{"id":547,"date":"2025-02-01T08:00:29","date_gmt":"2025-02-01T08:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parwcc.com\/?p=547"},"modified":"2025-01-30T08:17:33","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T08:17:33","slug":"writing-with-a-branding-mindset","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parwcc.com\/writing-with-a-branding-mindset\/","title":{"rendered":"Writing with a Branding Mindset"},"content":{"rendered":"

A recent MFA graduate specializing in screenwriting has taken a job in the mailroom at Sony Studios. His undergraduate and graduate internships allowed him to work in several independent studios, largely in \u201cgopher\u201d roles that were heavily clerical in nature. The whole time he has been creating original work as well, earning recognition at a few film festivals along the way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Company policy requires him to stay in his current position for six months before looking around for other internal opportunities. April 2025 will be his sixth month. His father, a former client, recommended me to help him with this r\u00e9sum\u00e9. What they don\u2019t know is that this is really a two-pronged branding challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first branding challenge is getting his experience framed the right way. This is a mental exercise.<\/span><\/p>\n

The second branding challenge is capturing that framework on paper. This is a writing exercise.<\/span><\/p>\n

The First Challenge<\/span><\/h2>\n

He is NOT a mailroom clerk who specializes in running errands, as his LinkedIn profile would have you believe. He is NOT an MFA grad whose contributions are limited to student-level assignments. He is, in fact, a talented script and production development professional with obvious writing talent who happens to have an MFA and work in the mailroom of a major studio. Big difference. The mailroom job defines what he does, not who he is.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Second Challenge<\/span><\/h2>\n

Screenwriting has its own peculiar formatting rules. Since it is a writing medium, it makes sense to mimic some of those rules without coming across as too gimmicky. Space that is dedicated to articulating his real talent and career direction is space that does not have to account for the entry-level nature of the internships he held. The whole focus of the writing exercise is to boost his credibility as an industry talent. Fetching coffee for the production team does not qualify as a credibility booster. Notice the mailroom clerk job title is missing.<\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, he is a writing professional NOW, not when the industry decides to give him a commensurate title. No studio in the country would consider him for even a minor project without seeing samples of his work, so a portfolio link is provided to give the reader a path for further exploration.<\/span><\/p>\n

And the reason I\u2019m sharing this with you is because many times a client will approach you to solve one problem (a r\u00e9sum\u00e9), when the real issue is actually something that has to be addressed first (branding). Anyone can write down a reverse-chronological job history, but is that really what we\u2019re hired to do?<\/span><\/p>\n

Along with a sample of the r\u00e9sum\u00e9 I created for this client, here is a list of questions to help you apply a branding mindset to any future projects you might have. Reflecting on these questions will help you think critically about how to approach branding and r\u00e9sum\u00e9 writing in a way that transcends job titles and focuses on true professional identity and goals.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Reframing Identity<\/b>\n
      \n
    • How can you (or your client) reframe your current job or role to reflect your long-term career goals and true professional identity?<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Are you letting a temporary position define who you are, rather than what you bring to the table?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • Core Strengths<\/b>\n
        \n
      • What are the unique skills and accomplishments that differentiate your client from others in similar roles?<\/span><\/li>\n
      • How can you highlight things outside the current job to align with your career aspirations?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
      • Brand Perception<\/b>\n
          \n
        • Does your branding (e.g., LinkedIn profile, r\u00e9sum\u00e9) tell the story of who you are professionally, or is it focused solely on where you are right now?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • Positioning for Credibility<\/b>\n
            \n
          • How can you minimize space dedicated to tasks that don\u2019t enhance your credibility (e.g., administrative or clerical duties) and emphasize your core talents?<\/span><\/li>\n
          • Are you using industry-specific language to show your understanding of the field?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
          • Tailoring to the Industry<\/b>\n
              \n
            • How can the formatting or tone of your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 reflect the unique requirements and expectations of your industry, without becoming gimmicky?<\/span><\/li>\n
            • Are you showcasing relevant creative work, such as linking to a portfolio or providing project examples?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
            • Defining the Narrative<\/b>\n
                \n
              • What narrative are you creating about your career journey, and does it align with your ultimate goals?<\/span><\/li>\n
              • Are you focusing on how your current experiences are preparing you for the future rather than emphasizing entry-level or unrelated duties?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
              • Presenting Work Samples<\/b>\n
                  \n
                • How can you provide access to your work (e.g., portfolios, links, or case studies) in a way that strengthens your professional story?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                • Overcoming Misaligned Perceptions<\/b>\n
                    \n
                  • What steps can you take to ensure that employers and decision-makers see your potential and not just your current job title?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                  • Understanding the Client\u2019s Real Needs<\/b>\n
                      \n
                    • How often do you dig deeper to uncover the true branding challenges behind a client\u2019s request?<\/span><\/li>\n
                    • Do you approach r\u00e9sum\u00e9 writing as merely compiling job history, or as crafting a persuasive story about a candidate\u2019s future potential?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                    • Ongoing Career Development<\/b>\n
                        \n
                      • What additional steps (e.g., networking, portfolio building, personal branding) are needed to support the career narrative you\u2019ve developed?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                         <\/p>\n

                         <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                        A recent MFA graduate specializing in screenwriting has taken a job in the mailroom at Sony Studios. His undergraduate and graduate internships allowed him to work in several independent studios, largely in \u201cgopher\u201d roles that were heavily clerical in nature. The whole time he has been creating original work as well, earning recognition at a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":414,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-547","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-resume-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWriting with a Branding Mindset | PARWCC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to go beyond simply listing job duties and instead focus on crafting a narrative that showcases your client's true professional identity and long-term career aspirations. Discover tactics to reframe seemingly unrelated experiences to align with career goals, minimizing less relevant tasks and emphasizing core strengths and accomplishments. Leverage industry-specific language and formats, and provide access to work samples to enhance credibility and demonstrate expertise. Accept the challenge to understand the client's underlying branding needs and craft a persuasive story that positions them for future success, not just their current role.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/parwcc.com\/writing-with-a-branding-mindset\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Writing with a Branding Mindset\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how to go beyond simply listing job duties and instead focus on crafting a narrative that showcases your client's true professional identity and long-term career aspirations. 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