personal statement for sales job

Top 10 Personal Brand Statement Examples To Follow

Updated: March 11, 2024

Published: June 18, 2023

In a 2022 personal branding trends study, most respondents said they consider personal branding an essential component of work and their everyday life. 

It found that 75% of Americans trust someone with a personal brand, and 63% are likely to buy from someone with a personal brand. 

As an entrepreneur who is always on the lookout for customers or potential investors, you know that trust is key. Developing a personal brand for yourself can be an effective tool to help grow your business.

What is a personal brand statement?

A personal brand statement is a couple of sentences that highlights your unique skills and experience. It’s meant to be a quick introduction to people who discover you online because it summarizes what you can offer them.

Basically, it’s a catchphrase, tag line, or elevator pitch for you as a professional individual. While it showcases what you do professionally, you can also display your personality.

Why leaders should have a personal brand statement

You make a better first impression.

As the saying goes, “You only have one shot to make a first impression.” The challenge for entrepreneurs is that you don’t always know when that opportunity arises, as many first impressions happen online.

When a potential client or investor hears about you, their first instinct is to look up your social media profiles. If you’ve got a clear and well-thought-out personal brand statement, you’ve got a better chance at making them stick around for second and third impressions.

You can establish yourself as a thought leader

Thought leadership is a powerful content marketing tactic that can help you reach bigger audiences and generate leads for your business. When you’re known as a leader in your particular industry, that automatically gives you a higher level of credibility. 

A personal brand statement can strengthen your thought leadership strategy by clearly stating your area of expertise.

You can create networking opportunities

Whether you’re looking for top talent, new clients, or potential investors, networking is half the battle. 

Personal brand statements make it easy for potential connections to understand exactly what you do and what you value. Without it, you may miss out on opportunities simply because they didn’t know that you had something relevant to offer them.

Best personal brand statement examples for leaders

“bilingual creative who lives at the intersection of business & design.” —chris do.

Source: Chris Do’s LinkedIn page .

Chris Do is a multi-hyphenate: a designer, creative strategist, public speaker, founder, and CEO of The Futur, an online education platform.

What makes it great : Because he wears so many hats, Do’s personal branding statement is better than trying to explain everything he does.

“Helping people find their zen in the digital age.” —Shama Hyder

Source: Shama Hyder’s homepage .

Shama Hyder is the founder and CEO of Zen Media, a marketing and PR firm. She’s also written a book about digital marketing .

What makes it great : Hyder’s brand statement is an attention-grabbing play on her company’s name and showcases one of her key values: making clients feel a sense of calm in a fast-paced digital world.

“Write better sales emails faster with our in-inbox coach.” —Will Allred

Source: Will Allred’s LinkedIn page .

Will Allred is the co-founder of Lavender, an AI-powered email software startup.

What makes it great : Brooklin Nash, CEO of Beam Content, shares, “In one sentence, Allred captures the entire focus of his social presence: to help salespeople write better emails faster while demonstrating his authority and sharing his product in the second part of that headline.”

“Keeping it awkward, brave, and kind.” —Brené Brown

Source: Dr. Brené Brown’s homepage .

Brené Brown has a Ph.D. in sociology and is the author of several books that cover topics like shame, vulnerability, empathy, and courage.

What makes it great : Dr. Brown’s personal brand statement embodies her mission statement of encouraging people to embrace their vulnerabilities by sharing her own.

“Empowering ridiculously good marketing.” —Ann Handley

Source: Ann Handley’s homepage .

Ann Handley is a digital marketing expert and bestselling author. Her company helps marketers get tangible results.

What makes it great : Sharon Jonah, creative director and founder of digital marketing agency Buzz Social, shares, “In four words, we understand what Handley does, how she does it, whom she’s speaking to, and how she speaks.”

“Still just a girl who wants to learn. Youngest-ever Nobel laureate, co-founder @malalafund and president of Extracurricular Productions.” —Malala Yousafzai

Source: Malala Yousafzai’s Twitter profile .

Malala Yousafzai is the youngest Nobel laureate and an activist whose fund aims to remove the barriers to female education around the world.

What makes it great : Her bio highlights her impressive achievements with language that makes her sound relatable. 

“Marketing. Strategy. Humanity.” —Mark Schaefer

Source: Mark Schaefer’s homepage .

Mark Schaefer is an educator, speaker, marketing consultant, and author. He’s developed corporate marketing strategies for brands like Microsoft, IBM, and AT&T.

What makes it great : “It’s subtle, concise, and creative. It describes what Schaefer does, what he focuses on, and his unique and distinguished approach,” says Omer Usanmaz, CEO and co-founder of mentoring and learning software Qooper. 

“Empowering successful women to take control of their finances.” —Jennifer Welsh

Source: Jennifer Welsh’s LinkedIn profile page .

Jennifer Welsh founded Money School, a digital course that teaches women about personal finance. What makes it great : Welsh’s strong personal brand statement says exactly what she does and whom she does it for. 

“Let’s make Excel the solution, not the problem.” —Kat Norton (Miss Excel)

Source: Miss Excel’s homepage .

Kat Norton (known as Miss Excel) became famous on TikTok for her bite-sized Microsoft Excel tutorials. She now offers Excel courses on her website.

What makes it great : Norton’s clever statement shows that she understands her audience's problem and highlights her personality.

“‘The Customer Whisperer.’ I help marketers discover the hidden reasons why customers buy so they can become un-ignorable.” —Katelyn Bourgoin

Source: Katelyn Bourgoin’s LinkedIn page .

Katelyn Bourgoin is a creator and serial entrepreneur who founded a branding agency, a mentoring platform for female entrepreneurs, and a restaurant consulting firm. She trains entrepreneurs to uncover what makes their products “un-ignorable.”

What makes it great : Bourgoin’s clever branding statement effectively tells marketers that she can help them understand their customers better and make their brands memorable.

How to write a personal brand statement

Writing an effective personal brand statement can be tough because it requires you to be catchy yet compelling. It should give audiences all the necessary information in a sentence or two.

Here are some tips for writing your own:

Think about your unique value proposition

A unique value proposition (or unique selling point) is what makes you different. It tells people why they should try your product or service, network with you, or invest in your business.

Tip : Identify your core values, goals, and strengths.

If you don't know what those are, ask yourself:

• Why am I building my brand?
• What do I want my audience to know me for?
• How do I do things differently?
• Do I have a distinct skill set, experience, point of view, or passion?
• What value do I bring to my audience?

Keep it short and sweet

Your brand statement should be simple and easy to understand. 

The goal is to have someone look at your profile or website and immediately understand who you are and what you do, so keep it brief. Keep in mind that you don’t need full sentences either. 

Start by writing one to three sentences that outline what you do, for whom, and how you do it. You can also add a sentence about values. 

Then, look at different ways you can shorten them. Or pick out the most specific and impactful words and see what happens when you simply list them. 

Showcase your personality

Injecting your personality empowers you to share what you do without being bland or boring. Being authentic also helps attract like-minded customers, investors, and peers. 

At the end of the day, there are other people out there who may offer similar services or solve the same problems for your target audience. Your personality can set you apart.

“Don't be afraid to inject a bit of humor, quirkiness, and passion. It’ll help make you more memorable and help you stand out from the crowd,” says Usanmaz.

Ideally, you want customers to know what you do and get a little taste of what it will be like to work with you.

A personal brand statement conveys your mission, differentiates you from competitors, and attracts your target audience. Use these tips and real-life examples of personal brand statements to inspire you to write your own.

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Discover What Sales Experience Is — and Why You Already Have What It Takes to Succeed

Want to break into sales? Learn how everyday experiences can translate into high-impact sales skills.

