PIPEinArgentina.com

A self proclaimed “Career Advice Guru”, Carl brings 20 years of professional experience to PIPEinArgentina. In what, we’re not sure. His column: “Career Advice from Carl Fortebraccio” appears every Monday, more or less, or when Carl remembers to write it.

The other day I’m talking to Gus Mariano, a friend of mine who does tile work. I tell him that I’m going into the marketing field. I figure there must be money in it. He tells me that marketing is very important in the tile industry. Who knew?

“What kind of experience do you have?” he asks me.

If the Fortebraccios know anything, it’s marketing. Even before I could roll a cigarette, I went with my Uncle Luigi to Sabatelles, where they make the best prosciutto. In fact, Uncle Luigi always says he would trade his wife for half a pound of their choice stuff. Poor Aunt Tomasia makes good lonza too, but it is nothing like the proscuitto at Sabatelles’. Anyway, by the time I was seven, I knew more about procuitto than Dom Deluise. “I put the “M” in marketing, if you know what I mean.”

Gus Mariano goes on and on to explain that marketing involves customers and competitors not prosciutto and provolone. (Easy for him to say. He married Irish.) The man is speaking a different language.

“Blab blab blab blab,” I say. These tile-ists are all nuts.

“Crazy Carl,” he says, “If you really want to get a Marketing job, then you’ll have to learn something about it. More importantly, you need customize your resume to show your transferable skills. And you need to brand yourself.”

“Like a cow?” I ask. “You mean I have to put the Fortebraccio crest on my-”

“Not exactly,” says Gus Mariano. “A ‘brand’ is another way of showing what makes you unique. How will Crazy Carl Fortebraccio add value to our company?”

“Listen Gus, I’m not interested in tile work. I appreciate your help and all, but -”

“No Carl, I mean when a potential employer looks at your resume, she needs to see not only that you’re qualified, but also that you’re different. Your personal brand is your value story. How do you add value? How can you bring value to a company?”

“I have no idea,” I say.

“Well, before you look into a marketing or any other job, you need to first determine a compelling value story. You need to think about the Fortebraccio brand.”

And I thought I was crazy. Talk to a Tile-ist for five minutes. I searched the Internet and sure enough I found a few articles on personal branding. If you want to succeed in this job market, then stand out like a cow and brand yourself.

Below are list a few articles and websites that might help you determine your personal brand. But if you want the best proscuitto, head to Sabatteles on Main Street, Pittston.

Remember, it’s never too late to move out of the basement. At least that’s what my mother says.

–Crazy Carl Fortebraccio

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The Personal Branding Blog. This is a fantastic resource with articles and links related to discovering, creating, maintaining and managing your personal brand. It’s useful even for career gurus like me.

Branding – Your Key to Success. This article discusses presenting your personal brand on a resume. It’s posted on JobCircle, a great resource for career changers.

If you have other links or articles related to personal branding, please post a comment.

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Tags: , Career Advice Links, Carl Fortebraccio, Personal Branding