My Brand

I think the best portion of myself that’s important for others to recognize is adaptability and being a quick learner. I think that this is best shown through the stories and experiences I mention in things like cover letters and the resume to very quickly lay down that first impression. I say this because no matter what the job is, you can not train how fast someone learns something. even if I do not have direct experience prior to applying for the position or joining the company, I do have the ability to adapt to the new environment and quickly learn what I need to be successful in that given field.

I think the best thing about this brand however is that it doesn’t rely on these topics themselves. Rather, it’s really kind of a by-product when I present myself through my various work experiences or memberships on teams or clubs. I don’t need to expressly state that I am a quick learner, it’s already implied when I answer an interview question about how I approached a new task or had to deal with rejection. However, I do think that the choice of stories that I present is important, as relating everything from a singular experience is potentially one-dimensional and doesn’t always convey what your brand might be that well. For instance, if I only referenced my time on the rowing team, while it is a good example, it is only 2 years of my life. It makes it appear that I did not have any experiences while working at the Children’s Museum or learned anything exceptional while doing community college or going abroad for trips/community service events. As such, I think it’s important to understand what stories or answers you want to give before interviews, because approaching questions from a holistic perspective can make a pretty big difference in how you convey your brand and, more importantly, making sure they understand what message it is you are actually trying to convey when answering whatever interview question they might be asking.