professional branding resume and cover letter quizlet

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Ditch Your Job Search. Land a Job You Love.

How to Create and Communicate Your Professional Brand

Branding is an important part of finding and landing a new job. Your professional brand helps hiring managers and recruiters understand fit potential for their job openings. Your brand also provides insight into whether or not you are a cultural fit for the organization. Without a strong brand, you will experience difficulty landing a job. In this post we’ll define professional branding and explain how and where to brand yourself in order to optimize your job search.

What is Professional Branding?

Branding is the way you differentiate yourself from other people around you. Professional branding is how you differentiate yourself in a professional capacity. Your professional brand should communicate who you are, what you do, and how you do it. Your brand should be communicated instantly when interacting with other professionals. Branding is important for career management and should be incorporated throughout your critical branding materials . Branding is also a huge part of experiencing job search results.

Why Professional Branding is Important for Landing a Job

Professional branding is important for landing a job because it forms the first impression for hiring managers. When done correctly, branding should speak initially to your fit for the role. Branding should also speak to your future value as an employee. These branding messages help form the decisions of those who might want to hire or work with you.

The Wrong Branding Won’t Land You Interviews

If you are branded correctly and applying for the right jobs , you will have a very good chance of landing interviews. If you are not branded correctly and applying for the right jobs, you will have  a very good chance of NOT landing interviews. So it’s important to realize that without optimal branding, you won’t land interviews, even if you’re a fit. Hiring managers spend very little time reading resumes. Your branding has to capture their attention in under 6 seconds . If you’re not landing interviews, the problem is probably in your branding.

When to Focus on Creating Your Professional Brand

Professional branding is not about hiding under a rock until you’re ready to apply for a new job. Most professionals I meet don’t spend enough time on their branding. It’s very common for professionals to stick with the same resume or branding statements they’ve always used. This is a big mistake. Branding should evolve as your career evolves. At a minimum branding should be updated with every career move. The more time you put into maintaining your brand, the easier branding tweaks will be when branding becomes a necessity.

I was feeling dragged out and depressed – my job search was going in circles with no clear resolution. Every time before I talk to you I wonder whether it will get anywhere, and then the next day I really just feel energized and on the right track.  Thank you for that. Thanks again for making me feel like this isn’t some insurmountable hurdle but rather a series of manageable steps.  – Christine, Career Re-entry Exec, Job Search Jumpstarter Client

Branding is Important Even When You’re Not in the Job Search

If you are not looking to make a career move you still need to spend some time focusing on your brand. Even if you are happy in your current job, it pays to keep your branding current. A current brand has the potential to attract recruiters – and bring even better opportunities your way. We always used to say in recruiting, “the best time to look for a job is when you’re happy.” Things can change quickly in the corporate world and you never know when you’ll need to make a move. It’s far better to have an opportunity floated your way by a recruiter than to be scrambling for opportunities when things change.

The Best Places to Brand Yourself

Since professional branding is so important for your career, you’ll want to be sure you are taking advantage of every opportunity to brand yourself. There are 5 places where branding takes place – places where you need to have a presence.

1. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the number one place to have a branded presence . Being branded on LinkedIn is even more important for your career than your resume . 100% of recruiters and hiring managers search LinkedIn for talent. One of your number one career goals is to be found in their searches. If people can’t find you on LinkedIn, then you practically don’t exist when it comes to career management. Take some time to update your LinkedIn profile so you are appearing in searches.  Also take some time to apply brand strategy to several key LinkedIn profile parts such as the headline and summary . Once people find your profile, you will need your strategic branding to do the selling. This is the role of the LinkedIn profile parts – to position your brand properly for the recruiters and opportunities you are trying to attract.

Your resume branding is important for when you send applications. You’ll only get a few seconds to capture hiring manager attention. You are also competing against keyword-scanning ATS’s . Finally, if your resume does make it past the ATS and hiring manager, it will be circulated to others on the team. Your resume will be the first impression you make on key decision makers. Therefore you will want to include the strongest keywords , skills and branding statements. You will want to avoid designer online resume services for these reasons . While visually stunning, your resume will be lacking in brand substance (best keywords, skills, phrases, etc.). If you are not sure how to do this, I recommend working with a professional resume writer . This will save you a lot of time, hassle, and branding confusion .

3. Cover Letter

Your cover letter , while not as important as the resume or Linkedin profile, will also provide an opportunity for strategic branding. Cover letter branding should be visually cohesive with your resume. However the content, should be complimentary, not duplicitous to the resume. The cover letter is where you want to feature your 3 strongest and most relevant results. Avoid copy-pasting from your resume. Take some time to write compelling branding statements that will introduce all your great career accomplishments .

4. Networking

Unlike written branding, networking is a venue for in-person branding. Networking is one of the most effective job search activities . Therefore you will want to take time to craft all of your networking branding pieces. Your elevator pitch is the foundation for your branding. Craft several branding statements to weave into your networking conversations. Don’t be afraid to borrow from your Linkedin or resume – repurposing statements for oral communications.

