Personal Branding: Stand Out With Your Bio and Resume

What is personal branding?

Personal branding is the ongoing act of differentiating yourself from others. It includes defining and positioning your unique skills, your professional image, and your writing and communication styles.

Whether you are up against a pool of candidates for your next role or trying to differentiate yourself as a leader in your industry, how you communicate, define and promote your individuality and skills can be a game changer for your career.

Defining your personal brand

It’s easy to see others’ uniqueness but often a challenge to define it in ourselves. Spending time answering the following can help define your personal brand:

• What are your specific core skills?
• What are you passionate about in relation to your career, job, or people you serve?
• Why do you love what you do? Why are you in this industry, career, or position?
• List three adjectives that describe your professional style?
• What specific skills, measurable accomplishments, including awards, set you apart from others?
• Evaluating the answers to the above, how can these be reflected through a written statement?

Personal brand statements and professional bios

Professional bios are succinct statements that highlight your expertise, achievements, and values. Length varies depending on your industry or where the bio is being used but aim for a few short paragraphs.

Should I write a self-branded bio using third person?

Most bios are written in first or third person and the voice is determined by the setting and who is using it.

The third person uses “he,” “she,” “it,” or “they” and is often seen in company bios or formal writing. Third person is often used when you are passing on your bio for others to use.

Use third person in professional bios for:

• company websites and team profiles
• speaker introductions
• event programs
• press releases
• award nominations
• media features

When should professional bios be in first person?

Using the first person means writing in “I” and “we.” This approach allows you to express your personality, share personal experiences, and build a genuine connection with your audience. Use first person in professional bios for:

• LinkedIn or social media profiles
• your personal website or blog bio
• introductory emails
• industries that are more informal: creative, startups

Personal Branding and Resume Writing

With so much change, automation and information clutter it’s important to present specific and engaging information, unique to you, especially at the top of a resume that will draw hiring managers and recruiters in to continue on and consider you for the position.

While there isn’t a single rule of following for branding, writing and laying out your resume, here’s some tips that can apply to all:

Concise

Personality

Aesthetics

Join us for our next Lakeside Chat: “Shift Happens: New Year, New Personal Brand”

One of Lakeside HR Group’s values is being genuine. We believe your personal brand should resonate with your genuine and authentic self.

Join us in taking the next step to owning your narrative in the next Lakeside Chat, “Shift Happens: New Year, New Personal Brand.” Erin Hargrove and guests, Anne Sample and Heather Boschke will explore the power of a personal brand statement, telling your story, and other tactical approaches to presenting yourself when considering your next move.