How to Create a Standout Personal Branding Statement for Your Resume

Many job seekers don’t understand just how important their personal brand is when trying to outline their capabilities as a candidate.  Your personal brand, if clearly defined, tells an amazing story of what you’ve accomplished in your career—and what you can hope to accomplish in the future.

There are a number of ways to go about branding yourself, including giving yourself a title, creating online profiles with LinkedIn and other social networking sites, and even starting an industry-centered blog.  But in your resume, you can showcase your brand by creating a 2- to 3-sentence personal branding statement that acknowledges the benefits you can bring to a company.

So how can you create a standout personal branding statement on your resume?

Pinpoint Your Greatest Career Moments

As a professional, you have not only completed day-to-day tasks but probably have had some very impressive moments that you would love to brag about.  Your personal branding statement is the perfect place to let your moments shine.

For instance, if you are a journalist/reporter, you could share skills that make you a viable candidate—while throwing in some accomplishments that other candidates may not be able to share.  Here is an example of a journalist’s personal branding statement:

“Award-winning journalist with 10 years of experience covering fiscal budgets at the national level while working with affiliates and bureaus in state investigations.

Of course, this personal statement highlights a person who has had amazing accomplishments in his career.  But your own accomplishments can sound great—if expressed properly.

Think About What the Employer Wants

Keep in mind, pulling together all of your greatness won’t mean very much if you end up branding yourself in a way that doesn’t relate to the job for which you’re applying.  This is why it’s important to take a good look at what the company wants in a candidate.

Explore the job posting thoroughly to see which qualifications and requirements the employer wants.  Then take it a step further by contacting human resources (if possible) to learn more about the position.  Learning more about the job can help you sculpt a branding statement that meshes perfectly with the employer’s hopes for a qualified candidate.

Remember, your personal branding statement is all about making the right first impression, so pack at least three great highlights into the description.  When complete, it should not only accurately define who you are as a professional but encourage the hiring manager to strongly consider you as a candidate.