By Hannah Morgan | Career Sherpa - Reprinted with permission
A major part of job search is getting yourself out there. What better way than to attend a career fair? First, there are usually open jobs at companies that attend career fairs. Second, you'll have the chance to meet employers and others face-to-face! If you are going to go, do some serious preparation. In order to make the most of your time at career fairs, follow these best practices. No, you won't walk out of a career fair with a job offer and they aren't a waste of time if you approach them with the right objectives....
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There's no better way to learn about VA than from the people who work here, and our recruiters would love the opportunity to meet you at the national events we'll be attending this winter. Whether you have clinical expertise or a background in research, there's a place for you at VA, and we're looking forward to meeting you. In fact, if you've been considering a switch to VA, now is the time to meet with our team as we attend events with:...
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11 Personal Brand Statement Examples You Need To See
By Hannah Morgan | Career Sherpa - Reprinted with permission
Your personal brand statement is like a personal slogan. It helps people understand who you are and what you deliver. In an economy where there is a lot of competition, a personal brand statement helps you stand out and be remembered. Personal brand statement examples. You may see a personal brand statement on a website, in a LinkedIn headline, or email signature block. It's a simple sentence or two that explains what you do. When someone reads or hears your personal brand statement, you want them to know exactly what you do, who you help and what problem you solve. What Is A Personal Brand Statement? Businesses have slogans and whenever you hear or see it, you instantly know the company. Just Do It — Nike. Melts in Your Mouth, Not in Your Hands — M&Ms......
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Experience live events through Vet Tix with friends and family
Attending live events, such as concerts, sports, performing arts and family themed events is how many of us relax with entertainment. These experiences are especially significant to Veterans and those who serve our country in uniform. Quite often, our Veterans and service members have missed out on various life events, such as birthdays, anniversaries and holidays with family and friends. Those are experiences that we can't get back, however we quite often commit to making up for it when we're back with our loved ones....
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FREE U.S. Veterans Magazine Subscription for TAOnline Members!
U.S. Veterans Magazine (USVM) Is the premiere resource magazine for transitioning service members, service-disabled veterans, veteran business owners and their spouses and families. USVM is the link between the qualified students, career and business candidates from the ranks of our nation's veteran organizations, educational institutions, corporate America, and the federal government. Subscribe for FREE today!
Career Fairs: 7 Best Practices
By Hannah Morgan | Career Sherpa - Reprinted with permission
A major part of job search is getting yourself out there. What better way than
to attend a career fair? First, there are usually open jobs at companies that attend
career fairs. Second, you'll have the chance to meet employers and others face-to-face!
If you are going to go, do some serious preparation.
In order to make the most of your time at career fairs, follow these best practices.
No, you won't walk out of a career fair with a job offer and they aren't a waste
of time if you approach them with the right objectives.
Find out what companies will be there and research them for a "Must Visit"
list.
It sounds obvious, but, if the company isn't in your field or industry, then, you
probably don't NEED to visit their table.
You won't have time to wander through the event and visit every employer so you'll
want to review the list of participating companies a day before the event. Look
for companies on your target list first to see if they will be there. Next, look
for any employers you've been curious about. You should plan to visit 5-10 companies
during the event.
Visit their websites and see what jobs they have posted.
Generally, companies that attend a career fair have posted jobs. If you can't find
them on their website, check Indeed or LinkedIn.
Bring a resume
It's unlikely that you will be able to submit your resume for available jobs during
the career fair. They would prefer you apply online. However, having a resume that
speaks to your skills to "show" the recruiter or person at the table,
can be helpful.
Prepare your pitch
You will absolutely be asked "so what do you do" numerous times at a career
fair. This is your chance to concisely explain what you are looking for and what
you are good at doing (your value). Remember, recruiters at a career fair meet hundreds
of people so you want your pitch to be short and memorable. Keep it to 30 seconds
or less. Here's a formula to help you answer "tell me about yourself."
Wait in line
Make the most of your time while waiting in line. Ask the person near you what kind
of work they do, what other companies they have visited, and strike up some small
chat to kill some time and meet new people. This is also a chance for you to practice
your pitch or answer to the question "what do you do?" Use this time to
meet other job seekers and share industry news.
5a. Ask good questions of the recruiter at the table
2-3 questions might be all you have time for. You want to leave the recruiter you
meet with a positive, interested, and qualified mental picture of you! Asking questions
shows you've done some research on the company and will help set you apart. Here
are some questions you can ask a recruiter at a career fair.
