Personal Branding

Create your story

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www.theASCENDcollective.org
 Veterans ASCEND
Veterans ASCEND is dedicated to empowering military
veterans by bridging the gap between their unique skills and
meaningful employment opportunities. Through a cutting-
edge AI-enabled platform, Veterans ASCEND eliminates the
traditional barriers of resumes and job applications by
matching veterans' military experience and skills directly with
employers seeking their specific talents. The program focuses
on personal branding and individualized career pathways,
providing veterans with the tools, resources, and support
needed to navigate the civilian 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 peoples 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, particularly for your military service that demonstrate leadership, adaptability, and
problem-solving abilities.
veterans transitioning to civilian careers. It Contextualizing your Experience
involves creating a compelling narrative Learn how to translate your military roles, responsibilities, and
achievements into language that resonates with civilian
that captures the essence of who they are, employers. Use civilian-friendly terminology and highlight how your
military experiences align with the needs and values of the
where you’ve been, and where you aspire to companies you're targeting.

go. This step goes beyond listing military Crafting Your Core Message
Develop a central message that ties together your experiences,
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 military and civilian life, Adapting Your Story for Different Audiences
and connect on a deeper level with those Understand how to tailor your personal story to different contexts
and audiences, such as networking events, job interviews, or online
who may not fully understand your profiles. Learn to adjust your narrative to emphasize the aspects of
your experience that are most relevant to each situation, ensuring
background. 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 military experience and
pinpoint the skills, strengths, and qualities that
set you apart. Think about the moments when
you demonstrated leadership, overcame
challenges, or made a significant impact.
Consider how these experiences translate to
the civilian workforce and what 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., leader, strategist, communicator).
adaptability. Write down three specific experiences from your military
Experience and Achievements: Highlight key moments in career where you demonstrated these qualities.
your military career where you excelled, took initiative, or Connect these experiences to civilian roles by identifying
made a difference. 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 veterans
transitioning to civilian careers is
communicating their military experience in
terms that resonate with civilian employers.
While your military roles, responsibilities, and
achievements are highly valuable, they may
not always be understood by those outside the
military. 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 military-specific terms and acronyms with Write down your last military job title and a brief
language familiar to civilian professionals. description of your key duties.
Identify skills like leadership, project management, Convert this title and description into civilian terms. For
critical thinking, and technical expertise that are example, "Platoon Sergeant" could translate to "Team
applicable across various industries. Manager" or "Operations Supervisor."
Use metrics and specific examples to show how your Identify three transferable skills from this role (e.g., team
actions led to positive outcomes, emphasizing leadership, logistics coordination, risk management).
achievements that matter to civilian employers. Craft a civilian-friendly summary that explains your role,
skills, and achievements in a way that is appealing.
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 identity Write a one-sentence summary of your professional
and background, such as "a dedicated leader with a identity (e.g., "I am a results-driven project manager
strong background in logistics and team management." with a passion for operational efficiency and
Highlight the unique skills, experiences, and strengths innovation").
you bring to the table, like "proven ability to lead diverse Identify two to three key strengths or skills that you bring
teams under pressure and deliver results." to your next career step (e.g., "known for my ability to
Conclude with a forward-looking statement about your lead cross-functional teams and implement process
career goals and the impact you hope to make in your improvements").
next role, such as "seeking to leverage my strategic State your career goal or desired impact in one
planning expertise to drive operational excellence in the sentence (e.g., "I aim to bring my leadership experience
corporate sector." to a dynamic organization where I can drive growth and
foster a culture of collaboration").
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 military career 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.
 Be a STAR Storyteller

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 project management skills:
Use language and examples that align with the For a corporate employer, focus on your ability to
audience’s level of understanding and interests. Avoid manage cross-functional teams and drive efficiency.
jargon or military-specific terms unless your audience is For a nonprofit organization, emphasize your
familiar with them. experience in managing resources and delivering
Ensure your story is direct and relevant to the context, impact under challenging conditions.
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
Instructions: Practice Delivery:
Prepare Your Story Elements: Oral Practice: Record yourself delivering your story for the job
Review the core elements you’ve created: your unique value interview and networking scenarios. Watch the recordings to
proposition, the translation of your military experience, your core assess clarity, confidence, and engagement. Refine as needed.
message, and your STAR stories. Written Practice: Draft the LinkedIn profile or “About Me” section
Ensure each element aligns with your overall narrative and using your adapted story. Review for readability, tone, and
highlights the skills and experiences you want to showcase. alignment with your target audience.
Select Three Different Scenarios: Feedback Loop:
Choose three different contexts in which you might need to present Seek Feedback: Share your recorded story and written content with
your story. Examples include: a trusted friend, mentor, or career coach. Ask for specific feedback
Job Interview: For a corporate employer or a nonprofit on clarity, relevance, and engagement.
organization. Refine and Improve: Use the feedback to make adjustments and
Networking Event: Engaging with professionals from various enhance the effectiveness of your story in each context.
industries. Simulate Real-World Application:
LinkedIn Profile/About Me Section: A written format where your Mock Interview or Networking Event: Arrange a mock interview with
story needs to be concise and engaging. a mentor or participate in a networking event (virtual or in-person).
Customize Your Story for Each Scenario: Use the customized version of your story in real-time.
For each scenario, adapt your story by adjusting the emphasis, Online Profile Update: Update your LinkedIn profile or personal
tone, and specific details to match the audience and purpose: website with the new written story. Monitor engagement metrics,
Job Interview: Focus on the most relevant skills and experiences, such as profile views and connection requests, to gauge
and prepare to answer follow-up questions using your STAR effectiveness.
stories. Reflect and Adjust:
Networking Event: Craft a shorter, more conversational version After each practice session or real-world application, take time to
of your story, highlighting your unique value and career goals. reflect on what worked well and what could be improved.
LinkedIn Profile/About Me Section: Write a concise and engaging Adjust your story elements and delivery based on these reflections
summary that captures your professional identity, experience, to continually refine your personal narrative.
and aspirations.
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 Veterans ASCEND 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

Visit Our Website

www.theASCENDcollective.org