What Does Branding Have to do With Job Searching?
Posted: 12.03.2015
The buzz word 'branding' usually applies to the retail sector. There's usually a label affixed to clothing that names the designer or a subsidiary brand name. Over the past 15 years, many have thought it trendy to wear apparel showcasing popular brands. For others, it doesn't matter - colours, fabric materials, textures and quality matters most. However, when a job seeker accelerates his/her chance of being noticed, it becomes apparent that he or she wants to stand out from the competition.
Why not order 20-100 business cards with your name, phone number, and email? Or, go one step further and create a resume website? With your business card highlighting your name, a few job titles and a few lines of what you do best, the potential employer may capture key words and realize that you have a lot to offer a company or organization. Branding is what it's all about to get noticed. In advertising, usually one has to see an advertisement seven times before buying a product. In job searching, if you are consistent in using the heading of your cover letter, resume, reference page and thank you letter so that they all look the same, the potential employer should notice this right away. This can be compared to a logo. How many times do we immediately recognize a store's logo when driving or immediately identify a logo even if we've forgotten the exact name of a company?
Branding can become your new concept in job searching. Why not add a tag line to highlight what you do and how you do it? For example, if you are in Sales, you can put on all your documents: An approachable and dynamic sales professional. Sound intriguing? Wouldn't you want to know more about what this person enjoys selling?
Branding can also be applied to your techniques how you look for work. If you are diligently researching postings, going online, and attending networking sessions with the Toronto Board of Trade for example, or your local Chamber of Commerce, people will remember the way you present yourself. If you are a routine type of person, then repeat the same methods speaking to people when networking. Hand out business cards with a half page description of what you do best in the workplace. Keep it short and concise. If you are a leader or manager, you can go one step further and ask to do an infomercial or brief presentation of five minutes.
Mention that you are prepared to answer questions after your presentation. Ensure all your documents include the same headings and pertinent information you can offer.
Representing yourself as a business entity may lead to reducing your time necessary to look for work. To reduce nervousness and anxiety, think of yourself as already hired and explain what you do best and a few of your successes. Use direct eye contact. Go to as many networking functions as possible. Try different avenues. Change your schedule, go to different business buildings to hand out business cards - but settle on one choice of paper/premium stock in business cards and a choice of up to two colours in printed materials.
Yes, it is possible to reinvent yourself. Become motivated again with robust energy by working out, getting a new haircut, buying a new tie or a new skirt. Dress for success. Then look at your resume. Did a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) design and format it professionally? Is it something that will stand out from the competition? Does it fall short in any areas if it was typed by a friend or spouse? Does it demonstrate what you do, how you do it, and express your achievements as best as possible? A Perhaps you wanted to highlight a skill and can't quite get the words on the paper right. Now what do you do? Call upon a CPRW like Karen Shane who specializes in resume writing. Take charge in designating time to brand yourself. No one else will 'sell' you and what you have to offer.
The next time you go to buy clothing, notice how a label stands on its own. You too have the potential to position yourself at your best. Start to organize a job search campaign that includes Branding. Set your standards high, but not so high that prospective employers can discover what you can offer them and in turn you will likely reap the benefits. The road to success is around the corner! Take action now; examine your resume and cover letter.
Karen Shane is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and has been writing resumes and cover letter since 1994 on a daily basis. The company name is Business Writing & Resumes and one of her websites is: www.karenshane.ca - easy to remember and branded!
Phone: 416-226-0460 to order a professional resume, cover letter or to discuss creating a personal website of your resume by an associate of hers. Don't hesitate to email a current resume for a quote. Then you can 'join the ranks' of prepared job seekers who are masters at searching for employment
Why not order 20-100 business cards with your name, phone number, and email? Or, go one step further and create a resume website? With your business card highlighting your name, a few job titles and a few lines of what you do best, the potential employer may capture key words and realize that you have a lot to offer a company or organization. Branding is what it's all about to get noticed. In advertising, usually one has to see an advertisement seven times before buying a product. In job searching, if you are consistent in using the heading of your cover letter, resume, reference page and thank you letter so that they all look the same, the potential employer should notice this right away. This can be compared to a logo. How many times do we immediately recognize a store's logo when driving or immediately identify a logo even if we've forgotten the exact name of a company?
Branding can become your new concept in job searching. Why not add a tag line to highlight what you do and how you do it? For example, if you are in Sales, you can put on all your documents: An approachable and dynamic sales professional. Sound intriguing? Wouldn't you want to know more about what this person enjoys selling?
Branding can also be applied to your techniques how you look for work. If you are diligently researching postings, going online, and attending networking sessions with the Toronto Board of Trade for example, or your local Chamber of Commerce, people will remember the way you present yourself. If you are a routine type of person, then repeat the same methods speaking to people when networking. Hand out business cards with a half page description of what you do best in the workplace. Keep it short and concise. If you are a leader or manager, you can go one step further and ask to do an infomercial or brief presentation of five minutes.
Mention that you are prepared to answer questions after your presentation. Ensure all your documents include the same headings and pertinent information you can offer.
Representing yourself as a business entity may lead to reducing your time necessary to look for work. To reduce nervousness and anxiety, think of yourself as already hired and explain what you do best and a few of your successes. Use direct eye contact. Go to as many networking functions as possible. Try different avenues. Change your schedule, go to different business buildings to hand out business cards - but settle on one choice of paper/premium stock in business cards and a choice of up to two colours in printed materials.
Yes, it is possible to reinvent yourself. Become motivated again with robust energy by working out, getting a new haircut, buying a new tie or a new skirt. Dress for success. Then look at your resume. Did a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) design and format it professionally? Is it something that will stand out from the competition? Does it fall short in any areas if it was typed by a friend or spouse? Does it demonstrate what you do, how you do it, and express your achievements as best as possible? A Perhaps you wanted to highlight a skill and can't quite get the words on the paper right. Now what do you do? Call upon a CPRW like Karen Shane who specializes in resume writing. Take charge in designating time to brand yourself. No one else will 'sell' you and what you have to offer.
The next time you go to buy clothing, notice how a label stands on its own. You too have the potential to position yourself at your best. Start to organize a job search campaign that includes Branding. Set your standards high, but not so high that prospective employers can discover what you can offer them and in turn you will likely reap the benefits. The road to success is around the corner! Take action now; examine your resume and cover letter.
Karen Shane is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and has been writing resumes and cover letter since 1994 on a daily basis. The company name is Business Writing & Resumes and one of her websites is: www.karenshane.ca - easy to remember and branded!
Phone: 416-226-0460 to order a professional resume, cover letter or to discuss creating a personal website of your resume by an associate of hers. Don't hesitate to email a current resume for a quote. Then you can 'join the ranks' of prepared job seekers who are masters at searching for employment
