them to glance at yours. Make those seconds count. Your resume should be to-the-point and catered to your desired industry. A  LinkedIn  profile  service  can often help you achieve these goals.