Cherilynn Castleman

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Each day, you sell something , often without even realizing it. When you coax your kids out of bed in the morning to go to school, recommend a favorite restaurant to a friend, or just convince yourself to go to the gym, you’re selling. So, whether you’re in sales or not, you’ve got sales experience, my friend.

My own sales experience has shown me that selling is not just about closing a deal. Read on to learn how to connect with people, recognize their needs, guide them toward a decision, and become better at what you do in the process.

What you’ll learn:

What is sales experience, why is sales experience important, benefits of having sales experience, how to gain sales experience, how to develop critical sales skills.

• How a professional with a non-sales background found success in sales

Sales experience describes an individual’s history of convincing others to make a purchase. For example, have you worked in a restaurant? That’s sales. Ever gone door to door asking neighbors to buy Girl Scout Cookies? Sales.

Sales experience can also include convincing someone to invest in you or take action. For example, have you gone to a job interview and talked up your qualities and why they should hire you? That’s also sales.

As I showcase below, sales experience is not just about getting more deals under your belt. It’s about honing specific soft and hard skills that make closing deals easier, regardless of the industry you’re working in.

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B2B vs. B2C sales experience

Whether you’re just starting your career or coming to sales from another industry, you’ll want to decide what type of sales role your experience is best suited for. Let’s look at this in the context of business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) sales:

• In B2B sales , you’re one business selling to another. The process typically involves higher-value transactions and longer sales cycles with multiple decision-makers. This type of selling is about understanding business needs and challenges, personalizing solutions, and convincing multiple stakeholders to make a purchase decision.
• In B2C sales, you sell directly to the consumer. B2C deals are usually more straightforward with lower-value transactions and shorter sales cycles . Here, value, benefits, emotional appeal, and brand perception play a significant role.

Regardless of which type of sales you pursue, it’s helpful to develop a versatile skill set that can adapt to varying sales environments. For instance, soft skills like effective communication, empathetic listening, and adaptability will serve you well no matter what you sell. These skills help you become a dynamic salesperson, able to successfully pivot between different sales scenarios and industries.

Sales experience gives you the ability to understand pain points, capture and keep attention, and get others to take action; in the case of reps, sales experience makes it easier to get prospects to buy. Over years of selling, you develop authority, confidence, negotiation tactics, the ability to overcome obstacles like objections , and other important skills that increase your chances of success.

Simply put, the more sales experience you have, the more attractive you become to potential employers and the more likely you are to excel in the field.

The benefits of having prior sales experience go beyond the obvious (like making more money). Let’s walk through two that are top of mind for me:

Better understanding of customer needs

With sales experience comes the ability to learn how to read people and ask the right questions. Here’s an example:

• Problem: Imagine you’re selling a cloud-based project management tool. A prospect shows interest, but they’re hesitant.
• Solution: To understand why, you engage them in a conversation about their current project management challenges, which leads them to open up about their struggles with remote collaboration and meeting deadlines, things that have negatively impacted their bottom line.
• Outcome: Armed with this insight, you explain how your tool’s real-time collaboration features and automated deadline tracker have helped other customers improve their workflow and increase their productivity by more than 50%. This customer, looking excited, starts asking you for more information.

Rather than waste your time on specs and features that don’t address their immediate challenges, you’ve listened to this prospect. You’ve shown them that you understand their needs, and offered a solution that could make a difference for them. And just like that , you’ve gained sales experience you can use in the future!

Enhanced communication and negotiation skills

Learning how to negotiate a deal while building positive relationships is another important skill that comes with experience. Here’s what this might look like in practice:

• Problem: You’re selling a software solution to a company. The prospect is interested but concerned about the cost.
• Solution: Rather than immediately dropping the price or blindly standing firm by the original quote, with experience, you can spot trends, such as price concerns, and approach the prospect more strategically. Listen and empathize with their concerns, then get creative.
• Outcome: You create a custom package with just the essential features they need at a more manageable cost on a three-year subscription basis. This gets them in the door on a good foot, and you can work on upselling or cross-selling down the road.

People appreciate when you are understanding and flexible. If you’re able to negotiate a deal on the spot, with the potential to upsell in the future, it’s a win-win for everyone. But new reps, eager to close, don’t always see that; sales experience opens the door to these kinds of solutions.

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By now you’re probably thinking, “Great, but how do I get this experience?” Here are some approaches that I’ve seen lead to successful sales careers :

Consider internships and entry-level sales positions

Internships and entry-level positions are classic ways to dip your toes in the industry and see if it’s for you. If you’re interested in B2B sales, roles like sales intern, business development representative (BDR)/sales development representative (SDR), and account coordinator/junior account executive are likely good starter positions. For B2C experience, a job like retail sales associate will give you hands-on experience with customer interactions, product demonstrations, and understanding consumer behavior. Online job portals like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor, company websites, career fairs, and networking events are all good places to look for your first role in sales.

Look for networking and mentorship opportunities

Networking is a huge part of any sales job. It not only helps you connect with other industry professionals, but it’s also a good way to find potential customers. Attend sales industry events, join the Salesblazer community or one of the many sales-related groups on LinkedIn , and reach out to established sales professionals to connect. Finding a seasoned mentor or sales community can be a game-changer, accelerating your knowledge and opening doors to new opportunities.

Hone transferable skills used in other roles

If you’re transitioning from a different career path, remember that many skills are transferable to sales. As noted earlier, skills like effective communication, problem-solving, empathy, and adaptability are crucial in sales. For example, being adaptable to learning new sales tactics, processes, and even software can help you keep up with advancements and competitors in the field. Take time to hone these skills, either in role-playing practice with colleagues or via special training/courses (more on this below).

Pursue online sales training and certifications

Register for training and enroll in certification programs to gain sales experience. Online training is convenient for those juggling other commitments, and certifications from reputable sources not only boost your knowledge but also add credibility to your resume. For instance, explore Trailhead’s training and certification programs to earn impressive credentials and skills for the future.

Remember, gaining sales experience is a continuous journey. There’s no clear finish line. Sales is a dynamic field, and staying on top of the latest trends, tools, and techniques can build your competence and confidence, whether you’re just starting your career or transitioning from another industry.

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You probably already have some basic sales skills; as I mentioned up above, everyone is a bit of a salesperson, whether they know it or not. Let’s focus on two of the most important skills in a salesperson’s toolkit: active listening and empathy.

Active listening

This goes beyond just hearing what a customer says. It’s about understanding their needs, concerns, and motivations. Harvard Business Review breaks down the process and even gives a cheat sheet for how to become a better listener.

Here are my takeaways:

• Pay close attention to what the other person is saying. Validating others is a simple but effective way to show you’re engaged. If someone says, “I’m having a hard time recruiting qualified talent,” you could respond with, “I hear you. It’s a real concern for a lot of businesses right now. What have you been doing so far that you don’t feel is working?” This answer confirms that you’ve heard them and asks a follow-up question to get more information.
• Ask clarifying questions to uncover other issues. The example above shows you how to flesh out a response for more information and gain a deeper understanding of how the details and the bigger picture are related. Asking follow-up or clarifying questions can often lead to other selling opportunities you may not have seen initially.
• Repeat what you’ve heard: For example, you could say, “What I’m hearing is that you’re looking for ways to improve your hiring practices to attract more qualified applicants. Is that right?” This shows that you’ve heard what they’ve said and gives them a chance to confirm, deny, or elaborate, all things that keep the conversation going and help you get to the crux of an issue.

This is a chance to walk in your customer’s shoes. It’s about understanding their situation, challenges, and emotions. When you approach sales interactions with empathy, you’re not just selling a product or service. You’re also providing a solution that validates and addresses their needs.

