What are the latest branding trends and best practices for your portfolio and resume?

Resumes are crucial, but for some hiring managers it's best to reach them visually. Even for the non-creative job-seeker, a short deck showcasing career highlights and wins can make a big difference. It can serve as the bridge to reach that non-resume reader and organically introduce some personality.

Do not draw a line between your digital persona and your real-life brand. Strive for unwavering consistency across every platform, from LinkedIn and other social networks (always mindful of your public personal profiles) to your blog. This principle extends to all forms of engagement, including speaking events, interviews, podcasts, and even one-on-one interactions. At the end of the day, your brand is what people say about you when you are not in the room, make it memorable.

A good way to think about authenticity and consistency in your portfolio and resume is to think about your digital first impression - what would your audience think about you and your brand when they bump into you online, whether it’s through a LinkedIn profile, Blog or website, resume via your Seek profile. Ask below to check how you come across in your portfolio & resume: • What adjectives would describe my brand? Eg. Playful, Bold • How should my ideal client think of my brand? Eg. Helpful, Noteworthy • When people interact with my brand, how do I want them to feel? Eg. Smart,Relaxed Another tip is to add in periodical checks to update details, any changes to fonts or colours used and so on across all of your portfolio not just one.

Stay ahead in showcasing your portfolio and resume with the latest branding trends. Firstly, prioritize authenticity and consistency to reflect your true professional identity. Highlight your impact and the value you bring to the table, emphasizing tangible results and achievements. Showcase your versatility and adaptability, demonstrating your ability to navigate diverse challenges. Utilize visuals and storytelling techniques to make your portfolio engaging and memorable. Finally, keep it simple and relevant – streamline your content to focus on key accomplishments, skills, and experiences. By incorporating these trends and best practices, you'll present a compelling personal brand that stands out in today's competitive landscape.

If you have many skills under your belt, and you are in the explorative phase of refining your brand, or what you are about. Maybe having multiple portfolios for different purposes could make for a strategic win. For example, I am a brand strategist, but I am also a social media manager and web designer. I am also a really good trainer, and design well structured decks to win over clients. Oh, by the way, I happen to be a trained singer-songwriter? All of these are business opportunities and potential streams of income - even if some of it is designed for passive income. So segmenting or separating these skills can also bring clarity to your messaging = consistent and authentic

Showcase your commitment to staying updated with industry trends and improving your skill set. Include a section for continued learning, certifications, or relevant courses you've completed. Make sure your portfolio and resume are easy to access and navigate. Optimize your portfolio for mobile viewing and ensure it loads quickly. Consider using screen reader software to test for accessibility.

The most common mistake I've observed in presentations, is that people tend to simply describe their actions rather than the impact they've made on the business. As a starting point, I'd recommend using this formula: 👉 Introduce the problem you solved 👉 Explain why it was challenging: its significance and the pain points addressed. 👉 Present your solution: focus on your personal involvement, why you were uniquely positioned to lead, and the key challenges you overcame 👉 Discuss the outcomes: utilise a data-driven approach where possible and emphasize how these outcomes align with overall business objectives 👉 Highlight the long-term impact: the more senior you are, the more you need to demonstrate strategic value

One method I've found helpful is to pull from buckets of experiences that might not always fall into the traditional, linear way of thinking about brand strategy projects, i.e. Corporate ones. Expand beyond these legacy lines showing examples (backed by hard figures where possible) and sharing stories that involve projects with diverse objectives for small businesses, non-profits, higher education, research institutions, athletics teams, and gaming endeavors.

For the resume specifically, one tactic I've found particularly helpful to guide the reader is by placing the experience bullet points into functional buckets. Think of these as starter cues to let the person know where the story's path will go from here, and how it's going to apply (or where it's going to be the most relevant) For example, Brand Awareness, Demand Generation, Content Marketing, Creative, Product, etc. to name a few.

Your portfolio and resume should narrate your professional journey, emphasizing what makes you, you. Storytelling makes your application more memorable and relatable. You can accomplish this by: - Introduce a theme for your career journey. Use the 'Challenge-Action-Result' format or ‘STAR’ (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method for your achievements in order to narrativize them. - Highlight what sets you apart with specific examples. Show your skills and experiences, rather than just listing them. - Include personal insights and learnings. Be authentic, sharing real stories and lessons from both successes and failures. And remember to tailor your resume to whatever job you’re applying to.

Start with what. Then add the how and why. Most people bury the lead and I don’t know who you are and what you do within 4 seconds. Make it crystal clear what you are good at upfront.

Start with what. Then add the how and why. Most people bury the lead and I don’t know who you are and what you do within 4 seconds. Make it crystal clear what you are good at upfront.

Your resume and portfolio is the first impression a recruiter gets from you. In the creative field, how these two things look and how they have been built are also evaluated as if they were part of your portfolio. How can an employee hire someone whose portfolio and CV is lacking of design or storytelling? A CV Word document might be acceptable for other disciplines and ChatGPT can be a useful tool to proofread cover letters, but they will never be able to tell your story or show who you are. The key is to know yourself, your work and being able to explain it to others.

One should also consider using video in the hiring process captivates attention, showcasing personality, communication skills, and cultural fit beyond a resume. It offers a dynamic way to convey passion, expertise, and enthusiasm, providing a deeper insight into candidates and setting them apart in a competitive job market.

Personal branding is about authentically representing yourself while strategically showcasing your strengths and unique qualities. Here are my top 5 personal recommendations: 1. Craft a concise personal brand statement to clearly communicate your unique value proposition and what sets you apart in the field. 2. Customize your resume highlighting experiences and skills that align with the requirements of the job you're applying for. 3. Focus on quantifiable achievements to highlight the impact of your contributions in previous roles. 4. Create a skills matrix showcasing your proficiency in relevant tools and technologies. 5. Develop case studies for key projects, outlining challenges, your strategic approach, and measurable results.

In the realm of brand strategy, it's crucial to authentically showcase your impact, versatility, and storytelling in your portfolio and resume. Authenticity and consistency are key – maintain the same voice and style across all platforms. Showcasing versatility and adaptability by including diverse project experiences can help you stand out. Utilize visuals and storytelling techniques to engage your audience and bring your achievements to life. Keep it simple and relevant by emphasizing only the most impactful projects and skills. - Consistency across platforms - Diverse project experiences - Engage through visuals and storytelling - Prioritize impactful projects and skills