5. Interviewing

The other critical venue for in-person branding is the job interview . You will need to be able to brand yourself in a conversational way during the interview . If you have spent time networking and honing your networking branding, interview branding should be a breeze!

How to Get Started With Your Professional Branding

Your LinkedIn profile is the best place to start your branding. It’s the most visible place and it’s also more of a casual medium for branding than the resume. This should help your branding creative juices to start flowing. I recommend starting with the photo and headline. Then work your way down the profile to the Linkedin summary. Finish the profile off by adding your work history or experience.

“I received my rebrand strategy from the best in industry. It has been a unique and true pleasure collaborating with NG Career Strategy. I am impressed with your team’s passion and dedication in professional branding. With my brand makeover, I feel more confident engaging on LinkedIn and boosting my connections.” – Michelle, Diversity & Inclusion Executive & The Works client

How to Analyze Your LinkedIn Branding and Make Sure it’s On Point

Once you complete your initial LinkedIn branding, make sure it conveys your brand correctly. Ask yourself: What message is my professional brand communicating to outside viewers?  Be completely honest with yourself. If it feels too cheesy or too rigid, it may not be the right branding. Perhaps your profile is coming off a little too conservative and polished? Or maybe you are showing too much personality? Or appearing overly casual when you should be conveying more leadership presence? Your brand should feel authentic to you. If you are having a hard time branding to authentic you, recruit the help of a friend or colleague who you can trust to be totally honest. Ask for their opinion. Spend 15 minutes brainstorming better words or concepts. This is always easier with an extra set of eyes.

Brand Yourself to Future You

After you’ve taken the time to fix your brand vibe, take your branding one step further. This is where you will cross over from branding to strategic branding . If you are in the job search, your want to be found for your next job – so you need to look the part. You need to brand yourself to future you. Take a moment to identify which vibe you should be communicating based on your next career target. If your goal is to advance in your current industry, check out the Linkedin profiles of those currently working in your target next role. What do the impressive profiles look like? What information do they include?

How to Brand Yourself for a Career Change

If your goal is to transition into a totally new industry , does your profile speak to your new future target or are you still stuck on your past brand (potentially causing confusion to viewers)? There are ways to speak vaguely or make minor tweaks, so that you don’t scream out “I’m looking for a new job” to your current employer. For example if you’re looking to move from the finance industry into healthcare, weave in any transferable skills . Mention healthcare as relevant to your experience. This will help you to be picked up in recruiter searches for “healthcare” and make you appear as more of a fit than if your future role branding is not presented.

Make Annual Branding Updates to Keep Your Profile Current

Once your initial branding is completed, plan to revisit in a year, if not sooner. Make annual updates to your profile so that your chance of being connected to the right people for the right opportunities or goals is achieved. Your professional brand must be continually refreshed so that you appear to be making progress in your career.

About Noelle

Noelle Gross, is a job search strategy expert and award winning career influencer. She has a background in executive recruiting and uses her recruiting and hiring insights to simplify the job search and help job seekers at all levels land jobs. Through her websites NG Career Strategy and the Job Search Accelerator , Noelle and her team of career experts share their decades of expertise, and dozens of career certifications to provide guidance on everything from resumes to LinkedIn to interviewing, to achieving challenging career changes and more. Noelle brings a shrewd headhunter prowess, fun-loving practical perspective and refreshing approach to the career world.

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Quiz 12: Communicating Your Professional Brand: Social Media, Résumés, Cover Letters, and Interviews

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is one of the ways recommended to build your personal brand?

Which of the following represents a consistent image for you to present,helping you stand out when compared to other applicants?

Which of the following is TRUE of analyzing your strengths and skills?

Which of the following is most likely to be included in the professional signature block on an email message?

Which of the following is FALSE about an objective statement on a résumé?

Employers use ________ more than twice as much as any other social media to search for potential candidates.

The chronological résumé ________.

Which of the following should be used to communicate the unique value you offer your employer?

Which of the following is a benefit to analyzing your strengths and skills before applying for a job?

Which of the following should be used to help you emphasize skills when you have limited work experience related to a position?

The ________ format is most appropriate for applicants who have worked in positions closely related to the one they are applying for and who also want to emphasize the advanced skillsets required for the new position.

In the context of creating a professional brand,which of the following terms best represents a concise statement designed to communicate your value and initiate a deeper conversation?

Which of the following best defines your network?

A(n) ________ résumé is a traditional format that organizes the content in sequential order,starting with the most recent and working backward.

A statement that communicates your unique values is referred to as ________.

What can be done to determine and develop your personal brand message?

Generally,the work experience section of your résumé should include ________.

The chronological résumé format ________.

When listing educational information on your résumé,________.