Ask when and how to follow up
Nicely yet assertively ask for a business card so you can follow up after the event.
If they recommend you apply online for a certain job, be sure to ask how to follow
up and how long you should wait. Having their contact email will make this possible,
so be sure to ask for it.
Follow up, don't give up!
It's up to you to stay in touch with the person you meet in case there are future
jobs available. They will probably not be able to remember you or reach out to you
if there is a new job posted in a couple of months. Companies are not giving away
jobs at a career fair. They are there to meet people and build a pipeline for current
or future jobs they have available.
Miscellaneous:
Arrive at the career fair early while the recruiters are fresh. Showing up near
the end means they will probably be tired or may have decided to leave early.
Always bring business cards to hand out either to those you meet while waiting in
line or to hand to recruiters.
Turn your cell phone off or at least turn the ringer off and do not answer calls
in public.
Attending a career fair can fill some people with anxiety. Being prepared and knowing
what to expect from the event will help you navigate it more successfully.
There's no better way to learn about VA than from the people who work here, and
our recruiters would love the opportunity to meet you at the national events we'll
be attending this winter.
Whether you have clinical expertise or a background in research, there's a place
for you at VA, and we're looking forward to meeting you. In fact, if you've been
considering a switch to VA, now is the time to meet with our team as we attend events
with:
If you're attending these events, this is your chance to discuss the ways work at
VA offers an unparalleled life/work balance and opportunities to grow your skills
while finding meaning in service to our nation's heroes. We're ready to share how
you can change the landscape of Veteran health care with an organization that embraces
who you are and rewards what you have to offer.
Work at VA
Make the change of the seasons the time you change your career. Learn more about
these events and how to apply at VA Careers.
11 Personal Brand Statement Examples You Need To See
By Hannah Morgan | Career Sherpa - Reprinted with permission
Your personal brand statement is like a personal slogan. It helps people understand
who you are and what you deliver.
In an economy where there is a lot of competition, a personal brand statement helps
you stand out and be remembered.
Personal brand statement examples
You may see a personal brand statement on a website, in a LinkedIn headline, or
email signature block. It's a simple sentence or two that explains what you do.
When someone reads or hears your personal brand statement, you want them to know
exactly what you do, who you help and what problem you solve.
What Is A Personal Brand Statement?
Businesses have slogans and whenever you hear or see it, you instantly know the
company.
Just Do It — Nike
Melts in Your Mouth, Not in Your Hands — M&Ms
America Runs on Dunkin — Dunkin Donuts
Personal branding statements should work the same way. As people, we also have things
we are known for, or a reputation.
Your brand is what other people say about you when you're not in the room
— Jeff Bezos, CEO Amazon
Personal brand statements can also be referred to as a unique selling point (USP),
value proposition or unique value proposition (UVP). No matter what you call them,
these two-three sentences pack a powerful punch and clearly communicate what you
are known for (or the value you deliver).
The best personal brand statement examples tend to contain three important pieces
of information:
What you do or what problem you solve
Who benefits from this
How you do it uniquely
As simple as these statements are, they can be incredibly challenging to pinpoint
for yourself. Those catchy slogans above were written by masterful marketers. Consider
your personal brand statement a work in progress.
So rather than let someone else decide what you want to be known for, take the bull
by the horns and create the personal brand that fits who you are today.
Who Should Have One?
Entrepreneurs, freelancers, authors and speakers invest great time and effort developing
personal brand statements that set them apart from the competition or position them
in front of the right audience.
But even if you aren't one of these folks, you still need a strong message when
you introduce yourself. Your personal brand statement is more than your job title
and company. It's a powerful way to become a sought after resource internally or
externally.
In job search, having a clear and easy to understand personal brand statement is
incredibly important. You want people to easily remember what you do in case they
hear of any openings or know anyone they should introduce you to.
Keep in mind that saying something, doesn't necessarily make it true. Your personal
brand has to align with how you actually perform.
Where To Use It
Business owners and even job seekers, realize how critically important it is to
have a personal brand statement that explains exactly what they deliver.
You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.
— Will Rogers
Your personal brand statement is that first impression. You can use a version of
it on your website, in your LinkedIn headline, at the top of your resume, in your
social media profile and even in your email signature. You may even have a spoken
version of your personal brand statement that is a bit more conversational.
As you can see from the samples below, personal brand statements are used in all
those places. In fact, a version of the personal branding statement follows them
around everywhere they appear, online and in-person.
