Ability ASCEND Module 3

Transcript

1. Personal Branding Create your story www.theASCENDcollective.org Visit Our Website
2. Ability ASCEND is dedicated to empowering individuals with diverse abilities by connecting their unique skills with meaningful employment opportunities. Through an innovative AI-enabled platform, Ability ASCEND removes the traditional barriers of resumes and job applications by matching individuals' talents and abilities directly with employers seeking those specific strengths. The program emphasizes personal branding and customized career pathways, offering the tools, resources, and support needed to successfully navigate the job market and secure fulfilling, sustainable employment that aligns with each person's capabilities and aspirations. Ability ASCEND The ASCEND Collective is a nonprofit organization committed to transforming employment opportunities for individuals often overlooked in traditional hiring processes. We harness innovative, AI- enabled technology to match people with meaningful job opportunities. The ASCEND Collective
3. Overview Define your Unique Value Contextualizing your Experience Crafting Your Core Message Telling Your Story with Impact Adapting Your Story for Different Audiences Personal Story Crafting is a powerful tool in the job search process, especially for individuals with diverse abilities. It involves creating a compelling narrative that captures who you are, the experiences that have shaped you, and where you aspire to go. This step goes beyond listing accomplishments; it’s about transforming your unique strengths, challenges, and contributions into a story that resonates with potential employers. By sharing your journey in a meaningful way, you can showcase your value, bridge any gaps in understanding, and connect on a deeper level with those who may not fully grasp your background. Focus on identifying what makes you stand out. Consider the unique skills, strengths, and experiences that have shaped you, and how they can be applied to your desired career path. Reflect on moments in your life that demonstrate leadership, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities, highlighting how these qualities can add value to potential employers in your chosen field. Learn how to translate your unique roles, responsibilities, and achievements into language that resonates with employers. Use industry-friendly terminology and emphasize how your experiences align with the needs and values of the companies you’re targeting. This will help potential employers clearly see the value you bring to their organization. Develop a central message that ties together your experiences, strengths, and career aspirations. This message should serve as the backbone of your personal story, clearly communicating who you are, what you stand for, and the unique value you bring to a prospective employer. Learn techniques for telling your story in a compelling way, whether in writing or during an interview. Focus on using vivid language, creating a strong narrative arc, and incorporating examples that demonstrate your skills and achievements. Practice presenting your story with confidence and authenticity. Understand how to tailor your personal story to different contexts and audiences, such as networking events, job interviews, or online profiles. Learn to adjust your narrative to emphasize the aspects of your experience that are most relevant to each situation, ensuring your story remains engaging and impactful.
4. Define Your Unique Value To craft a compelling personal narrative, begin by identifying what makes you unique. Reflect on your experiences and highlight the skills, strengths, and qualities that set you apart. Consider moments when you demonstrated leadership, overcame challenges, or made a significant impact. Think about how these experiences translate to the civilian workforce and the value they offer to a potential employer.
5. Personal Branding Exercise Focus Areas Practical Exercise Identify your core competencies, such as leadership, collaboration, problem-solving, and adaptability. Highlight key moments in your journey where you excelled, took initiative, or made a meaningful impact. Consider the qualities that make you unique, such as resilience, integrity, and a strong work ethic. These traits will help you stand out to potential employers. Identify three words that best describe your professional identity (e.g., problem-solver, collaborator, organizer). Write down three specific moments from your personal or professional life where you demonstrated these qualities. Relate these experiences to civilian job contexts by explaining how these skills and qualities would add value to potential employers.
6. Contextualizing your Experience One of the biggest challenges for individuals transitioning to new careers is communicating their unique experiences in terms that resonate with professional employers. While your roles, responsibilities, and achievements are highly valuable, they may not always be easily understood by those outside your field. It's essential to translate your experiences into language that highlights your relevant skills and aligns with the needs of the professional workforce.
