Personal Branding
Create your story
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Mission2 ASCEND
Mission2 ASCEND is dedicated to empowering justice-involved
individuals by bridging the gap between their unique skills and
meaningful employment opportunities. Using a cutting-edge
AI-enabled platform, Mission2 ASCEND eliminates traditional
barriers like resumes and job applications by matching their
experiences and skills directly with employers seeking those
specific talents. The program emphasizes personal branding
and individualized career pathways, providing clients with the
tools, resources, and support needed to navigate the job
market successfully and secure fulfilling, sustainable
employment that aligns with their strengths and aspirations.
The ASCEND Collective
The ASCEND Collective is a nonprofit
organization committed to transforming
employment opportunities for individuals
often overlooked in traditional hiring
processes. We harness innovative, AI-
enabled technology to match people with
meaningful job opportunities.
Overview Define your Unique Value
Focus on identifying what makes you stand out. Consider the skills,
Personal Story Crafting is a powerful tool in strengths, and experiences that have shaped you, and how they
can be applied to your desired career field. Reflect on moments in
the job search process, especially for your life that demonstrate leadership, adaptability, and problem-
solving abilities.
justice-involved individuals looking to Contextualizing your Experience
rebuild their careers. It involves creating a Learn how to translate your past roles, responsibilities, and
achievements into language that resonates with civilian employers.
compelling narrative that captures who you Use employer-friendly terminology and highlight how your
experiences align with the needs and values of the companies you're
are, where you’ve been, and where you targeting, demonstrating the value you bring to their organization.
aspire to go. This step goes beyond listing Crafting Your Core Message
Develop a central message that ties together your experiences,
past roles and achievements; it’s about strengths, and career aspirations. This message should serve as
the backbone of your personal story, clearly communicating who
transforming your unique experiences, you are, what you stand for, and the unique value you bring to a
prospective employer.
strengths, and contributions into a story
Telling Your Story with Impact
that resonates with potential employers. By Learn techniques for telling your story in a compelling way, whether
in writing or during an interview. Focus on using vivid language,
articulating your journey in a meaningful creating a strong narrative arc, and incorporating examples that
way, you can showcase your value, bridge demonstrate your skills and achievements. Practice presenting
your story with confidence and authenticity.
the gap between your past and future, and Adapting Your Story for Different Audiences
connect with those who may not fully Understand how to tailor your personal story to different contexts
and audiences, such as networking events, job interviews, or online
understand your background. profiles. Learn to adjust your narrative to emphasize the aspects of
your experience that are most relevant to each situation, ensuring
your story remains engaging and impactful.
Define Your Unique Value
To create a compelling personal narrative,
start by identifying what makes you unique.
Reflect on your past experiences and pinpoint
the skills, strengths, and qualities that set you
apart. Think about moments when you
demonstrated leadership, overcame
challenges, or made a significant impact.
Consider how these experiences translate to
the workforce and the value they bring to a
potential employer.
Personal Branding Exercise
Focus Areas Practical Exercise
Skills and Strengths: Identify your core competencies, List three words that best describe your professional
such as leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and identity (e.g., problem-solver, team player, leader).
adaptability. Write down three specific experiences from your past
Experience and Achievements: Highlight key moments in where you demonstrated these qualities.
your life where you excelled, took initiative, or made a Connect these experiences to civilian roles by identifying
meaningful impact. how these qualities and experiences would be valuable
Personal Attributes: Consider the traits that make you in a civilian job context.
unique, like resilience, integrity, and a strong work ethic.
Contextualizing your Experience
One of the biggest challenges for justice-
involved individuals transitioning to civilian
careers is communicating their past
experiences in terms that resonate with civilian
employers.
While your roles, responsibilities, and
achievements are highly valuable, they may
not always be understood by those concerned
with your background. It’s crucial to translate
your experience into language that highlights
your relevant skills and aligns with the needs of
the civilian workforce.
Contextualization Exercise
Focus Areas Practical Exercise
Replace past role-specific terms and jargon with Write down your most recent job title and a brief
language familiar to civilian professionals. description of your key duties.
Identify transferable skills like leadership, project Convert this title and description into civilian terms.
management, critical thinking, and technical expertise "Crew Leader" could translate to "Team Manager"
that are relevant across various industries. Identify three transferable skills from this role (e.g., team
Use metrics and specific examples to demonstrate how leadership, logistics coordination, risk management).
your actions led to positive outcomes, emphasizing Craft a clear summary that explains your role, skills, and
achievements that are valuable to civilian employers. achievements in a way that is appealing to employers.
Crafting your core message
Your core message is the heart of your
personal story – it’s a concise statement that
encapsulates who you are, what you offer, and
what you aspire to achieve. This message
serves as your elevator pitch, helping you
communicate your value clearly and
confidently to potential employers, networking
contacts, or anyone interested in your career
journey. A strong core message should be
authentic, memorable, and tailored to
resonate with your target audience.
The Elevator Pitch
Focus Areas Practical Exercise
Start with a brief description of your professional Write a one-sentence summary of your professional
identity and background, such as "a skilled trades identity (e.g., "I am a skilled trades professional with a
professional with a strong background in carpentry focus on quality craftsmanship and team
and team supervision." leadership").
Highlight the unique skills, experiences, and strengths Identify two to three key strengths or skills that you
you bring, like "proven ability to manage diverse teams bring to your next career step (e.g., "recognized for my
in high-pressure environments and consistently ability to manage complex projects and mentor
deliver quality results." teams to meet tight deadlines").
