3 ways to amplify your personal brand to get a job
You’ve created a personal brand that’s an expression of your mission, skills, and values. OK, so now how can you put that personal brand to work and advance your career?
Athabasca University’s Counselling Services team is sharing some valuable information and resources to help you to amplify your skills and connections, and land that dream job!
1. Craft a living, interactive version of your resumé
A living version of your resumé is simply a version that is always kept up to date.
If you share a PDF version of your resumé with a prospective employer, the information is dated to the moment you submitted it. A living resumé, on the other hand, reflects your updates in real time! This way, hiring managers will always have the most recent version, so they’ll see the new skills and experiences you’ve gained since you applied.
An interactive resumé is one with hyperlinks embedded within it. This could include elements of your personal brand, like your LinkedIn profile and/or tangible proof of projects and accomplishments you’ve listed on your resumé, such as publications or presentations you’ve given.
You can create a living, interactive resumé by using a free service like Creddle.io or Canva.com, which will host your live resumé on an unpublished website and also allow you to download a PDF version that maintains interactive components. An alternate option is to host your PDF resumé using an online service like Google or OneDrive. Once you’ve determined a location for your live resumé, generate a QR code for your business card. This allows you to share your most recent resumé with anyone, anytime!
“If you share a PDF version of your resumé with a prospective employer, the information is dated to the moment you submitted it. A living resumé, on the other hand, reflects your updates in real time!”
– Kelly Gordon, academic counsellor
2. Tailor your cover letters for each prospective employer
Your cover letter is a prime opportunity to connect your personal brand with that of your prospective employer. Open by introducing yourself and giving a brief overview of your background, the name the job you’re applying for and where you found the posting.
Next, pick 2 of the specific duties, qualifications, and/or responsibilities listed in the posting that best match the skills and experiences you possess. Speak to those in your cover letter’s 2nd and 3rd paragraphs, directly connecting those duties or responsibilities with your own specific experiences.
For example, I might write, “I see you’re looking for an academic counsellor who can give students advice about how to amplify their personal brand to get a job. During my time at Athabasca University, I’ve written articles, hosted workshops, and guided many students through the process of creating a personal brand.”
Close by thanking them for their consideration and let them know how they can follow up with you if they have any questions. Don’t forget to sign your name, even if it’s a digital signature, rather than simply type it. This adds a personal touch and speaks to your brand!
3. Build your network!
The first step in building your network is to craft an elevator pitch for your brand—practice explaining the following in under 60 seconds: who you are, what you can do, what makes you unique, and what you hope to achieve.
Then you’ll need to find ways to connect with folks with whom you want to share your elevator pitch.
One great way to do this is to go to industry events and meetups, whether in person or online. This can be an innovative way to connect with others in the industry and share your elevator pitch about your personal brand. You can also hand out business cards to share the QR code for your resumé we discussed in part one!
You should also connect with as many people as you can on LinkedIn. Add your friends, family, previous colleagues, and folks you meet at industry events as contacts. Craft a summary that represents your brand—like that elevator pitch you’ve already developed! Share your work in posts, follow companies you’d like to work for and comment on their posts, and reach out to people in your network who are doing the kind of work you’re looking for.
Your personal brand defines the version of you that you’d like to show employers. A living resumé, tailored cover letter, and growing your network are tangible ways you can use your brand to get a job. As long as you’re actively revising, sharing, and meeting people, you’re well on your way to gainful employment!
“The first step in building your network is to craft an elevator pitch for your brand—practice explaining the following in under 60 seconds: who you are, what you can do, what makes you unique, and what you hope to achieve. ”
– Kelly Gordon
Related articles
- 3 ways to leverage past experience into a new career
- 9 skills to develop for success in any career
- What’s in a personal brand?
If you would like more information about career planning, please contact Counselling Services at counselling@athabascau.ca.