7. Contextualization Exercise Focus Areas Practical Exercise Replace field-specific terms and acronyms with language familiar to professional employers. Identify skills like leadership, project management, critical thinking, and technical expertise that are applicable across various industries. Use metrics and specific examples to show how your actions led to positive outcomes, emphasizing achievements that matter to employers. List your most recent job title and briefly describe your key duties. Translate this title and description into professional language. For example, "Team Leader" could become "Project Manager" or "Operations Supervisor." Highlight three transferable skills from this role, such as leadership, project coordination, or risk management. Create a summary that explains your role, skills, and achievements in a way that resonates with employers, emphasizing how your experience and abilities bring value to their organization.
8. Crafting your core message Your core message is the heart of your personal story—a concise statement that encapsulates who you are, what you offer, and what you aspire to achieve. For individuals with diverse abilities, this message should emphasize your unique strengths and how you overcome challenges to excel in your career. This serves as your elevator pitch, helping you communicate your value clearly and confidently to potential employers, networking contacts, or anyone interested in your journey. A strong core message should be authentic, memorable, and tailored to resonate with your target audience while showcasing the exceptional abilities you bring to the table.
9. The Elevator Pitch Focus Areas Practical Exercise Start with a brief description of your professional identity and background, such as "a dedicated leader with a strong background in logistics and team management." Highlight the unique skills, experiences, and strengths you bring to the table, like "proven ability to lead diverse teams under pressure and deliver results." Conclude with a forward-looking statement about your career goals and the impact you hope to make in your next role, such as "seeking to leverage my strategic planning expertise to drive operational excellence in the corporate sector." Write a one-sentence summary of your professional identity (e.g., "I am a results-driven project manager with a passion for operational efficiency and innovation"). Identify two to three key strengths or skills that you bring to your next career step (e.g., "known for my ability to lead cross-functional teams and implement process improvements"). State your career goal or desired impact in one sentence (e.g., "I aim to bring my leadership experience to a dynamic organization where I can drive growth and foster a culture of collaboration").
10. Telling Your Story with Impact Crafting a compelling story is about more than just listing your accomplishments; it’s about engaging your audience by connecting emotionally and showing how your experiences uniquely qualify you for the role you're pursuing. For individuals with diverse abilities, your story should highlight the resilience and determination that set you apart. A powerful narrative helps you stand out and leave a lasting impression, whether you're writing a cover letter, speaking in an interview, or networking, by showcasing not just what you've achieved, but how your journey has shaped your unique strengths.
11. Be a STAR Storyteller Focus Areas Practical Exercise Start with a hook – a captivating statement or anecdote that draws in your audience and sets the stage for your story. Highlight concrete experiences and achievements that illustrate your skills, strengths, and values. Focus on moments where you overcame challenges, led a team to success, or made a meaningful impact. Be direct and avoid jargon. Your story should be easy to follow and clearly convey why you are the ideal candidate for the role. Let your enthusiasm for your career and future goals shine through. Authenticity and passion can make your story more relatable and engaging. Choose a specific event or accomplishment from your past or professional experience that demonstrates a skill or strength. Apply the STAR Method: Situation: Briefly describe the context or challenge you faced. Task: Explain the task you needed to accomplish. Action: Detail the actions you took to address the challenge or complete the task. Result: Highlight the positive outcome, focusing on measurable results or significant achievements. Write out your STAR story in a few sentences, then practice delivering it out loud. Focus on making it concise, engaging, and easy to understand.
12. Adapting Your Story to Different Audiences Your personal story should be flexible and adaptable to different audiences and situations. Whether you're at a networking event, in a job interview, or writing your online profile, it's crucial to tailor your narrative to highlight the most relevant and compelling aspects of your experience. For those with diverse abilities, adjusting your story to showcase your strengths and the value you bring ensures it resonates with your audience and effectively communicates your worth. Adaptability in your narrative helps create stronger connections and a more impactful message.
