Do you know who you are... on paper?

Do you know who you are ... on paper? Thanks to an amazing membership with Career Directors International, I had the distinct pleasure of hosting a booth at the most recent National Careers Job Fair. Three hours of job seekers pouring in through the doors and my assistant and myself providing free resume analyses. I spoke to 100+ job seekers and found one common thread among them all—they had no idea who they were … on paper. I must have repeated the phrase, “What do you want to do?” a hundred times. I know I asked all but two job seekers that question. I remember the two I didn’t ask because their resumes stood out from the rest. They had professionally branded themselves, and it was obvious to me exactly who they were and what they wanted. Do you know who you are on paper? When I look at a resume, the first third is what is most important to me. Why? Because it contains all of the information I need to know: What do you want to do, where do I put you? How good are you at your job? Do you know who you are? I can gather all that from the first third of your resume. Scary, isn’t it? I’ll bet it makes you wonder what your resume is saying … doesn’t it? Listen, if you look at your resume right now, and you have an objective on there, and it reads: To obtain a position with an organization that utilizes my experience and education, then you have no idea who you are or what you want. At least that is what your resume is telling me. Do you have a one-line introductory/positioning/branding statement on your resume? Is it immediately qualified by keywords in the text that follows? No? … well, that’s probably why you’re not getting any interviews. People like me (HR managers, recruiters, hiring managers, decision makers) have no idea where to put you, what you’re applying for, what you want to do, or what you are qualified to do. Enter: Professional branding statement. Get one! As an expert resume writer, my job is twofold. Firstly, to help you figure out what your unique professional brand and value proposition are and how they align with your talent, passion, and vision. Secondly, to gather all of the above stated information and strategically position you as a leader and make you stand out in the crowd of thousands of other job seekers vying for the same position. If your resume lacks a professional brand, or you don’t know what professional branding is, or you just know your resume needs a pick-me-up, send it to info@greatresumesfast.com for a free resume analysis. Or, if you are ready to take the plunge, amp up your job search, and start getting interviews, then visit Great Resumes Fast today to order our professional resume writing service. Jessica Holbrook is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, speaker, and president/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She creates high-impact, best-in-class resumes and cover letters that win interviews. For a free resume analysis, visit http://www.greatresumesfast.com. Or, for a free telephone consultation, call 1.877.875.7706.