Will Your Resume Get You the Job You Want?
So you've been laid off, or are afraid you will be, or maybe you're just keeping your options open. You're scouring the job boards and know you've got to get moving on finding another job.
Regardless of the amount of education, experience or creative vision you think you can bring to that new job, none of it will get you in the door if your resume is never seen. You can do everything right in terms of resume writing - great objective, short, neat, filled with action words, blah blah blah. But if no one sees your resume, it's not going to matter.
You've got two things going against you. One is the danger of screen-bot limbo - the automated search and screening methods that strive to be perfect in lining up candidates and hiring managers. The second is your "perfect" resume isn't perfect in today's personal branding world. Either way, you're stuck.
No personal branding statement
We live in a marketing-driven world today and you need to know how to market yourself. It is a requirement today to be comfortable putting your best foot forward. You've got to be able to quickly and succinctly articulate your value proposition. The ability to differentiate yourself, and make a potential employer say, "Get me this person now" is what it takes. You do this verbally, and you've got to include a personal branding statement in your resume.
Make something happen
It's a highly competitive world out there, and with all the layoffs, it's getting more crowded every day. If you see a job you're perfect for, you have to take the bull by the horns. If you see a position you're perfect for, but not in the industry you're currently in, take the risk and position yourself for that job as well. Most skills are transferable across industries. At any rate, you need to make something happen:
- You need to get to that hiring manager yourself
- Call everybody you can think of who may know somebody in that company, and find out who the hiring manager is
- Use your LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter networks and let people know what you're looking for
- Be your own best brand advocate
When you find his name, don't just send the guy an email. Get yourself introduced. Get somebody he already knows, listens to and trusts, to send him an email with your resume attached. Call him yourself. You need to get his attention - either the old fashioned way or via your social networks.
Personal Branding is catching on, but still unique enough to help you stand out. Don't wait. Get out there by putting your best foot forward and get that job before someone else does!
Beverly Macy is Managing Partner at Y&M Partners LLC in Beverly Hills. She also teaches a social media class at UCLA and is organizer of the Gravity Summit event at UCLA February 25, 2009.
Article courtesy of Dan Schawbel, the leading personal branding expert for Gen-Y. He authors the Personal Branding Blog and publishes Personal Branding Magazine and authored the upcoming book, Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success (Kaplan, Spring 2009). Dan has been called a "personal branding force of nature" by Fast Company and his work has been published in BrandWeek Magazine, Advertising Age and countless other publications.
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