Making yourself memorable in a world that is inundated with information just makes sense, and your personal brand statement will help you do just that. In this post, we’ll be discussing the process of creating your personal brand statement as well as how it can be used.
What is a personal brand statement?
Your personal brand statement is like a self-marketing tool describing your key skills and the value you are able to bring to the table. For example:
“Industry-accredited copywriter with six years’ experience in creating content and SEO optimized marketing campaigns for award-winning enterprises”
Your personal brand statement should be seen as an elevator pitch for what you are and the skills you possess. It’s an ideal tool to use for a strong one-liner when you get as “So, tell me about yourself”, and it can also be used to grab the attention of a hiring manager sifting through endless piles of CVs.
How to create your personal brand statement
Brand statements typically follow a formula that looks something like this:
[I am] an X with Y looking to do Z
The X describes what you do, and it should ideally come with some sort of credential or proof like “highly experienced”.
The Y revolves around your experience and the value you can bring to an organization such as “6 years’ experience in creating content and SEO optimized marketing campaigns”.
The Z stands for the opportunity you’re looking for, again ideally also highlighted as a benefit to the hiring manager like “looking for an opportunity to apply my proven skills within a market-leading organization”.
You’re going to start crafting your personal brand statement by listing your skill, experience, and attributes, and then consider how you can use them to make your brand statement stand out from the crowd.
Keep in mind that your personal brand statement is not your life’s mission statement, nor is it a statement of your dream job or your personal mantra. Your personal brand statement should be business-oriented and professional.
Examples of personal brand statements
If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, take a look at these mission statements for some inspiration:
- “International SEO specialist who has optimized more than 20 websites in 5 languages across seven Currently looking for an opportunity to combine my creative capabilities and technical skills within the e-commerce or B2B space.”
- “Talent acquisition and HR specialist that has opened offices and nurtured talent for some of South Africa’s top professional recruitment firms. Currently interested in a role for a global organization that is focused on employer brand development.”
When to use your personal brand statement
You can use your personal brand statement whenever you need to market yourself to a potential employer. It can be used as a cover page for your CV, your LinkedIn page, and even your Facebook profile.
Your personal brand statement can also be used in an interview or when you’re networking and making new connections. Don’t ‘read’ the script out loud in person though, but just summarize it as part of the conversation or in one of those moments where you can’t possibly think of something to say.