Mission2 ASCEND - Module 3 - Personal Branding

Transcript

1. Personal Branding Create your story www.theASCENDcollective.org Visit Our Website
2. Mission2 ASCEND is dedicated to empowering justice-involved individuals by bridging the gap between their unique skills and meaningful employment opportunities. Using a cutting-edge AI-enabled platform, Mission2 ASCEND eliminates traditional barriers like resumes and job applications by matching their experiences and skills directly with employers seeking those specific talents. The program emphasizes personal branding and individualized career pathways, providing clients with the tools, resources, and support needed to navigate the job market successfully and secure fulfilling, sustainable employment that aligns with their strengths and aspirations. Mission2 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 justice-involved individuals looking to rebuild their careers. It involves creating a compelling narrative that captures who you are, where you’ve been, and where you aspire to go. This step goes beyond listing past roles and achievements; it’s about transforming your unique experiences, strengths, and contributions into a story that resonates with potential employers. By articulating your journey in a meaningful way, you can showcase your value, bridge the gap between your past and future, and connect with those who may not fully understand your background. Focus on identifying what makes you stand out. Consider the skills, strengths, and experiences that have shaped you, and how they can be applied to your desired career field. Reflect on moments in your life that demonstrate leadership, adaptability, and problem- solving abilities. Learn how to translate your past roles, responsibilities, and achievements into language that resonates with civilian employers. Use employer-friendly terminology and highlight how your experiences align with the needs and values of the companies you're targeting, demonstrating 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 create a compelling personal narrative, start by identifying what makes you unique. Reflect on your past experiences and pinpoint the skills, strengths, and qualities that set you apart. Think about moments when you demonstrated leadership, overcame challenges, or made a significant impact. Consider how these experiences translate to the workforce and the value they bring to a potential employer.
5. Personal Branding Exercise Focus Areas Practical Exercise Skills and Strengths: Identify your core competencies, such as leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability. Experience and Achievements: Highlight key moments in your life where you excelled, took initiative, or made a meaningful impact. Personal Attributes: Consider the traits that make you unique, like resilience, integrity, and a strong work ethic. List three words that best describe your professional identity (e.g., problem-solver, team player, leader). Write down three specific experiences from your past where you demonstrated these qualities. Connect these experiences to civilian roles by identifying how these qualities and experiences would be valuable in a civilian job context.
6. Contextualizing your Experience One of the biggest challenges for justice- involved individuals transitioning to civilian careers is communicating their past experiences in terms that resonate with civilian employers. While your roles, responsibilities, and achievements are highly valuable, they may not always be understood by those concerned with your background. It’s crucial to translate your experience into language that highlights your relevant skills and aligns with the needs of the civilian workforce.
7. Contextualization Exercise Focus Areas Practical Exercise Replace past role-specific terms and jargon with language familiar to civilian professionals. Identify transferable skills like leadership, project management, critical thinking, and technical expertise that are relevant across various industries. Use metrics and specific examples to demonstrate how your actions led to positive outcomes, emphasizing achievements that are valuable to civilian employers. Write down your most recent job title and a brief description of your key duties. Convert this title and description into civilian terms. "Crew Leader" could translate to "Team Manager" Identify three transferable skills from this role (e.g., team leadership, logistics coordination, risk management). Craft a clear summary that explains your role, skills, and achievements in a way that is appealing to employers.
8. Crafting your core message Your core message is the heart of your personal story – it’s a concise statement that encapsulates who you are, what you offer, and what you aspire to achieve. This message serves as your elevator pitch, helping you communicate your value clearly and confidently to potential employers, networking contacts, or anyone interested in your career journey. A strong core message should be authentic, memorable, and tailored to resonate with your target audience.
9. The Elevator Pitch Focus Areas Practical Exercise Start with a brief description of your professional identity and background, such as "a skilled trades professional with a strong background in carpentry and team supervision." Highlight the unique skills, experiences, and strengths you bring, like "proven ability to manage diverse teams in high-pressure environments and consistently deliver quality results." Conclude with a forward-looking statement about your career goals, such as "seeking to leverage my hands-on expertise to drive operational excellence and contribute to growth in the construction industry." Write a one-sentence summary of your professional identity (e.g., "I am a skilled trades professional with a focus on quality craftsmanship and team leadership"). Identify two to three key strengths or skills that you bring to your next career step (e.g., "recognized for my ability to manage complex projects and mentor teams to meet tight deadlines"). State your career goal or desired impact in one sentence (e.g., "I aim to apply my expertise to a forward-thinking company where I can drive operational success and support team development").
10. Telling Your Story with Impact Crafting a compelling story is about more than just listing your achievements; it’s about engaging your audience by connecting emotionally and demonstrating how your experiences make you uniquely qualified for the role you seek. A powerful narrative will help you stand out and create a memorable impression, whether you're writing a cover letter, speaking in an interview, or networking.
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 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 suit different audiences and contexts. Whether you are at a networking event, in a job interview, or writing your online profile, it's essential to adjust your narrative to emphasize the aspects of your experience that are most relevant and compelling to the audience at hand. Adapting your story ensures it resonates with the listener and effectively communicates your value.
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 acronyms 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 skills in managing skilled labor projects: Construction company, focus on your ability to oversee large-scale construction projects, manage crews. Municipal employers, emphasize experience in coordinating trades teams or managing public works. Write out a brief version of your story tailored to each audience and practice delivering them.
14. Bringing it all Together Now that you have 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, adapt it for different scenarios, and build confidence in delivering it effectively.
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 life 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 For Your Attention