Editor’s note: Today’s post was written by guest contributor Stephanie Hides. Stephanie is a Resource Manager at Movéo and is responsible for recruiting new talent to the agency.
People are always asking me: “What can I do to make myself stand out?” “Can you look at my resumé and give me some pointers?” “What should I be doing in order to ensure I’m staying current?
The answer is always the same: Think of yourself as a brand. This brand has a story, a purpose and is consistent. This brand is one that every company should want to hire. And the best part? While there will be tons of interpreters of the brand, only you get to be the creator and manipulator of your own personal brand.
Copywriter, Programmer, Account Executive — these are each generic titles within the creative field. Which one are you? Maybe the answer is none. Maybe you don’t want to settle for generic and lump your capabilities in with millions of others with this title. While your background and expertise may fall into one of these categories, it should not define who you are. Your brand is different. It’s unique and it’s fun. No other brand like yours exists and none ever will.
Below are 5 tips to remember when branding yourself amongst a world of creative:
- Whoever said resumes should fit onto 1 page was NOT in the creative field. A good story takes more then one page to develop. Stop worrying about making your font smaller, decreasing your margins or manipulating the format to accommodate what has now become old school and in fact, boring to us hard-to-please recruiters. Your story is interesting. Tell it!
- Websites are not just for designers. I just had this conversation with my Creative Director last month. She recalled walking into interviews with her extremely large, very organized, perfectly matted portfolio where she would lay it on the table, imagining how impressed her interviewers would be as she stood up to turn the massive pages during her presentation. Today, if I have a candidate walk into the office with a hard copy portfolio (although it happens less and less now) and no URL to accompany it, I instantly cringe. Next!
- Brands are consistent! What do you instantly think of when you see a swoosh symbol, or a golden M, or a deer with a green background? No matter what medium an audience is consuming (TV, web, print, etc.), the awareness of that brand should be instant, and the same goes for your individual brand. So let’s say I attend a networking event and speak to a smart individual who hands me a thick, light blue colored card with white type and a logo or graphic that represents her brand. When I visit the URL listed on the card, I see the same color scheme, same logo and same type. When I bring this person in for an interview, the resume, again, has the same visual look. It’s almost like they started with a mood board and continuously referenced it to make sure everything would be consistent. In fact, a mood board to start your brand isn’t a bad idea!
- Look the part. Come on! You are creative! You are looked upon in your career to be unique, different and cutting edge. Your fashion should mirror this. I’m not insinuating you run to the nearest Forever 21 or Guess in order to capture the latest trends. How you do dress and accessorize, however, should be consistent. I’m far from a fashion advisor, but having a signature trend or accessorizing conservative attire can be what sets you apart. Recruiters and hiring managers are interviewing tons of candidates. Putting a face with a name can become foggy — unless there was something that stands out.
- Maintaining a positive reputation doesn’t end in high school. The creative world is a small one. Even here in Chicago, I’m constantly running into people I met years ago, or who know someone I worked with. And I LIVE by referrals. Just like high school, it’s very easy to get a reputation. And unfortunately, the bad ones stick faster than the good ones. So make sure that you consider your reputation before making decisions — no matter how big or small — that could impact your career and perceived work ethic. Don’t burn any bridges and always keep an open mind.
Network, network, network — and sell your brand at any given opportunity. After all, it’s free advertising! As a recruiter, I can only open doors for you. I am the facilitator of your dream career. It takes a masterful person, and brand, to own that career and take it to the next level.
Image via Glassdoor.com
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