Here are three tips to help you connect with your customers on a deeper level:

• Be curious: If you’re attending a networking event or a social gathering, try to engage someone you don’t know and see how much you can learn about them by the end of the conversation. Ask them about their experiences and listen to what they say. In sales, the more curious you are, the more you’ll be able to ask the right questions and get to the heart of a customer’s challenges so you can offer the right solutions.
• Change your perspective: In sales, it’s not about you or what you sell. Making a sale means solving someone else’s problem. If you’re selling educational software, interview some educators to learn about their daily workflow, challenges, needs, and wishes. Tailoring your sales approach to address the specific pain points and aspirations of each customer makes your pitch more relevant and impactful. You can’t do this well without stepping into their shoes.
• Look at personal biases: What’s important to your customers has to become important to you if you want to connect with them. For instance, if you know your customer values sustainability above all else, highlight your product’s positive environmental impact in your pitch. You may not personally care about sustainability, but saying that to a customer will not only show them you don’t care about their values, it will likely derail the deal. Know why something matters to your customer and try to frame your product in a way that supports their values.

These are both important to building rapport and trust with customers. Trust is the foundation of long-term business relationships. It can turn a one-time buyer into a loyal customer.

Success story: How a professional with a non-sales background found success in sales

I’ve always believed that the key to excelling in sales is a combination of one’s personal and professional experience and their unique strengths. Let me explain.

I once coached a woman who came to sales from a job running educational programs for underrepresented minorities. Despite having no formal sales experience, her professional background and extensive network of contacts made her an asset to the team; she was gifted at listening, empathizing, and connecting.

She was hired as a business development manager for an educational startup, and I coached her for just 90 days before she assumed her role as a one-person department. In no time, she was driving multimillion-dollar revenues and was quickly promoted to head of sales.

Like others I’ve worked with, she excelled because she understood that her experience was her superpower. Whether you’re coming from a different industry or think your skill set is unrelated, there’s a place for you in sales.

It’s about growing three things: your industry knowledge, your network, and your skill set. This woman already had industry knowledge and a network. I helped coach her to use her skills in a way that made sense for selling for a startup, and she found success.

Your life experience can make the best sales experience

Remember, sales is not just about selling a product or service. It’s also about solving problems, building relationships, and making connections. Some of the best salespeople I’ve ever worked with have come from other backgrounds. Regardless of your training or past work experience, if you can learn to build trust with your customers and provide the solutions they need, you can build a career in sales.

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Cherilynn Castleman has helped Fortune 500 clients as a global sales executive for more than 20 years. Currently, she serves as managing partner/executive coach for CGI, a sales training and coaching firm; and chief learning officer of the National Association of Women Sales Professionals. She empowers women across the sales sector and prides herself on changing mindsets as well as instructing and inspiring others to action.

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5 Job Interview Elevator Pitch Examples That Exemplify Confidence

• Written By Lindsay Tigar
• Updated: November 15, 2023

It’s the inevitable phrase that comes at the beginning of nearly every job interview: ‘So, tell me about yourself.’ For such a seemingly easy task — talking about who you are and what you do — it can warrant much anxiety.

After all, when you only have a few breaths to pitch your services and expertise, stumbling through your speech can make you look ill-prepared and lacking self-confidence. At the heart of this paragraph are the basics: essential information that’s needed to set up the scene for the interview .

One effective way to think about your elevator pitch (or virtual elevator pitch these days) for a job interview is to ensure it covers these basics:

• Your specialty and industry
• Your experience, in years

When you weave in all of these mentions, you easily illustrate your unique value proposition and you set the tone for the remainder of the interview.

5 Elevator Pitch Examples

Elevator pitches don’t need to be worrisome or stressful, but rather, perceived as your opening pitch. These examples can help inspire your own speech writing and ensure you are prepared for whatever the interviewer throws your way. You got this!

1. For when you’re moving

“I’m [NAME], a lawyer with the government, based out of D.C. I grew up in Ohio, though, and I’m looking to relocate closer to my roots, and join a family-friendly firm. I specialize in labor law and worked for ABC firm before joining the government.”

Why it works: This  to-the-point elevator pitch covers the reasons why you are relocating, while also speaking to your skillset.

2. For when you are hoping to make a move up

“I’m [NAME]. I fell in love with technology after winning a programming contest in eighth grade. That led to a degree in computer science, and I’ve now worked in IT for eight years. I recently wrapped up a contract as a senior data analyst with a big bioinformatics company, and I’m now looking for opportunities with other large medical data organizations.”

Why it works: You’re ready for the next big thing, and you want to ensure you  communicate passion and performance  to get there.

3. For getting their attention

“Hi, my name is Mark. After graduating with my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, I’ve spent the last three years building professional experience as an Executive Assistant. I’ve successfully managed end-to-end event coordination and have generated a strong professional network for my colleagues. I was excited to learn about this opportunity in the sports management space — I’ve always been passionate about the way sports brings cultures together and would love the opportunity to bring my project management and leadership abilities to this position.”

Why it works: Whether it’s a recruiter or the hiring manager, this elevator pitch is sure to keep them listening , without going overboard on the information.

4. For snagging the interview

“Hi, I’m [NAME] and I am excited about the new position with your company! I noticed that you are looking for a candidate with ____ years in the field, but let me tell you how my experience has gone above and beyond. In the same amount of time it would take another candidate to learn the ropes at my last position, I was able to raise our success rates right away. I did this by focusing on what really matters in the industry, such as ______, ______ and ______, and I was able to maximize profits in a quick and efficient way. I knew I should make these changes immediately, since I was able to identify what was slowing down their business operations. I can do the same for you in the new position. Here is my resume. Would you be willing to meet with me next week for an official interview?”

Why it works: Before you get through the door, an  elevator pitch  can make your case—especially if you don’t technically have the required years of experience.

5. For entry-level opportunities

“Hi, I’m [NAME]. Now that I have my Bachelor’s degree in Business, as well as a few internship experiences in marketing, I’m ready to contribute to the vision of a cutting-edge hospitality brand. Throughout each of my work experiences, I was often told that I was a very detail-oriented and innovative employee, which I’d love to apply in my next role. In fact, I saw on your website that you’re advertising X. I looked at what your competition is doing, and I saw that they have this interesting campaign doing Y… If I joined the team, I’d look at how we could do something even stronger, such as Z.”

Why it works: It’s never easy getting those first initial interviews when you’re fresh out of college or graduate school. This elevator pitch  puts your internship into perspective and ties them to real-world, applicable scenarios.

Ready to Crush Your Elevator Pitch?

It’s easy to underestimate the challenges of job interviews. These examples should help you stay primed and ready to knock your pitch out of the park. But, if you’re looking for an easier route, working with a proven partner can help. When you join our Talent Network , we do the pitching for you and get you working with top brands that match your expertise.

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How to Write a Resume Profile or Summary Statement

A resume summary or career profile is a brief statement at the top of your resume. If you are a career changer or have many years of experience, craft a powerful summary to highlight your accomplishments and skills.  Show the employer, at a glance, why you’re qualified for the job!

Resume Profile Guidelines 

General guidelines to keep in mind: 

• Keep your profile short. Two to five phrases written in a bulleted form or brief paragraph will do. Think of the summary as a snapshot of your skills,  accomplishments, and knowledge.
• Label your profile professionally: Summary of Qualifications, Career Profile, Career Highlights, Professional Summary, or just Summary or Profile. 
• Place your profile section at the top of your resume page, above your work history, so that the employer can see it when they first review your resume.

How To Create Your Profile

To choose what to highlight in your summary, research positions of interest and write a list of the common requirements and qualifications. 