Personal Brand Statement Examples
As you will see, personal branding statements are an important tool to humanise
your business and help customers choose your service over competitors. A personal
brand statement adds a recognisable face behind the product or service and provides
a level of trust people want to invest in. Your business transforms from a cold,
money-making operation to a warm, friendly entity.
The personal brand statement examples below come from recognized leaders and influencers
(and some lesser-known personalities) who talk about leadership, marketing, entrepreneurship
and the human condition. They are authors, speakers, trainers and business owners
— each with a unique, money-making idea worth sharing.
Let's take a look at real personal brand samples and see how you can adapt them
to create your own unique personal brand. And if you're thinking," I'm not
a celebrity. How can I have a personal brand?" stick with me and give these
a look first. It's actually quite easy to replicate or adapt your message based
on these examples.
We imagine a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every day inspired,
feel safe wherever they are and end the day fulfilled by the work they do.
Though this is written as "we imagine" it is based on Sinek's personal beliefs
too. This may sound a bit like a mission statement than a personal brand statement
but it's still a powerful example of how you can combine your personal mission or
values with the work that you enjoy doing to create your own personal branding statement.
It addresses the problem Sinek solves: to help people wake up every day feeling
inspired, safe and fulfilled. (Who doesn't want that?) Yet it is rare or uncommon
for businesses to say that's what they deliver. And that is what makes this unique.
It is genuine and not-so-common.
I've dedicated my life to the power of storytelling. Whether I'm acting, directing,
writing or podcasting, I believe sharing stories is what I was born to do because
storytelling is what brings us all together.
You may not remember Burton from Reading Rainbow, but you may have seen him in a
role on Star Trek.
What Burton has done is simply put into words what he loves doing. He has found
multiple outlets to focus on sharing stories. Perhaps you have found multiple ways
to carry out your special talents.
I am the #1 NYTimes Bestselling author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck and
Everything is F*cked: A Book About Hope. I write life advice that is science-based,
pragmatic, and non-bullshitty — a.k.a., life advice that doesn't suck.
Do you have a straight-forward way of addressing problems? Manson provides life
advice that doesn't suck.
Without needing to say who his audience is, his message resonates with those who
don't mind profanity and are looking for science-based, pragmatic advice.
Sometimes the way in which you deliver a message or solve a problem is part of your
personal brand.
PS: I'm not suggesting that you use profanity, remember, you're not a NYTimes bestselling
author and probably can't get away with it.
I'm Claude Silver and my life's purpose is to be of joyful service and unlock emotional
optimism in all.
Chief Heart Officer at VaynerMedia (HR/People)
Silver has an unusual job title, Chief Heart Officer (CHO). And for those who may
not know what that means, she spells it out in her personal branding statement.
Her value is in unlocking emotional optimism in everyone.
While you may not think there's money in that or it's too general, she has found
a way to make it work. It's almost like a teaser personal branding statement and
it certainly speaks to her priorities and values in life.
Make more money online with marketing strategies that work. Education & training
that take the mystery out of building a profitable business.
What business owner do you know that doesn't want to make more money online? And
for many, online selling is a bit mysterious. If you don't have a team of people
designated to do this for you (if you're an entrepreneur or freelancer) then Garst's
education and training may be appealing.
What Garst hasn't included is her personality/style or mission. It makes this a
little less personal than the other personal brand statement examples on this list,
but as you can see, it still is clear and easy to understand.
I teach business owners, educators and entrepreneurs the profitable action steps
for building a highly engaged email list, creating online training courses, and
using online marketing strategies to sell with ease.
Porter clearly spells out who she serves with her services. And she addresses one
of the major pain-points for business owners, educators and entrepreneurs... that
her actions and ideas are easy!
As you see, Porter lists several areas of expertise — email lists, online courses
and marketing.
You may also have several areas of expertise or specialty. Just make sure they are
crystal clear and specific enough so people understand what you're talking about.
William Arruda's personal branding and social media keynotes, innovative training
and influential Forbes columns have inspired millions of professionals to bolster
their brand, up their social media savvy, deliver greater value to their company
and have more fun at work!
Arruda provides personal branding advice in many different forms. And what makes
this personal brand statement example different is that he talks about the outcome
or results of his services — "bolster brand, increase social media savvy, value
to company and more fun at work."
Who knew personal branding could be so valuable!
And while this isn't written in the first person, you can see how it could easily
be converted to say "My personal branding... "
Donald Miller
Most companies struggle to talk about what they offer but if you confuse, you'll
lose. My framework helps you clarify your message so customers place orders.
Miller's message is clear and concise. It should be, messaging is what he specializes
in. His personal branding statement (in his Twitter bio) addresses the problem,
his solution and the outcome.