Conclude with a forward-looking statement about State your career goal or desired impact in one
your career goals, such as "seeking to leverage my sentence (e.g., "I aim to apply my expertise to a
hands-on expertise to drive operational excellence forward-thinking company where I can drive
and contribute to growth in the construction industry." operational success and support team
development").
Telling Your Story with Impact
Crafting a compelling story is about more than
just listing your achievements; it’s about
engaging your audience by connecting
emotionally and demonstrating how your
experiences make you uniquely qualified for
the role you seek. A powerful narrative will help
you stand out and create a memorable
impression, whether you're writing a cover
letter, speaking in an interview, or networking.
Be a STAR Storyteller
Focus Areas Practical Exercise
Start with a hook – a captivating statement or anecdote Choose a specific event or accomplishment from your
that draws in your audience and sets the stage for your experience that demonstrates a skill or strength.
story. Apply the STAR Method:
Highlight concrete experiences and achievements that Situation: Briefly describe the context or challenge
illustrate your skills, strengths, and values. Focus on you faced.
moments where you overcame challenges, led a team Task: Explain the task you needed to accomplish.
to success, or made a meaningful impact. Action: Detail the actions you took to address the
Be direct and avoid jargon. Your story should be easy to challenge or complete the task.
follow and clearly convey why you are the ideal Result: Highlight the positive outcome, focusing on
candidate for the role. measurable results or significant achievements.
Let your enthusiasm for your career and future goals Write out your STAR story in a few sentences, then
shine through. Authenticity and passion can make your practice delivering it out loud. Focus on making it
story more relatable and engaging. concise, engaging, and easy to understand.
Adapting Your Story to Different Audiences
Your personal story should be flexible and
adaptable to suit different audiences and
contexts. Whether you are at a networking
event, in a job interview, or writing your online
profile, it's essential to adjust your narrative to
emphasize the aspects of your experience that
are most relevant and compelling to the
audience at hand. Adapting your story ensures
it resonates with the listener and effectively
communicates your value.
Know Your Audience
Focus Areas Practical Exercise
Research the organization, industry, or individual you are Make a list of the different types of audiences you may
communicating with to understand what they value and encounter and for each audience type, identify what
need. they typically value in a candidate.
Tailor your story to emphasize the skills, experiences, Take a core element of your personal story and adapt it
and qualities that are most applicable to the audience’s for two different audiences. For example, if you are
context. highlighting your skills in managing skilled labor
Use language and examples that align with the projects:
audience’s level of understanding and interests. Avoid Construction company, focus on your ability to oversee
jargon or acronyms unless your audience is familiar with large-scale construction projects, manage crews.
them. Municipal employers, emphasize experience in
Ensure your story is direct and relevant to the context, coordinating trades teams or managing public works.
focusing only on the points that matter most to the Write out a brief version of your story tailored to each
audience. audience and practice delivering them.
Bringing it all Together
Now that you have crafted and refined your
personal story through the five steps, it’s time
to bring everything together and practice
presenting it in a cohesive and impactful way.
This exercise will help you seamlessly integrate
all the elements of your story, adapt it for
different scenarios, and build confidence in
delivering it effectively.
The Story in Action Challenge 1/2
Instructions:
Prepare Your Story Elements:
Review the core elements you’ve created: your unique value proposition, the translation of your life experience,
your core message, and your STAR stories.
Ensure each element aligns with your overall narrative and highlights the skills and experiences you want to
showcase.
Select Three Different Scenarios:
Choose three different contexts in which you might need to present your story. Examples include:
Job Interview: For a corporate employer or a nonprofit organization.
Networking Event: Engaging with professionals from various industries.
LinkedIn Profile/About Me Section: A written format where your story needs to be concise and engaging.
Customize Your Story for Each Scenario:
For each scenario, adapt your story by adjusting the emphasis, tone, and specific details to match the
audience and purpose:
Job Interview: Focus on the most relevant skills and experiences, and prepare to answer follow-up
questions using your STAR stories.
Networking Event: Craft a shorter, more conversational version of your story, highlighting your unique value
and career goals.
LinkedIn Profile/About Me Section: Write a concise and engaging summary that captures your professional
identity, experience, and aspirations.
The Story in Action Challenge 2/2
Practice Delivery:
Oral Practice: Record yourself delivering your story for the job interview and networking scenarios. Watch the
recordings to assess clarity, confidence, and engagement. Refine as needed.
Written Practice: Draft the LinkedIn profile or “About Me” section using your adapted story. Review for
readability, tone, and alignment with your target audience.
Feedback Loop:
Seek Feedback: Share your recorded story and written content with a trusted friend, mentor, or career coach.
Ask for specific feedback on clarity, relevance, and engagement.
Refine and Improve: Use the feedback to make adjustments and enhance the effectiveness of your story in
each context.
Simulate Real-World Application:
Mock Interview or Networking Event: Arrange a mock interview with a mentor or participate in a networking
event (virtual or in-person). Use the customized version of your story in real-time.
Online Profile Update: Update your LinkedIn profile or personal website with the new written story. Monitor
engagement metrics, such as profile views and connection requests, to gauge effectiveness.
Reflect and Adjust:
After each practice session or real-world application, take time to reflect on what worked well and what could
be improved.
Adjust your story elements and delivery based on these reflections to continually refine your personal
narrative.
Summary & Conclusion
In this module, you began working on your
personal branding and storytelling skills.
Finish all worksheets
Make sure that all of the worksheets in this module are
completed and uploaded to your profile.
Reach out to your career coach
Let your career coach know that you are ready to review the
worksheets and discuss what you learned in this module.
Prepare for the next step
In the next lesson, we will discuss Profile Building for the
career you deserve.
Thank You
For Your Attention
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