Blog Post: 3 Keys to Branding Your Resume Using Soft Skills

The principal of An Expert Resume, she is a 6-time international award nominee for excellence in resume writing, as well as a Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Management Coach, and Interview Coach. Her work has been published in numerous career bestsellers.

You may have followed all the "right" advice on resume writing, and added industry keywords, certifications, toolsets, and the like. However, if you're not being called for interviews, you may want to consider adding the power of soft skills when infusing your resume with your personal brand.

After all, most employers may state that they're looking for certain core competencies and skills, but they really hire PERSONALITIES and work styles (which are exemplified by your brand).

If you have a hard time believing this, consider for a minute whether any business will succeed--even with a highly qualified staff--if its people cannot successfully interface with co-workers or customers.

If your background includes the ability to build teams, interface with executives, communicate with stakeholders, and generate a loyal following among clients and colleagues, these are valuable credentials that WILL interest employers during your job search.

Taking it a step further, if you intend to advance into a leadership role, this leap must be made first on your resume--where you can show business acumen and motivational skill as well as more "technical" qualifications.

Here are some recommendations to enhance your resume brand with soft skills--and secure interviews faster--by adding MORE than just keywords:

1 - Highlight Your Communication Style.

As a former recruiter at a consulting firm, my hiring practices were centered around finding candidates that I could easily present to a potential client. The company was intent on building a talent pool that possessed diplomacy, resourcefulness, and the ability to handle a dialogue with other businesspeople.

Here's the interesting part: we had a much harder time finding these "people skills" than we did technical abilities!

My point is this - if you can communicate the details of complex business solutions, motivate others, or build consensus, you should be aware that these are rare qualities sought after by employers.

By all means, trumpet these brand elements on your resume for the world to see.

2 - Emphasize Your Leadership Role.

Many professionals focus on certifications, MBAs, and other credentials that will seemingly land a top job.

However, a true leader can also be defined as one who successfully handles pivotal moments such as executive meetings, stakeholder relations, professional development for junior staff, and crisis situations.

Think carefully of the experiences you have had when communicating with others, both inside and outside of your department. Do others frequently approach you for solutions or to explain ideas they didn't understand from interdepartmental meetings?

Are you relied upon to smooth over rough situations when clients have demanded seemingly endless accommodations?

Successfully managing expectations to promote the work of your team is a great idea. An even better one is to showcase these skills on your resume. 

Skip the overused phrase "team player" and promote your talent with a full description of how your brand affects the success of projects--especially if you frequently take on challenges that surpass your job title.

Consider adding a description of your capabilities beyond the technical, as demonstrated by this passage from a professional resume profile summary:

"Recognized for clear, decisive actions credited with improving business performance, encouraging intense collaboration among executive teams, and implementing emerging technologies to corporations in the transportation, energy, and financial industries."

3 - Showcase Your Reputation.

Some professionals become the do-it-all resource, taking projects from inception to fruition with a big-picture understanding of requirements and deliverables.  Others handle duties far beyond their job descriptions, perhaps because of their ability to roll up their sleeves and dig into new challenges.

If any of this sounds like your background, these soft skills may be the key to a powerful resume and personal brand. Do you:

* Rise to the occasion, no matter what the scenario?
* Resolve problems even in the face of heated debate?
* Quickly address and eliminate your company's competition?

If it seems that you tend to tell stronger success stories inside the interview than on paper, then it's time to boost your success rate by taking credit for your aptitude and highlighting people skills prominently.

Consider the following example from a versatile CFO and operations director:

"Hands-on financial officer known for deliberate and focused approach, with frequent accolades for limiting risk, creating lean teams, and collaborating with external groups including investors, banks, LPs, underwriters, attorneys, and tax advisors."

In summary, remember that your professionalism can be an asset equal to that of your technical expertise. Employers need well-rounded executive and professional leaders in many roles.

The more articulate you can be on your resume with regard to soft skills, the better brand pitch you can make to a hiring manager.

After all, your personal style--as demonstrated by your unique brand--may well be your best selling point for that new career move.

For more information on executive resume writing that can take your career to the next level, visit www.AnExpertResume.com.