13. Know Your Audience Focus Areas Practical Exercise Research the organization, industry, or individual you are communicating with to understand what they value and need. Tailor your story to emphasize the skills, experiences, and qualities that are most applicable to the audience’s context. Use language and examples that align with the audience’s level of understanding and interests. Avoid jargon or industry-specific terms unless your audience is familiar with them. Ensure your story is direct and relevant to the context, focusing only on the points that matter most to the audience. Make a list of the different types of audiences you may encounter and for each audience type, identify what they typically value in a candidate. Take a core element of your personal story and adapt it for two different audiences. For example, if you are highlighting your project management skills: For a corporate employer, focus on your ability to manage cross-functional teams and drive efficiency. For a nonprofit organization, emphasize your experience in managing resources and delivering impact under challenging conditions. Write out a brief version of your story tailored to each audience and practice delivering them.
14. Bringing it all Together Now that you've crafted and refined your personal story through the five steps, it's time to bring everything together and practice presenting it in a cohesive and impactful way. This exercise will help you seamlessly integrate all the elements of your story—your unique skills, experiences, and strengths—while adapting it for different situations. Whether you're networking, interviewing, or sharing your profile, practicing will boost your confidence and ensure you deliver your story effectively, showcasing the value you bring as a diversely- abled professional.
15. The Story in Action Challenge 1/2 Instructions: Prepare Your Story Elements: Review the core elements you’ve created: your unique value proposition, the translation of your experience, your core message, and your STAR stories. Ensure each element aligns with your overall narrative and highlights the skills and experiences you want to showcase. Select Three Different Scenarios: Choose three different contexts in which you might need to present your story. Examples include: Job Interview: For a corporate employer or a nonprofit organization. Networking Event: Engaging with professionals from various industries. LinkedIn Profile/About Me Section: A written format where your story needs to be concise and engaging. Customize Your Story for Each Scenario: For each scenario, adapt your story by adjusting the emphasis, tone, and specific details to match the audience and purpose: Job Interview: Focus on the most relevant skills and experiences, and prepare to answer follow-up questions using your STAR stories. Networking Event: Craft a shorter, more conversational version of your story, highlighting your unique value and career goals. LinkedIn Profile/About Me Section: Write a concise and engaging summary that captures your professional identity, experience, and aspirations.
16. The Story in Action Challenge 2/2 Practice Delivery: Oral Practice: Record yourself delivering your story for the job interview and networking scenarios. Watch the recordings to assess clarity, confidence, and engagement. Refine as needed. Written Practice: Draft the LinkedIn profile or “About Me” section using your adapted story. Review for readability, tone, and alignment with your target audience. Feedback Loop: Seek Feedback: Share your recorded story and written content with a trusted friend, mentor, or career coach. Ask for specific feedback on clarity, relevance, and engagement. Refine and Improve: Use the feedback to make adjustments and enhance the effectiveness of your story in each context. Simulate Real-World Application: Mock Interview or Networking Event: Arrange a mock interview with a mentor or participate in a networking event (virtual or in-person). Use the customized version of your story in real-time. Online Profile Update: Update your LinkedIn profile or personal website with the new written story. Monitor engagement metrics, such as profile views and connection requests, to gauge effectiveness. Reflect and Adjust: After each practice session or real-world application, take time to reflect on what worked well and what could be improved. Adjust your story elements and delivery based on these reflections to continually refine your personal narrative.
17. Summary & Conclusion In this module, you began working on your personal branding and storytelling skills. Make sure that all of the worksheets in this module are completed and uploaded to your profile Let your career coach know that you are ready to review the worksheets and discuss what you learned in this module. In the next lesson, we will discuss Profile Building for the career you deserve. Finish all worksheets Reach out to your career coach Prepare for the next step
18. www.theASCENDcollective.org Visit Our Website Thank You F o r Y o u r A t t e n t i o n