Here's how you might use a formula based on Miller's personal branding statement:
This is the problem, and why it's not good. Here's my solution/fix and what the
outcome will be.
Helping service providers hit consistent $10k+ months w/o working 10k hours/month.
5 Systems Service Providers Need to Grow
I'll be honest, it was the name of Hale's company, Allergic To Hourly, that piqued
my interest. Her personal branding statement is very specific and she knows exactly
who her ideal client is, as she has clearly spelled out.
She is targeting service providers who need a system to help them maintain a consistent
revenue without working tons of hours.
Niching, or specializing is a powerful way to serve your customers by giving them
exactly what they need.
Helping socially inclusive brands impact & empower more people using social media.
I don't know exactly what a socially inclusive brand is, but if I was one, I would
be interested. That's Jones' target audience. She helps them use social media to
increase impact.
Here's an example of how concise may not always provide enough information. It's
still good, but more detail might make it better.
Virtual Training is Here to Stay. Partnering With You to Lead the Way
You may not have heard of LaBorie before. But you know what she does. She's helping
virtual trainers lead the way.
This personal branding statement sample is kind of catchy and it even rhymes. So
if you are looking for another way to help people remember what you do, you may
want to use clever word pairing or rhyming.
Final Thoughts
Businesses and entrepreneurs often hire consultants to help write and refine their
personal brand statements, but you can borrow ideas from examples to help you spin
your own.
Landing on the right personal brand statement is sort of like trying on shoes. You'll
know it fits once it's on or done. In fact, your statement may shift, morph or change
as you and your business grow.
Attending live events, such as concerts, sports, performing arts and family themed
events is how many of us relax with entertainment. These experiences are especially
significant to Veterans and those who serve our country in uniform. Quite often,
our Veterans and service members have missed out on various life events, such as
birthdays, anniversaries and holidays with family and friends. Those are experiences
that we can't get back, however we quite often commit to making up for it when we're
back with our loved ones.
Vet Tix is open to Veterans of all eras
"This was my families' first time at an event for Vettix. It was a great experience. We all loved it. I felt honored as a Veteran to be at this event," Army Veteran Tierra J.
Vet Tix is a national nonprofit organization that provides free event tickets to
give something to those who gave. Vet Tix supports Veterans and service members
by honoring their service and providing positive family and life experiences during
and after their years of service to our country, delivering experiences to last
a lifetime. Becoming a member is free; to join, one just has to be a Veteran (all
eras), a member of the military, or the immediate family member of a service member
who was killed in the line of duty.
The cost of attending live entertainment events can range anywhere from over $200-
$500 for a family or four, making these All-American events far too expensive for
many of the families to attend.
Vet Tix receives donated tickets from professional and collegiate sports teams,
concert and performing arts venues, artists/performers, private donors who aren't
going to use their tickets, entertainment promoters from motor sports, rodeos, festivals
and more. It receives tickets to many major concert tours, performing arts such
as Hamilton, and even major sporting events such as the NFL Super Bowl.
Giving something to those who gave
Created in 2008 by U.S. Navy Veteran Michael Focareto III, Vet Tix has distributed
over 16 million tickets to over 200,000 events throughout the United States. "Vet
Tix is able to continue to achieve our mission of 'giving something to those who
gave,' due of the generosity of or amazing donors. We're grateful for their continued
support," Focareto said.
The ticket to the rest of your life
"I loved seeing Hamilton at The Pantages theater! The performance was outstanding, with amazing seats. It's been very gratifying to be a member of Vet Tix," said an Army Veteran.
Vet Tix has received over one million testimonials from its members, referred to
as VetTixers who share their experiences by thanking the over 30,000 donors for
creating lifelong memories. Quite often, they've shared their stories of success
in addressing personal challenges through attending events provided by Vet Tix.
"People don't realize that this is truly more than a ticket to an event, it's a
ticket to the rest of our life," said Adrienne, a U.S. Army Veteran.
Join Vet Tix today
Thousands of Veterans who are registered with VA are enjoying the experiences and
opportunities Vet Tix provides. To become a VetTixer, create an account for free
at Vettix.org. Once your status is verified through Vet Tix and VA's verification
portal, ID.me, you, too, can experience events through Vet Tix with friends and
family. Tickets are free, however there is a nominal delivery fee. If you're a caregiver
of a Veteran, have them sign up; many VetTixers bring their caregivers to events
through Vet Tix as a way to thank them for what they do.
The sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement of products
and services on part of VA.
