If you brand it will they come? While it may sound like one big field of dreams, a carefully crafted and customized branding statement will not only convey your value and define your vision, but it will also offer a unique perspective to prospective employers and hiring managers. It's all about marketing yourself in the way that is going to get you noticed and essentially get you the job.
You might be tempted to brush off personal branding as a passing trend but in reality the only thing passing by will be your dream job – that is unless you make a commitment to developing your very own personal brand.
For the amount of time you spend writing and rewriting your resume it can be very disheartening to know the time spent by hiring managers reading your resume is minimal. Sorry to say, but true. That's why you need to grab their attention immediately and compel them to keep reading. The top half to third of the first page of your resume should be BAM, POW, WOW! Knock them out with your intro and they'll get back up for more.
Take a look at the following examples. The first one is a non-branded objective statement seen way too often by hiring managers and recruiters. The second is a personal branding statement that clearly translates the candidate's unique value.
Boring Old Objective:
Creative marketing professional seeks a position within an organization that will allow me to utilize my skills with the potential for growth.
Attention-Grabbing Branding Statement:
Forward-thinking marketing professional offering a unique combination of creativity and analytical skill with the ability to assess both vantage points simultaneously for an effective balance of visual nuance and sound business decisions which are easily transferable into a variety of positions.
Which one do you think is going to hold the reader's attention? I hope you can clearly see the advantages the second one has to offer. If you are still holding onto the old school resume format it's time to let go and embrace the new trends in resume writing. It might not be your style; you might think it's too over the top but you have to realize that this is a marketing tool and you need to sell yourself.
This post was originally published on an earlier date.Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert.
Everyone has heard of New Year's resolutions. You know, those promises we make to ourselves about things we'll do better in the year ahead. Sometimes these resolutions work, while other times we end up with gym memberships we never use! But have you ever heard of a career resolution? It's actually the same thing as a New Year's resolution, only career-focused.
However, with something as important as a career, you don't want to break these resolutions. That's why it's important to keep these goals manageable.
Here are four simple career resolutions that are easy to stick to and achieve.
Be Self-Aware Of Where You Stand In Your Career
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Being honest and self-aware of where you are in your career is the most important step in making strong career resolutions. If your career is going nowhere and you're unhappy, then it may be time to consider a career change, which will take you down a different path entirely.
But if you're happy and in good standing with your career, it's a lot easier to set goals for the year and build out a long-term career plan.
Find A Way To Grow Your Career
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Career growth is a very broad spectrum that means something different to everyone. It could be something as simple as improving on a weakness or building on a strength. It could also be learning a new skill or taking on additional responsibilities at work.
On a larger level, it could be seeking a promotion or moving into a leadership role.
Whatever the goal is, make sure it includes growing professionally. The worst thing you can do is stay the same! If you're not growing your career, you're dying—and becoming a lot less valuable to your employer. There are always ways to upskill!
Better Serve Your Professional Network
With current colleagues, former colleagues, and other professional acquaintances, you've probably built a solid professional network through the years. A strong professional network can come in handy if you lose your job or are looking to make a career change. However, you shouldn't just rely on your network when you're in need!
It's important to find ways to offer value to your network. This could include checking in with members of your network from time to time. Exchange messages on LinkedIn to see how they're doing or share relevant content of interest. If you can help someone in your network going through a career challenge, you should!
Maintaining a strong professional network is like an investment. If you want it to pay off, you have to put some time into it and be consistent.
Take Care Of Yourself
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Working on your career is hard work! It's okay to be selfish sometimes. Whether you're working to grow your career or looking for a new job, it's important to find balance.
Your family and health always come first, so make sure your career goals don't interfere with that. If you want to set aside time during the week to work on your career that's fine, but don't miss important family events or milestones.
Don't let your career goals get in the way of your health goals. Go to the gym, take a walk, or go for a jog. Balance is key to maintaining healthy career and life goals. Sometimes you just need to adjust that balance as you go.
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.