Does your professional résumé clearly reflect your personal brand or does it sound like thousands of other résumés? What have you done to make your document leap out of the mountain of résumés piled high on the hiring decision maker’s desk? Have you done anything to sell yourself as the ultimate solution or does your résumé simply discuss your responsibilities? What have you done to brand your career?
If your resume is not branding you, it’s time for you to jump aboard the new Brand Wagon! Branding is very popular these days, and with good reason. Branding helps a job seeker be memorable, special, unique, rare, and most importantly …. VALUABLE. Personal branding will separate you from other job candidates and among your colleagues who perform the same type of responsibilities.
If you aren’t familiar with personal branding concept, I encourage you to become acquainted with it quickly. Then, develop your own personal brand and integrate it into your résumé and career. Let’s look at a “Before and After” resume example; one that fails to brand a senior executive and one that features branding attributes.
BEFORE EXAMPLE:
Senior Operations Executive with 20 years of corporate experience. An innovative and energetic leader, communicator, team builder, and negotiator. Able to review operations and create solutions that enhance performance and sales, reduce costs, and grow profit. Resourceful; MBA degree in Finance.
AFTER EXAMPLE WITH BRAND ATTRIBUTES:
Results-driven Senior Operations Executives providing 20+ years of experience and notoriety in the telecommunications industry. Recognized as a turnaround artist through success with several Fortune 500 companies underscored by delivery of $375 million in cost savings, saving two companies from filing bankruptcy, and revitalizing a highly distressed telecom leader who had posted five years of declining revenue.
A global executive who has traveled to more than 25 countries for the purposes of starting up new sales and operational offices, reversing operational and profit issues, improving corporate visibility among marquee customers, and forming new strategic business partnerships that trigger millions of dollars in new revenue. Interviewed by media representatives during the last 10 years, spoke at seven global conferences, and wrote over 20 articles published by leading telecommunications publications. Speak fluent French.
THE DIFFERENCES ARE CLEAR:
Do you see the difference between the branded and non-branded professional résumé? The later example clearly defines part of the executive’s brand. It clearly illustrates his VALUE to a prospective employer. He definitely positions himself as THE candidate, in comparison to the first Operations Executive, who completely failed to tell a company why he should be interviewed or hired.
SUMMARY:
While it’s true you may not have the same level of credentials as this executive, you NEED a personal brand and your résumé needs to reflect your personal brand. What makes you VALAUBLE to a company, what makes you different and unique among other job candidates, what makes you memorable? When people think of your name, do they associate it with your brand? If not, it would be wise to create and polish your brand, and communicate it through everything you do.
It doesn’t matter if you are a Housekeeper, Lawyer, Accountant, Food and Beverage Director, Sales and Marketing Leader, Vice President, Secretary, or the CEO of a Fortune 100 company, you need a brand.
If you need help creating your brand, I can assist you. I am a Certified Personal Branding Specialist and would be delighted to discuss this exciting topic with you. Contact me at joann@newleafresumescom or at 1-866-NEWLEAF (639-5323) and let’s discuss your personal brand.
Permission to use this article must be obtained from JoAnn Nix. Contact info: joann@newleafresumes.com, 1-866-NEWLEAF. | 
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