With so many bright people competing for the same positions, how you make your resume and qualifications come to life is essential if you hope to secure a desirable position? One way to do this is by creating a memorable, personal brand statement (PBS). A successful personal brand statement makes an emotional connection with the people they come into contact with. It makes them say things like – “WOW, “Interesting”, or simply, “I like him/her.” Your resume and cover letter is not going to have this kind of impact. Only YOU can – and you do this in the form of a story.  Stories are memorable. Stories create connections for people. A good story allows the person doing the hiring to clearly see the benefits of extending you an offer.

To begin, jot down a couple of adjectives that best describes who you are. For example, are you energetic, very organized, or maybe a team player? There are dozens of words to choose from. If you have a tough time being introspective and honest with yourself, ask your friends, co-workers, a boss or teacher.

Now think about a story that supports one or a combination of these words. The story should be no more than 1-3 minutes in length and should give an example of what the words you’ve chosen actually mean to you. For example, a college senior recently used the word resilient at one of my events. She described how she made over 750 phone calls, over a 6 month period, to arrange a family reunion where many relatives had not spoken to one another for decades. The result – more than 75 people reunited in Florida! Talk about not taking no for an answer (BTW – This story landed her a job.).

Some final thoughts…Companies are looking for people that exemplify: good communication and people skills, leadership skills, a positive attitude, a team player, and people who are adaptable and can handle unexpected challenges. Knowing this, do your best to build your personal brand story to satisfy these appetites. I’m not saying be phony or make up stories. Just make sure your PBS is relevant and transferable to the needs of the workplace.

Lastly, they don’t want to hear your, “life story”. Keep it simple and concise. Most importantly, practice, practice, practice. Your story should be said with confidence, passion, and a smile on your face!

Want more? Send an e-mail to events@jointap.com and bring Eric Barron, TAP’s president, to your institution for a 90 minute presentation on creating a memorable Personal Brand Story.

The bottom line is that there are people that LOVE to write and have valuable things to say. That’s why you are going to see a variety of guest bloggers who will not only enrich the content of this blog, but will make me a much happier person. Do what you do best and you will see your productivity go through the roof!

Preferred environment is more than just office dress code. It’s about matching your personal work habits to the culture and operations of the company you’re considering.

Eric sat down with Jennifer Patterson, Director of Human Resources at Screenvision to discuss some tips for determining your preferred environment in your job search.

In addition to Elizabeth’s tip, we got great response from students. We’ve posted a few below. As a reminder, we will be selecting another winner in December. So keep the tips coming!

Be flexible and learn to adapt. If you come into the year with a specific mind-set and intend to stick to precisely that, you’re going to have a terrible year. Learn as you go and change your approaches. You’re not going to stay the same person but the change you will experience will be for the better.

- Kate from University of Akron

Don’t get too attached to maintaining a friendship that otherwise isn’t working out. Freshman year is a time to meet new people and find your group, and holding on longer only prevents you from meeting your real friends who matter.

- Lisa from University of Pennsylvania

Get to know your professors. If you visit them during their office hours, they will most likely invest more time in you. When it comes down to grades at the end of the semester and you are on the borderline, a professor will likely give you the benefit of the doubt if you sought out help from him or her. Professors also talk amongst themselves. A good reference from one professor to another will make for a delightful college experience.

- Noelle from University of Akron

Learn how to power nap. 30 minute naps between classes can get you through yet another day.

- Akshay from Stanford University

One of the best things I did for myself freshman year was set a four year plan; after talking to my advisors, I sat down and scheduled out my four years at Akron. When my plan was altered somehow, for example when I did not get into a class, I would sit down and edit the plan; I always wanted to know what was ahead. I also set short and long-term goals to keep myself motivated, because I learned that to succeed you need to stay motivated and interested in what you are doing. Also, get a planner; it will save your life, when you start getting involved and deep into the semester it is awesome to know what needs to be done every day. With that, get involved, enjoying and succeeding in college is best achieved when you have people around to support, encourage, motivate, and excite you. Lastly, be in control of your college experience, make sure you are doing what you want to, and not following the crowd, be yourself, study, but always remember to have fun, it only lasts four (or five) years.

- Elizabeth from University of Akron

Enter Vault.com and their immense database of anonymous professional surveys across hundreds of industries and thousands of companies. Click here to register!

Eric sat down with Vault Vice President Yaz Dalal to discuss 3 critical tips for anyone considering a new job or changing careers.

Eric met up with Matt Weber, a first year MBA student at NYU Stern, to discuss his experience setting and pursuing his long-term goals.

Click here to see a preview and learn more.

Networking is a delicate thing. It’s a lifestyle. Eric sat down with BNI Chapter President Stacey Wilson to discuss some Networking 101 tips and styles.