Assess your skills and credentials. How does your background and experience align with the qualifications outlined in the job description? Select skills, experiences, special knowledge, and accomplishments that you want to highlight in your profile selection.

Next draft a few phrases that summarize your Skills/Experience/Accomplishments/Knowledge/Education

Now write a sentence describing your “professional role,” which you can use as the opening line in your profile. For example: 

• Accomplished Marketing Executive with over 10 year experience in…
• Fully knowledgeable in…
• Experience managing professional staff including…

Finally, put all of the sentences together and edit for a clean, concise, and compelling profile statement. 

Career Profile 

Successful professional with corporate marketing and training experience seeking position in nonprofit organization leveraging fundraising and program development skills. Recognized for ability to develop strong relationships and plan strategically. Strengths include: 

• Time Management
• Relationship Building
• Public Speaking

Highly skilled and results-oriented professional with solid academic preparation holding a Juris Doctor degree and extensive experience in intelligence and special operations seeks position in risk management. Proven ability to assess and manage complex obstacles; viewed as a strong troubleshooter. Successful in intense and demanding environments, providing decisive team leadership and structure with a track record of motivating and developing soldiers. Willing to relocate.

Publishing executive with multi-faceted background encompassing international licensing and brand management. Developed specialties in editorial planning, global marketing strategy, and design. Managed multiple projects simultaneously and efficiently by overseeing the daily operations of 17 magazine titles worldwide. Proven ability to develop strong relationships across cultures and to provide decisive team leadership in a fast-paced environment.

Additional Resources

We have many resources available to help you navigate career change and showcase your transferable skills.   

• For tips on resume structure and content read through Writing a Resume: Getting Started and Resumes with Impact: Creating Strong Bullet Points  
• For detailed instruction, view the webinars on Writing a Results Focused and Targeted Resume and How to Perfect Your Professional Narrative

Related Resources

Writing a Resume: Getting Started

If you’re applying for an internship or job, attending a networking event, or seeking a volunteer opportunity, chances are you’ll need a resume. We’ll walk you through the basics.

Resumes with Impact: Creating Strong Bullet Points

How can you make your resume stand out to an employer? This resource will help you learn how to use the STAR method to develop strong bullet points that highlight your skills and accomplishments relevant to a position.

How to Explain Employment Gaps

Learn tips to address employment gaps on your application materials and in interviews.

Privacy Policy Accessibility Notice of Non-Discrimination Terms of Use

How to write a personal brand statement that actually works

Personal branding is important , but not that many people can tell you how to express that in one or two sentences. Learning how to describe your personal brand is key to making a positive first impression on recruiters and hiring managers viewing your LinkedIn profile, though—don’t glaze over this!

If you’ve ever been stuck wondering how to answer “what is your personal brand,” then this is for you.

What is a personal brand statement, exactly?

Your personal brand statement is a headline or a short few sentences that describe who you are, what you achieve for businesses, your mission, and why.

Yeah, it’s a lot—but personal branding is important if you want to get good jobs in your career.

It has to fit into a short number of words, too—best to think of it as a personal brand headline , really.

Here’s why:

• It’s probably going to live as the headline on your LinkedIn profile
• It needs to make a first impression, not a second or third impression.
• You want hiring managers to understand your personal brand at a glance.

You need to know how to craft your personal brand statement because it’s one of the first things that hiring managers and recruiters learn about you.\

Personal brand statement examples for students

It’s tough to write a personal brand statement when you’re still in school or haven’t had much time outside of it. I definitely struggled to find many worthwhile personal brand statement examples for college students for this page, but there are a few good ones out there.

Take notes from these people because they’re doing things the right way.

The best personal branding statement example for students I found was from Mia Gradelski . As of writing she is enrolled in an undergraduate program that lasts for another 2 years, and she has wasted zero time in playing up her internship positions as work experience (which it is).

Her personal brand statement: “Visa Client Consulting Associate Intern | Investment Analyst”

That’s pretty impressive for someone only half-way through college.

This gives her credibility, derived from her work experience—which is exactly what we talk about in the 7-step job roadmap. I love it.

Another fantastic profile I found belonged to Ryan Collins , a PhD candidate transitioning into the digital marketing industry. He has a great headline that identifies the niche he’s pursuing too, which is an excellent strategy.

His personal brand statement: SEO Intern at Pillar4Media, Ph.D. Candidate, Aspiring SEO/Marketing Analyst. Python | R | SEMRush”

It tells hiring managers exactly where he plans to take his career as well as the skills he’s developing to take him there—plus some platform proficiency, which is always a bonus.

To top it all off he complements it beautifully with a banner image that promotes his portfolio website. I might apply that idea to my own profile, now.

Last but not least is Laura Davidson’s personal branding headline. I like it because it’s an overpowering collection of positions and industry experience including:

• A master’s degree
• A research assistantship
• A forensic assessment internship
• A volunteer research role
• A clinical assistant role

If that doesn’t scream “hard worker,” then I don’t know what does.

This profile could use a banner image to improve that first impression, but you can’t deny the power of that headline.

Personal brand statement examples for managers

Crafting a good personal brand statement as a manager can call for different messaging. By this point in your career you should be thinking about a problem, cause, or industry to rally around—it shows internal drive and, by implication, a high degree of passion and expertise.

Most people never use them so you can create a solid advantage for yourself if you pay attention to these examples of manager brand statements.

Let’s look at this example of Anthony Iliakostas , a manager at ABC News:

“ABC News R&C Manager by Day, Entertainment and IP Law Professor by Night”

That’s pretty good. It shows that he takes his job seriously but also has a passion for teaching and for the study of law itself. The “by night” part also implies (successfully) that he’s a hard worker, which is increasingly difficult to do without sounding disingenuous.

Anthony pulls it off, though.

Next up is Etta Di Leo, an internal communications expert specializing in the financial industry. Here’s her personal brand statement:

“Focused on internal and change communication. I can help you navigate change and improve your corporate culture.”

Her branding statement is great because she doesn’t actually say “internal communications” or “HR.” She talks about achieving organization change and improving company culture, which are the results of what she does for a living.

That specialty also encapsulates a clearly identifiable personal mission: to improve company culture and help organizations evolve from the inside. Seasoned business leaders (her audience) know this is a lot harder to do than it sounds, which is why the headline works so well.

It also contains useful personal brand words for her profile , including:

• Navigating change
• Improving culture

Last but not least is Chance Nguyen , a digital marketing manager. His headline is geared for a more informal crowd and it totally works.

“Marketing + Technology = Magic | Specializing in ecommerce, design thinking and digital strategy”

This personal branding statement works well because it deftly rolls his skills and his enthusiasm for his field into a single phrase. Immediately I got the sense that Chance is absolutely smitten with marketing technology and automation.

That’s important because internal motivation is far more believable than saying “passionate about marketing.” 

Notice the difference between personal branding statements for students and managers? The best student branding statements focus on picking a professional direction and displaying experience, while the best managerial brand statements focus on finding a niche or a cause to generate success for prospective employers.

Personal brand statement examples for leaders

Most leaders rely on their job titles to do the heavy lifting for their personal brands—you’ll see CEO, VP, and Chief _____ Officer most often (among executives, anyway). I searched for hours and found only a few good headlines.

It turns out that most leaders’ personal brand headlines suck. People presenting themselves as true leaders online aren’t usually executives. Go figure.

That’s a shame because showing you have a vision and a purpose beyond holding a fancy title is kind of what leadership is all about. Take a page from these personal brand statement examples for leaders in a few different industries.

So I found examples of today’s digital leaders outside of the executive suite: real people who are making a difference from the seat they’re in rather than climbing a ladder.

