The document emphasizes the importance of personal branding for college graduates entering a competitive job market. It provides statistics indicating an increase in college enrollments and hiring trends, along with advice on how to differentiate oneself through internships and a strong professional presence. Key strategies include setting clear goals, creating a professional image and materials, and maintaining a positive, professional demeanor throughout the job search process.

1. Brand
You
Presentation
–
CB
Creative
February
7,
2012
STATS
Where
are
you
positioned?
19.7
million
The
projected
number
of
students
enrolled
in
the
nation's
colleges
and
universities
this
fall.
This
is
up
from
14.4
million
20
years
ago.
Source:
U.S.
National
Center
for
Education
Statistics
as
cited
in
the
Statistical
Abstract
of
the
United
States:
2011
1.5
million
students
graduated
with
a
Bachelor’s
Degree
in
2011.
The
same
is
expected
in
2012
according
to
the
US
Department
of
Education.
According
to
US
News
and
World
Report,
Employers
surveyed
by
the
National
Association
of
Colleges
and
Employers
(NACE)
say
they
plan
to
hire
9.5
percent
more
graduates
from
the
class
of
2012
than
they
did
from
the
class
of
2011.
Salary
offers
for
recent
college
grads
also
continue
to
inch
higher.
Students
landing
jobs
from
this
year's
class
will
be
paid
more,
on
average,
than
the
class
of
2010.
The
NACE
Fall
2011
Salary
Survey
shows
that
this
year's
class
of
graduates
will
make,
on
average,
about
6
percent
more
than
last
year's
graduates,
from
just
over
$48,000
to
just
over
$51,000.
If
you're
still
in
college
and
looking
to
get
a
leg
up
on
the
competition,
another
NACE
survey
reveals
that
paid
interns
had
the
most
success
attracting
job
offers
in
2011.
"Class
of
2011
graduates
who
took
part
in
a
paid
internship
were
more
likely
to
get
a
job
offer,
have
a
job
in
hand
by
the
time
they
graduated,
and
receive
a
higher
starting
salary
offer
than
their
peers
who
undertook
an
unpaid
internship
or
no
internship
at
all,"
according
to
a
NACE
press
release.
More
than
61
percent
of
students
who
took
part
in
paid
internships
in
the
for-­‐profit
sector
received
a
job
offer.
The
World
of
Brands
You
are
not
just
competing
with
those
1.5
million
other
college
graduates,
you
are
also
competing
within
the
world
of
brands.
Kim
Kardashian,
Donald
Trump,
David
Beckam,
Lady
Gaga.
We
all
don’t
look
at
things
separately,
everything
jumbles
together
–
even
with
potential
employers.
YOU
MUST
LEARN
TO
BRAND
YOURSELF
AND
STAND
OUT.
How
to
Brand
Yourself?
1

2.
First
you
must
ask
and
answer
a
few
questions:
Who
am
I?
What
makes
me
different,
unique,
special?
And
not
I
don’t
mean
how
nice
you
are
I
mean
your
experience
–
internships,
jobs,
service
trips,
clubs,
GPA
You
must
differentiate
yourself
from
the
competition.
Why
must
you
hire
me?
What
will
you
bring
to
the
table
that
no
on
else
will?
We
don’t
expect
you’ll
stay
with
the
same
company
for
40
years,
everyone
job
jumps,
but
here
is
what
you
need
to
SHOW:
-­‐ willingness
to
work
hard.
I
mean
hard.
-­‐ Learn
fast
-­‐ Don’t
make
the
same
mistake
twice
-­‐ Team
player
-­‐ Gets
along
with
others
-­‐ Can
write
-­‐ Can
talk
What
do
you
want?
Look
most
will
not
find
the
perfect
entry
level
job.
But
what
are
your
goals?
Where
do
you
want
to
work?
Start
there
and
fan
out.
Where
are
you
willing
to
work?
What
areas
have
transferrable
skills?
Write
down
your
goals
1
year,
3
years
5
years
and
beyond.
Statistics
show
the
people
who
write
down
their
goals
have
over
an
80%
higher
success
rate
of
achieving
them.
Start
a
Goals
journal.
Make
sure
they
are
SMART
goals-­‐
specific,
measurable,
achievable,
results-­‐oriented
and
time-­‐limited.
CREATE
A
PACKAGE
Now
you
have
answered
all
these
questions,
now
you
have
to
“package”
yourself.
Present
a
strong
image.
Professional
looking
cover
letter
template
in
Word
with
address,
phone
Email
address
that
isn’t
jakelovesblondes@aol.com
-­‐
professional.
Resume
matches
your
cover
letter.
Learn
how
to
create
a
PDF
of
your
resume
and
cover
letter.
No
one
wants
word
attachments.
Creative
–
portfolio
as
PDF,
writing
samples
as
PDF,
etc.
2

3.
Create
a
free
website
on
Wix.com
that
showcases
YOU.
No
typos
No
questionable
facebook/twitter/you
tube
posts.
Potential
employers
do
look.
RESEARCH
EMPLOYERS/INTERVIEW
TIPS
Take
time
on
their
sites.
Get
to
know
them,
what
they
offer,
and
how
you
can
help
them.
Let
them
know
you
know
them
and
have
taken
that
time.
Follow
up
with
a
thank
you
note/email.
Give
them
a
sell
sheet
that
reminds
them
why
you
are
the
ideal
candidate.
Remember
you
are
a
brand
and
you
are
selling
yourself.
No
perfume,
no
hair
in
face.
Clean,
ironed
clothes,
shined
shoes.
Pay
attention
to
the
details
of
your
own
brand
to
prove
you
can
pay
attention
to
the
details
of
someone
else’s
brand.
Ask
questions
in
the
interview-­‐
intelligent
ones
that
are
not
self-­‐serving
about
salary
or
vacation
days.
Nothing
is
worse
than
a
candidate
who
is
more
interested
in
how
much
vacation
he’ll
get
then
what
the
job/company
entails.
Do
not
haggle
over
salary
in
your
first
job.
Take
it.
Learn
from
it.
Learn
how
to
budget
yourself.
Move
on
to
a
bigger
job
in
a
year
to
two
years
max.
YOU
HAVE
THE
OFFER
DON’T
SCREW
IT
UP
Keep
your
attitude
in
check.
No
stupid
social
media
posts
about
the
job
or
interview.
Remain
professional.
Go
out
and
buy
a
professional
wardrobe.
Work
harder
than
anyone
else.
Don’t
be
stupid
and
screw
it
up.
Don’t
take
sick
time/
vacation
time.
3

4. www.cbcreativeinc.com
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