The contact information on your résumé ________.

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Resume And Cover Letter Quiz Questions With Answers

Get ready for resume and cover letter quiz with informative questions with answers? Getting the job of your dream may be dependent on the first impression you make and this is not on the date of the interview. The first contact that one makes with a prospective employer is through their resume and cover letter, these two documents are almost enough for an organization to range your capabilities. How good are you at the resume and cover letter writing? Try playing this resume and cover letter quiz and assess your understanding of the key elements and formats of a cover Read more letter.

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_____________ is a letter of introduction attached to, or accompanying another document such as a résumé or employment application; as a way of introducing themselves to potential employers and explaining their suitability for the desired position.

Résumé

Job Application

Cover Letter

Reference Letter

Rate this question:

It is important to remember that cover letters are ________ letters, and you are the product. Cover letters serve to introduce you to an employer, and resume tells about you.

Recommendation

Resignation

A cover letter serves to ________________________________.

Create a favorable first impression.

Introduce yourself.

Demonstrate your professionalism.

Illustrate your communication skills.

All of them

None of them

Cover letters are typically divided into _________ categories.

Cover letters are generally _____ page at most in length, divided into a header, introduction, body, and closing., the ___________ paragraph should create interest and explain why you are writing. it should state the type of position you are applying for, as well as how you heard about the company. also in your first paragraph, refer to your enclosed or attached resume..

Introduction

The ________ paragraph highlights or amplifies on the material in the resume or job application, and explains why the job seeker is interested in the job and would be of value to the employer.

In the __________ paragraph you request action, such as an appointment, an  interview, or some other definite action, what format do write a cover letter in.

Business Formal

Business Informal

___________ is a document used by individuals to present their background and skillsets.

Business letter

What is a very important tip you should do before submitting your résumé?

Spell Check

Have someone else read it

Make it all bold

None of these

In many contexts, a resumé is short (usually ______ to _____ pages), and directs a reader's attention to the aspects of a person's background that are directly relevant to a particular position.

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Chapter 13: The job search, resumes, and...

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Professional development, chapter 13: the job search, resumes, and cover letter.

14 questions

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The first step in the job-search process is to

contact professional and personal references.

purchase appropriate interview clothing.

prepare a résumé.

analyze individual interests and goals and evaluate personal qualifications.

Using the Web, where should job candidates look in addition to using the big job board sites? Choose all the correct answers.

Corporate or association websites

Local employment websites

Niche web sites

Any pop-up ads on websites

Professional networking sites

All of the following are important preliminary steps for securing an interview EXCEPT

Developing a job-search strategy

Preparing a resume

Knowing the hiring process

Writing a thank-you letter to an interviewer

You are just graduating from college and have little employment experience, yet you want to put together a persuasive resume. What should be the best resume style to use?

Chronological résumé

Video résumé

Functional résumé

Infographic résumé

Which of the following is the best advice about résumé length?

Because recruiters are busy, keep it to one page.

Because recruiters and hiring managers want to know your skills, make it as long as needed to sell yourself.

Because recruiters interview applicants with two-page résumés, make it two pages.

Because experts are divided between one- or two-page résumé length, make your résumé a page and a half

Which of the following is the best tip for creating a successful cover message?

Use different paper colors and paper types for your résumé and cover message to create a strong visual impact

Make activities and outcomes, not yourself, the subject of sentences to reduce overuse of "I"

Use a creative letter style to surprise the reader and make a big impact

Keep the focus on your skills and traits through frequent use of "I" statements

In order to be ethical, you should list every position you have had in your career on your resume.

Which of these is the best tip for organizing the parts of a résumé?

Place your most important qualifications last so that they will be remembered.

Use as many headings as needed to present your experiences and skills.

Emphasize your skills and achievements aimed at a particular job or company.

Always place the education section before the work experience section.

When creating the main heading of your résumé,

place your name on the first line

include your current work email address so that you can check your messages frequently

include your home and cell phone numbers, along with the phone numbers of any family members who might take messages for you

incorporate a catchy email address

Fill in the blank with NO MORE TWO WORDS:

Cover letters introduce resume, relate writer strengths to reader benefits, seek _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

An attractive print-based résumé is necessary when you are competing for a job that does not require _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

All of the followings are correct in the summary of qualifications EXCEPT

Include three to eight bulleted statements

Consider experience in the field, education, unique skills, awards, certifications

List your least impressive accomplishments and qualifications in one concise bulleted list

Ensure your most impressive qualifications are not overlooked by a recruiter

An e-portfolio is

the name given to résumés posted on job-search websites such as Monster.com.

a collection of digital files that can be accessed with the use of menus and hyperlinks.

an electronic copy of a résumé recorded on a CD or flash drive.

the addition of work samples and personal information as an attachment to an embedded résumé.

What kind of résumé focuses on job history with the most recent positions listed first?

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