First up is Lakrisha Davis . Her personal brand statement is crystal-clear on multiple levels, which makes it particularly effective.

“ I Help Ambitious Women of Color Launch Authentic & Profitable Brands on LinkedIn ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿”

• She has a clear business mission.
• That mission has a clear audience.
• The audience can clearly understand her value proposition.

This is still an incredibly specific and powerful personal brand statement. Other leaders could learn a thing or two from Lakrisha’s profile, because it does not get more crystal-clear than this.

Next up is Jackie Lauer , a consultant and local thought leader on emotional intelligence and company culture.

“Speaker, Leadership and Culture Expert, EQ Coach and Neuroscience Geek, Start up Mentor”

This one isn’t quite as punchy as Lakrisha’s but that’s okay because it speaks to the many hats Jackie wears and years of experience and insight. She’s clearly a valuable resource to businesses in the region.

Remember: as a local leader, she wants to be approachable within the business community. Her personal branding statement definitely accomplishes that by speaking to her experience in startups, company culture, and leadership training. It’s a perfect fit.

Last but not least is Alexandra Carter , an extremely accomplished professional who lets those accomplishments do the talking for her.

“Award-Winning Negotiation Trainer | WSJ Bestselling Author of Ask for More | Clinical Professor at Columbia Law School”

What a powerhouse! Even just one of those achievements would be amazing, and she’s listed three in a single headline. Her personal branding statement speaks to her work ethic, communication skills, and originality as a thought leader.

Clearly this is an MVP that you’d want in your organization if at all possible. I’m probably going to buy Alexandra’s book now, too.

Quick note: There are plenty of great male leaders out there and I’m happy to know some of them, but only a scant few among them actually use any kind of personal branding statement. I looked far and wide for good examples from men but I didn’t find much. If you’re looking for a leadership role then this could be to your advantage!

Developing a personal brand statement

The thing about developing a personal brand statement is that there’s some “invisible” work that happens in the background before you ever start writing a headline.

You’ll need to figure out these things before writing anything:

• What kind of problem do you want to solve?
• Which industry do you want to join or change?
• What do you want everyone to have in their lives that they currently don’t?
• Who would hire you at your ideal company?

Figure out why you want to do something and then take it from there by identifying who would be interested in hearing that message—that’s your audience, and a key step in building your personal brand .

Starting here is how you create a personal brand statement that actually works.

Create a personal brand document

Put everything on paper, starting with your audience, your industry of choice, and your cause (or problem to be solved). It’s also a great place to write down your favourite personal branding quotes for inspiration, which has helped me out a few times.

Here are the next steps:

List the gatekeepers in the hiring process. This will probably include HR generalists who will screen candidates, team leaders who will conduct interviews, and directors or executives who will review your selection as a candidate.

We’ll just do a quick whiteboard example for a Content Manager position (excuse the chicken-scratch handwriting!) In the example pictured below you’ll find gatekeepers listed like this:

• HR Generalist
• Digital Marketing Director
• Chief Marketing Officer or Chief Revenue Officer

Identify their pain points (what they want solved for them and the company). Write out three of each for every gatekeeper on your list. Here are their prominent pain points:

• The HR Generalist looks bad if he passes on unqualified people, so he needs to be sure that candidates know what they’re talking about.
• The Marketing Director can’t do everything herself, and is too busy with partnerships and high-level strategy to worry about writing, measuring, and analyzing every piece of marketing content on her own.
• The Chief Marketing/Revenue Officer has been struggling to get the marketing and sales teams working in tandem. They’re operating in silos and moving in different directions.

Identify their hopes and goals. Write out 2-3 examples of what those gatekeepers want to see in a candidate or what they want to achieve for the company.

• The HR Generalist wants someone who is clearly able to talk shop with the Marketing Director and the Chief Marketing/Revenue Officer.
• The Marketing Director wants someone who can execute on her strategy—and someone who can cover the analytical side of digital marketing in the trenches to let her focus on high-level strategy.
• The Chief Marketing/Revenue Officer, the Director’s boss, also wants that candidate to be able to get along with her Director and to work laterally with the sales team to make sure each hand knows what the other is doing.

This is essentially a strategic framework showing you how to communicate with each gatekeeper in the hiring process according to their individual needs.

For this example, I’ve distilled their pain points and goals into building blocks for the eventual brand statement.

• All three gatekeepers here clearly care about communication skills. They want someone who can communicate marketing performance to management and with salespeople.
• They want someone who can understand marketing strategy and sales strategy, supporting both every day.
• They want a “doer”—someone who will execute the Marketing Director’s strategy and also proactively approach salespeople to learn what’s working and what’s not working.

With those clear messaging points in hand we can finally create the personal brand statement.

How to create personal branding statement on resume or your LinkedIn profile

Here is where we finally create the personal brand statement out of the distilled messaging points that we developed in the previous section. Those points are:

• Communicating marketing performance to everyone in the company.
• Executing, measuring, and analyzing marketing strategy.
• Doesn’t need to be asked to work cooperatively in the trenches with other teams.

We need to distill those into 1-2 sentences. Here’s what I’d write:

“Content marketer who champions strategy and sales teams without being asked. Distills marketing lingo for the whole company.”

Alternatively, you could remix it like this:

“Distills marketing strategy for the whole team, working with sales teams and getting it done.”

Not bad, right? It speaks to the pain points of the people who you want to hire you. It can fit right on a resume or a LinkedIn profile without fuss, and it hints at deep experience.

The messaging points you’ve developed here will also be useful for your portfolio website, your LinkedIn comments, and during interviews. The personal branding statement is just a distillation of all the work that happens in the background.

Can you use a personal brand statement generator ?

There aren’t really any personal brand statement generators out there, currently. A few exist for companies because corporate brands are easier to create than personal brands, but these aren’t very reliable.

Case in point: I used one of them and the results were poor. In the image below you can see the automated sentence the generator created, and it doesn’t even make sense.

They are handy in concept but the ones available on the web today are rudimentary at best, unable to take basic grammar into account—nevermind the complexity of pain points and championing positive office cultures.

Writing your personal brand statement without some internet bot will create a much better result because it will be smoother, punchier, and on-point.

More to the point, learning how to create a personal brand statement involves learning about your audience and its pain points before you ever put pen to paper, making it a methodical process that online generators can’t match (yet). If you’re still not quite able to do it then you should check out a personal branding consultant !

Figure out your audience and its pain points first and you’ll be well on your way to creating a statement that gets you hired.

Happy hunting, job seekers!

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Sales Job Interview Guide - 50 Sales Interview Questions And Answers

Sales personal are primarily responsible for selling products and services to customers, retaining customers, being brand ambassadors, optimizing sales operations and processes, building sales teams, etc. with the primary goal of increasing revenue for the company.

There are various job titles for sales personal which are broadly indicative of the following.

1. The positions hierarchy - VP, Director, Regional Manager, Manager, Representative, Consultant, etc.

2. The positions business area – Accounts, Operations, Revenue, Products, Customer Success, etc.

Irrespective of the job hierarchy and the area of business, there are some common core and underlying skills and knowledge required for a sales personal.

Sales Personal Behaviorial Skills

Sales personal require good interpersonal skills, communication skills, leadership skills, strategy and analytical skills, organization skills, negotiation skills, presentation skills, customer management skills, team management skills, etc.

Sales Personal Technical and Job-Related Skills

Sales personal require experience with technical software, tools, and CRMs - for setting short-term and long-term sales targets, creating strategic sales plans, managing and driving sales teams to achieve sales targets, preparing and giving sales presentations, negotiating with customers, up-selling and cross-selling to customers etc.

