Today’s resume establishes a brand relevant to targeted employers. The branding expressed in your resume should capture your career identity, authenticity, passion and image. With objective statements currently unpopular with hiring decision-makers, job-seekers are turning to branding techniques, especially branding statements or value proposition, to choose those candidates they wish to interview.
The distinctive appearance of your resume, should be carried through all your career-marketing communication — cover letter, business cards, thank-you letters, portfolio — to package you with a consistent, branded look. Every time an employer sees this look, he or she will instantly associate it with you.
A message woven throughout your resume that remains consistent and does not contradict the image you want to project. Every word, every bullet point should support the branded message you intend to convey.
A branding statement that defines who you are, your promise of value, and why you should be sought out. A branding statement that tells immediately what you can bring to an employer. Your branding statement should sum up your value proposition, encapsulate your reputation, showcase what sets you apart from others, and describe the added value you bring to a situation.
Think of it as a sales pitch.
Consider integrating these elements into the brief synopsis that is your branding statement:
- Your attributes – what are you passionate about?
- Your values – your results due to your actions
- Your uniqueness – the roles you played as opposed to titles you held.
- What differentiates your professional experience from that of others?
- How do you approach problems differently?
- What have you done in a way that no one else has done it?
- What have you achieved that no one else can claim?
Your branding statement will guide your subsequent branding activities and can be used, not only on your resume, but also on your Web site, blog, and other communication venues.
Your branding statement will make you stand out above the noise. It will make you stand out as an expert in your field.
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