Professional resume consultants and career coaches see three main problems with the personal branding trend.

1.     Personal branding encourages us to think about ourselves too much

When you consider building a brand, you're considering how you should package and market yourself. When you consider how to build a reputation, you're considering how you should act.

That, to me, is a significant distinction. One is inward-looking and self-centred, while the other is outward-looking and more concerned with others' needs.

No one believes they can build a reputation for something without putting in the effort, yet I believe many people view personal branding as a packing exercise.

2.     Personal branding can mess with our decision-making

When a "branded" individual is faced with the necessity to act, I believe having a "personal brand" might lead to inauthentic behaviour. A customer recently told me that he rejected down a great opportunity because it didn't fit with his personal brand. He had been dissatisfied with his job for some time, and the promotion would have moved him in a different direction professionally. While it piqued his interest, he was concerned that all of his efforts to "create his brand" would be undone if he took that sideways step. But he was dissatisfied! That is illogical.

3.     Personal branding is too open to misinterpretation

I'm sure that well-intentioned, talented personal branding instructors would argue that my client misunderstood the concept of personal branding and that he should have pursued the opportunity if it piqued his interest.

When such criticisms are levelled, this is invariably the defence. "That guy just didn't understand," personal branding advocates say, adding that "if he had worked with a career coach or resume consultants, he would have been fine."

That is, however, my point. The majority of people never work with a professional coach. They just learn about personal branding on the internet or in a book, then attempt to implement the ideas in their own lives. Personal branding, on the other hand, is a term that is prone to misunderstanding and misinterpretation. Building a solid reputation in your business, field, or area of expertise is considerably less catchy and economically viable, but I believe it is where we in the careers field need to be taking the conversation.

With so many of our remarks, thoughts, and ideas forever stored online (and allegedly scrutinised by the government!), none of us can escape worrying about our online and offline reputations. For me, the unneeded shackles of "personal branding" make it far more difficult to do so while keeping true to ourselves as honest, complex, contradictory, and fascinating humans.

Need more insights on the same? Get in touch with the best IT, executive, and student resume and career coaching service provider today!

 As said by resume services, the colour scheme of your resume is an important part of its design and there is a balance to be struck between creativity and professionalism. Employers look through hundreds of resumes so you need to stand out. At the same time, you want to give a positive first impression that you’re a serious job candidate.

The main focus should be on readability and clarity and the resume colour scheme should never compromise this. The content is the most important aspect. At the same time, you don’t want your resume to look like everyone else’s.

The best colours to use on a resume depend on the position you’re applying for. A black and white resume can be fine for some professions, such as an accountant or a banker. But a hairdresser or web designer should use colour on their resumes. There are industry-specific resume templates which candidates can choose from.

Should you use colour on your resume?

In general, yes. Most professionally designed resumes use colour. Using colour on your resume can help to make your resume look attractive and easy-on-the-eye. It can also help to emphasize the most important parts to which you want to draw the employer’s attention.

Getting the colours on a resume right is important but don’t spend too much time on it. It is better to invest your time focusing on the content and applying for jobs.

Using resume services is a time-effective way of producing attractive resumes with well-balanced colour schemes. It also allows you to use different templates for different applications.

What are the best colours for a resume?

There is no simple answer to this question. The best resume colours depend on the profession you’re applying for and the impression you want to give. However, there are some basic principles to keep in mind. Here is a guideline to create an attractive colour scheme that won’t turn employers off.

Using black, white, and a third colour (such as blue or green) is a safe resume colour scheme. Make one colour dominant, one secondary, and use the third to place emphasis. One tasteful way is to use white for the background, black for the text, and the remaining colour to highlight important parts.

It is generally best to avoid using bright colours as they can be distracting and look unprofessional. The colour on your resume should compliment it, not take the focus away from the content. Also, avoid using light colours against a white background as it is difficult to read.

It is a good idea, if possible, to use the same colours for your cover letter as you use in your resume. This helps to create a personal brand.

Need more tips on the same? Get in touch with the best IT, executive, and student resume professionals today!