Key Topics To Prepare For A Sales Interview

Based on above needed behaviorial and technical skills, you must prepare for receptionist interview questions on the following topics.

• General : Questions about yourself, your education, your experience, your strengths, your weaknesses, your career goals, etc.
• Sales Metrics and Analytics : Questions on your knowledge of sales metrics such as conversion rates, customer acquisition cost, customer lifetime value, etc.
• Customer Acquisition, Management, and Networking Skills : Questions on your ability to network to get new leads, provide customer service during sales process, building relationships with customers, etc.
• Negotiation and Closing Skills : Questions on your ability to negotiate, articulate value propositions, reach mutually beneficial agreements, guiding customer to closure, etc.
• Sales Strategies and Goals : Questions on your ability to set short-term and long term-term sales targets; create and refine sales strategies and processes to achieve those targets etc.
• Adaptability and Resilience Skills : Questions on your ability to adapt to different customer personalities, different situations, change in market trends and product offerings, etc.
• Technical and CRM Software Skills : •Questions on your skills and experience with CRM software (e.g., Salesforce), internet, email, and social media, etc.
• Leadership, Teamwork, and Team Management : Questions on your ability to collaborating with colleagues to achieve common goals, hire and manage teams, conflict management, etc.
• Time Management Skills : Questions on your ability to pritorize tasks, maximize efficiency and productivity, meeting deadlines, etc.

Q1. Tell me about yourself?

By asking this question, the interviewer wants to see if you have the passion, skill set and experience required to be a sales personal.

Best way to answer this question is to briefly talk about yourself and highlight the following four points in sequence.

1. Your education - Highlight your education, certification, training, etc. that meets the qualifications needed for a sales job.

2. Your previous experience - Highlight the job duties from your previous jobs that match the requirements for this job.

3. Your strengths and passions - Highlight some of the success traits required for a receptionist – good interpersonal and communication skills, organization skills, positive and pleasing attitude, patience, multi-tasking abilities, customer management skills, etc.

4. Your job specific skills - Highlight your experience as a sales personal - setting sales targets, creating sales strategies, creating sales processes, customer and industry presentations, following-up on leads, closing deals, etc.

Important - Do not specify your hobbies, personal details, or family details unless specifically asked for.

Sample answer - 'I have a bachelor's degree in management from ABC university ( shows that you have relevant qualification ). I have ten years of experience in sales, including last five years for company XYZ as a sales manager where I was responsible for overseeing the sales for the west region. ( shows that you have relevant experience ). I have excellent leadership skills, have managed multiple sales teams, am passionate about creating sales targets and driving sales teams to achieve those targets, love presenting in industry conferences and giving sales pitches etc.( Shows that you are passionate being in a sales job ). In my previous job, my sales strategies have resulted in a net revenue growth of more than 200%, brought about a 10% increase in net new customers, put in processes that increased the sales growth of every individual sales representative in our team, presented in industry conferences which generated focused leads - many of which we successfully closed. ( shows that you have the right job related skills. ).'

Q2. What are your strengths?

Take the opportunity of this question and highlight your key strengths. Make sure to mention those strengths that will add value to this job position.

Let us look again at the success traits required for a sales job position – good interpersonal and communication skills, leadership skills, strategy and analytical skills, organization skills, negotiation skills, presentation skills, customer management skills, team management skills, etc.

Mention some of these as your strengths, explain why these strengths will help you excel in this role, and make sure that you can back it up with concrete and measurable results from your previous jobs.

Sample Answer

'My greatest strengths that would add value to this job are my strong interpersonal and communication skills (strengths specific to this job position) '

'I possess excellent interpersonal skills. Connecting with people, building professional relationships, and nurturing and maintaining those relationships comes naturally to me.'

'This strength of mine helps immensely in my sales job to generate new leads, turn these leads to clients, and maintain a long-term relation with these clients to generate additional up-sell and cross-sell opportunities. (specific details about your strength and how it helps you in this job) .'

'I excel in communication skills with attention to detail, which enables me to handle various responsibilities efficiently. This strength of mine makes me adept at generating leads, giving impactful sales pitches, effectively presenting value propositions, and closing deals. (specific detail about your strength and how it helps you in this job).'

'I have good leadership skills as well that enable me to manage, motivate and drive my sales teams. (additional strengths) '

Q3. What are your weaknesses?

Yes, you would certainly like to answer 'I do not have any weaknesses', but that is not what the interviewer is expecting, so be prepared to list out some weaknesses.

The best way to answer this question is with a four-step approach.

1. Specify positive attributes, such as ‘perfection’ or ‘attention to detail’ as your weakness.

2. Add a negative spin and explain why it becomes a weakness in certain situations.

3. Specify what steps you are taking to address this weakness.

4.Wrap it up by summarizing how your corrective actions will help in this job.

Important - do not mention any of the key success traits required for this job as one of your weaknesses. For example, do not say 'closing is my weakness' or 'presentation is my weakness'.

'I cannot think of any major weaknesses that would impact my sales job (Convey that your weaknesses will not majorly impact this job) '.

'One area that I have identified as a potential weakness is my attitude to be always perfect in my tasks. This attitude drives me to constantly strive for excellence and aim for perfection. (Positive Attribute) '

'This sometimes can turn negative in certain situations, especially in those requiring quick decision-making or prioritization of tasks. I occasionally spend more time than necessary on these tasks, as I strive for perfection. (Negative spin) '

'To address this weakness, I have been working on striking a balance between thoroughness and efficiency. I have learned to recognize situations where a 'good enough' approach is appropriate, allowing me to complete tasks more promptly while maintaining a high standard of quality. (Conveys steps you are taking to address this weakness) '

'I view this self-awareness and willingness to adapt as essential traits in any role, including that of a sales personal. By continually striving for improvement, I believe I can turn this weakness into a strength by becoming even more efficient and effective in my responsibilities. (Conveys how your corrective action will help in this job) '

Q4. What motivates you.

Though this looks like a generic question, the intent of the interviewer is to assess what motivates you - as a sales personal.

There are basically three factors which motivate sales personal - money, recognition, and challenges - and all these factors lead to increased sales for the company

So answer this question by keeping the context to sales, listing one or more of the above motivation factors, and making it obvious that your motivation factors will lead to increased sales for the company.

'What motivates me is setting challenging goals, and meeting and exceeding those goals, in all aspects of my life. For example, as a sales manager I motivate myself and my team, by setting challenging but achievable monthly sales goals, and driving to exceed those goals.'

Q5. Why do you want to leave your current job?

By asking this question, the interviewer wants to know what your motivation is in leaving your current job.

When answering this question, it is important to be honest and tactful in your response. Also answer this question without casting any negative light on your current or previous employer.

'The primary reason I am seeking a new role as a sales manager is to pursue a fresh challenge and further develop my skills. While my current position has provided me with valuable experience, I believe that taking on new responsibilities and working in a different environment would help me continue to grow both personally and professionally.'

'I want to emphasize that my decision to explore new opportunities is not a reflection of any dissatisfaction with my current job or employer. In fact, I have had a rewarding experience there, and I have learned a great deal during my time with the company.'

'I have great respect for my colleagues and the management team at my current job, and I will always appreciate the support and opportunities they have provided. However, after careful consideration, I feel that now is the right time for me to explore new horizons and bring my skills and enthusiasm to a new organization, such as yours, where I can contribute effectively as a sales manager and embrace new challenges.'

Give an example of when a sales representative in your team was not meeting their sales target? What did you Do?

This is a common scenario in the life of a sales manager, hence is a frequently asked sales manager interview question. Not every sales representative performs at the same level; some will be rock-stars and consistently exceed their sales targets, while other may struggle to meet their sales targets.

As a sales manager if a member of your team is not meeting the sales targets, then take the following actions.

1. Communication - Talk to the sales representative and find out the reason why the sales representative is not able to meet the targets.

2. Tweak sales process if needed - In step 1, if you determine that issue is with the sales process, and other sales representatives are also struggling as well - then tweak the sales process and targets.

3. Offer training if needed - In step 1, if you determine that issue is with the sales representative - offer him coaching, training, refined targets etc; and monitor for some time to see if that helps.

4. Fire if above does not help - If the coaching and training does not help, then you have to let the sales representative go.

Consider the above steps when answering this question.

Sample Answer 'In my previous jobs as a sales manager, I had this issue on multiple occasions where a sales manager was not meeting his sales targets. In such occasions, I usually have a good talk with the sales manager to identify the root cause for not meeting the sales targets. If the issue is with the sales process or targets, I tweak them. If the issue is with the skills of the sales representative, I offer him coaching and give him some time to improve. If that does not help, I will replace him.'

'In this particular case we identified that the sales representative was good at generating and pursuing leads, but was having trouble closing the deals. I offered him training specific to deal closure, refined his sales targets, and monitored his progress for a few months.'

Luckily, the training helped this particular sales representative, and he started meeting the sales targets within a couple of months.

Sell me this pen.

This a classic sales manager interview question, that has been asked for decades and probably centuries; but is still relevant and frequently asked today.

By asking this question, the interviewer wants to evaluate your sales approach and see how good you are at actually selling a product. The interviewer can ask you to sell any product instead of a pen - for example 'sell me this book' or 'sell me this marker' or 'sell me this white board' etc.

Many people make the mistake of answering this question by starting with a list of the features of the product - like 'this pen is gold plated', 'this pen writes smooth', 'this pen is cheap', 'this pen is stylish' etc. - and then trying to sell it. This is a completely wrong approach to selling.

There are many right approaches to selling. One of the approaches is the following four step process.

1. Gather information on how the customer will use the product by questioning the customer.

2. Highlight the significance of the situation, or reason, on why the customer will use the product.

3. Highlight the key features of the product that conforms to and enhances the customer's expectations and experience of the product.

4. Sell the product using tactics such as scarcity and limited time deals.

Questions to interviewer - 'When is the last time you used a pen?, why do you use it for? what is important for you in your writings? ( Let's assume that the interviewer says he uses the pen for journaling. )'.

Highlight significance of journaling - 'Your journal is an important artifact that you would refer to for years and probably decades. You want to ensure that the ink does not smudge, does not fade, the pen writes smoothly and lasts long.'

Highlight features of this pen specific to interviewer's needs - 'This pen has high quality ink that writes smooth, lasts long, does not smudge; and build robustly for everyday use.'

Sell - 'Why don't you try out this pen today and see for yourself how delightful your journal writing will transform to. And just today we this deal going on - you will get a two pack just for the price of one!

#{book_item.sale_price}

Coming soon.

• career educationtips job seekersinterviewingbehavior based interviewing

STAR Strategy Examples

STAR is an acronym for a formula which can help you structure your responses. The letters stand for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Most questions center on your past or current attitudes, and your work, academic, or service experiences. When talking about these subjects, choose specific examples to illustrate your answer. Describe the Situation you were in, the Task you were asked to accomplish, the Action you took and why, and the Results of your actions. This will help the interviewer follow your "story" and see your accomplishments.

Entry Level Candidates

Here's an example of a response that uses this method to address an employer's questions about a student's lackluster GPA:

Situation: I entered my sophomore year with a low GPA. I had always done well in school, but I didn't handle the transition to college well.

Task:  I knew that if I wanted to succeed, I had to develop better study habits and manage my time better.

Action: I created a calendar and marked the due dates for all of my assignments and tests. Then I set aside certain hours each day for studying, allowing more for peak times like mid-terms or finals. I made up my mind not to change the plan until after the first semester grades so I could give it a chance to work.

Result:  My grades improved immediately; I used this system for the whole year and earned a 3.2 while still having time for other activities. My GPA has been strong ever since.

As you can see from the above example, the STAR method can help you answer tough questions clearly and concisely. Practice using this method as you prepare for your interview so you can shine when it really matters.

Experienced Candidates

Situation:  One of my duties in my previous position was the responsibility of managing various events.

Task:  I noticed that attendance at these events had dropped by 30% over the past 3 years and wanted to do something to improve these numbers.

Action:  I designed a new promotional packet to go out to the local community businesses. I also included a rating sheet to collect feedback on our events and organized internal round table discussions to raise awareness of the issue within our company.

Result:  We utilized some of the wonderful ideas we received from the community, made our internal systems more efficient and visible and raised attendance by 18% the first year.

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Latin American Professional Development series Every Friday from 3-5 pm

UK students are invited to the Spring 2024 Latin American Professional Development series every Friday from 3-5 pm at the Stuckert Career Center (408 Rose Street). Join us to chat with peer ambassadors and career advisors about resumes, internships, or career services, with instructions available in Spanish and Portuguese. Whether you're an international student or looking to explore job opportunities abroad, this event is tailored for you. All students are welcome to attend and expand their horizons. To learn more and sign up, register on Handshake! 

By visiting the Stuckert Career Center, students have the opportunity to receive assistance in various aspects of their academic and career journey, such as choosing a major, crafting a career path, devising effective job-search methods, and more. Our dedicated team is eager to engage with classes and student groups to discuss topics like career readiness, planning for professional education, and the range of services we provide. Career advisors are available to evaluate how personal factors can shape one's career decisions.

The Stuckert Career Center plays a pivotal role by organizing multiple career fairs and leveraging Handshake, an online platform for job and internship opportunities, to connect students, alumni, and employers. Furthermore, the center offers convenient on-campus interview spaces accessible to both students and employers alike.

Monthly Specialty Services

Spotlight on a major.

Learn about UK's majors at weekly themed sessions with Stuckert Career Center's Major Exploratory Associates.

Tuesdays: 4:00pm-5:00pm

• 3/5 - Agricultural Education & Advocacy
• 3/19 - Pre-Professional options
• 3/26 - Sport Leadership

Personal Statement Labs

Students can attend one of the labs to receive coaching on personal statements for graduate/professional school applications, fellowship programs, and other career opportunities. 

This week at the Career Center

Brief discussion to address immediate concerns or provide initial guidance on a career center topic of concern. 

Offered Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1:00pm-3:00pm all semester at The Stuckert Career Center. 

Resume Labs

Quick, on the-spot resume review - no appointment required!

Offered Monday and Friday from 1:00pm-3:00pm all semester at The Stuckert Career Center. 

High-quality photos for student personal branding and use on platforms such as handshake and LinkedIn. 

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The Problem with Using “I Statements” at Work

Focus on what the business needs, not how you feel about it.

It has become common advice for business people to use “I statements” — such as, “I feel frustrated that you missed the budget deadline twice” — as a way to raise challenging conversations without provoking defensiveness. While I statements may be helpful for maintaining personal relationships, in professional settings they can backfire. Why? First, they can make you seem weak or emotional (especially risky for women). Second, they can make it seem that you’re more interested in what’s best for yourself than in what’s best for the business. And third, they can make you seem weak. Instead, leave yourself out of the equation, and focus on making an argument about what the business needs.

It has become common advice for businesspeople to use “ I statements ” — such as, “I feel frustrated that you missed the budget deadline twice” — as a way to raise challenging conversations without causing colleagues to feel blamed or under attack. Indeed, I statements may be helpful during situations in which you have a close personal relationship to a colleague who cares about your well-being, or when you want to show that a particular issue has moral implications for you.

• Liz Kislik helps organizations from the Fortune 500 to national nonprofits and family-run businesses solve their thorniest problems. She has taught at NYU and Hofstra University, and recently spoke at  TEDxBaylorSchool . You can receive her free guide,  How to Resolve Interpersonal Conflicts in the Workplace , on her website.

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• What Is Form W-2?
• Who Can File Form W-2?
• How to File Form W-2
• What Information Is on a W-2?
• How to Read a W-2

Related Tax Documents

The bottom line.

• Income Tax Forms

Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement: What It Is and How to Read It

Lea Uradu, J.D. is a Maryland State Registered Tax Preparer, State Certified Notary Public, Certified VITA Tax Preparer, IRS Annual Filing Season Program Participant, and Tax Writer.

What Is Form W-2: Wage and Tax Statement?

Form W-2, also known as the Wage and Tax Statement, is the document an employer is required to send to each employee and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at the end of the year. A W-2 reports employees' annual wages and the amount of taxes withheld from their paychecks. A W-2 employee is someone whose employer deducts taxes from their paychecks and submits this information to the government.

Key Takeaways

• Form W-2 reflects your income earned and taxes withheld from the prior year to be reported on your income tax returns.
• Employers use W-2s to report FICA taxes for employees.
• The IRS also uses W-2 forms to track individuals' tax obligations.

Who Files Form W-2: Wage and Tax Statement?

An employer is legally required to send out a W-2 form to every employee to whom they paid a salary, wage, or another form of compensation. This does not include contracted or self-employed workers , who file taxes with different forms. The employer must send the employee the W-2 form on or before January 31 each year, so that the employee has ample time to file income taxes before the deadline (which is April 15 in most years).

Employers must also use W-2 forms to report Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes for their employees throughout the year. By the end of January, employers must file, for the previous year, Form W-2, along with Form W-3, for each employee with the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA uses the information on these forms to calculate the Social Security benefits to which each worker is entitled.

Tax documents are filed for the previous year. For example, if you receive a W-2 form in January 2024, it reflects your income earned for 2023.

How to File Form W-2: Wage and Tax Statement

If you are an employee of a company and will receive a W-2 for your income taxes, it will be sent to you automatically each year by your employer. Your employer will also submit a copy of your W-2 to the IRS.

The information provided on Form W-4 (or sometimes Form W-9 ) when you are first hired provides the information your company needs to keep track of payroll, tax withholding, employer-provided benefits, and pre-tax contributions to things like a 401(k) retirement plan. The W-4 form  tells the employer  the amount of tax to withhold from an employee's paycheck based on the person's marital status, number of allowances and dependents, and other factors.  

When you prepare your income taxes, you will need to input the data found on your W-2 into a Form 1040 individual tax return, either by hand or electronically. Online tax preparation software now allows you to directly import the information on your W-2 from your payroll provider in many cases.

What Information Does Form W-2: Wage and Tax Statement Include?

Every W-2 has the same fields, no matter the employer. W-2 forms are divided into state and federal sections since employees must file taxes on both levels. Some fields provide the employer's information, including the company's Employer Identification Number (EIN) (federal) and the employer's state ID number. The remaining fields are mostly details of the employee's income from the previous year.

The employee's total earnings from the employer for the year are recorded, along with the amount withheld in taxes from the employee's paychecks, separated into the withholding for federal income tax, Social Security tax, and more. If the employee also works for tips, a field shows how much money in tips the employee earned for the year.

If you work multiple jobs that provide W-2s, you need to input each separately.

When the employee files taxes, the amount of tax withheld according to the W-2 form is deducted from their gross tax obligation. If more tax was withheld than owed, a refund will be issued.

The IRS also uses Form W-2 to track an employee’s income and tax liability. If the income reported on an employee’s taxes doesn’t match the income reported on the Form W-2, the IRS may audit the taxpayer; however, taxpayers are required to report all salary, wage, and tip income even if that income is not reported on a W-2.

How to Read Form W-2: Wage and Tax Statement

W-2 forms include both numbered and lettered boxes that an employer must fill out to reflect how much you earned and taxes withheld.

Boxes A through F

The lettered boxes on a W-2 include the name and address of you and your employer, your Social Security number, and your employer's EIN and state ID number.

Boxes 1 and 2

Box 1 shows your taxable income, including wages, salary, tips, and bonuses, while Box 2 shows how much federal income tax your employer withheld from your pay.

Boxes 3 and 4

Box 3 details how much of your earnings were subject to Social Security tax and Box 4 the amount of Social Security tax that was withheld.

Boxes 5 and 6

Box 5 spells out how much of your pay is subject to Medicare tax and Box 6 how much was withheld. The employee portion of the Medicare tax is 1.45%.

Boxes 7 and 8

If part of your pay is in the form of tips, these boxes show how much you reported in tips (Box 7) and how much your employer reported in tips it paid to you (Box 8).

This box was used to reflect a now-defunct tax perk, so it is left empty.

Box 10 reports how much you received from your employer in dependent care benefits (if applicable).

This box details how much deferred compensation you received from the employer in a non-qualified plan .

Box 12 details other types of compensation or reductions from your taxable income and a single or double letter code that corresponds to each. It might include, for example, contributions to a 401(k) plan . Codes are detailed in the IRS' W-2 instructions.

This box has three sub boxes designed to report pay that is not subject to federal income tax withholding, if you participated in an employer-sponsored retirement plan , or if you received sick pay via a third-party, such as an insurance policy.

Box 14 allows an employer to report any other additional tax information that may not fit into the other sections of a W-2 form. A few examples are state disability insurance taxes withheld and union dues.

Boxes 15-20

The last six boxes on a W-2 all relate to state and local taxes, including how much of your pay is subject to these taxes and how much was withheld.

Form W-4 is completed by every employee for withholding purposes. The employer uses the information to determine how much tax to withhold from the employee's paychecks. Most employees must fill out this form when they start working for a company.

If the employee is paid $600 or more for the company during the year, the company issues a 1099 form showing the earnings and deductions made. This usually arrives by the end of January of the following year.

Form W-2G is a tax form that a gaming facility such as a casino may send you if you received winnings from gambling  in the prior year.

Students receive a 1098-E statement for any year in which they paid interest on a federal student loan. Students also receive a 1098-T statement reporting college tuition expenses that might entitle students to tax deductions or credits.

How Can I Get My W-2?

Your employer is required to provide you with copies of your W-2 each year if you are eligible to receive one. The deadline for companies to provide this form is typically by the end of January or early February following the tax year that just ended. W-2s may be sent by mail as a hard copy or made available online in electronic form, either through the employer directly or via their payroll provider.

How Much Money Do You Need to Make to Get a W-2?

In general, you will receive a W-2 from an employer if you earned at least $600 in a given year. You will also receive a W-2 if you had taxes withheld earning any amount from your employer. Note that if you were a contracted individual and not an employee, you will likely receive a 1099 instead of a W-2.

What Do I Do If I Lost My W-2?

If your W-2 is available online, you may access it as many times as you need. If you lose your password or credentials for accessing the online site, you can often request automated password recovery. If you still need help accessing your information online, or if you need to request a new paper copy, you should contact your payroll or HR supervisor.

What Is the Difference Between a W-2 and a W-4?

A W-4 is filled out by employees to provide their employer with their tax ID number (usually SSN), marital status, number of allowances and dependents, and how much tax to withhold with each paycheck. The W-4 is filled out when an employee is first hired or if any changes must be made to filing status or withholding. The W-2 is filled out by employers at the end of the tax year and sent to employees to input on their tax returns.

Form W-2 is an IRS form that employers must send to an employee and the IRS every year. The form reports an employee's annual wages and the taxes withheld. Employees also use the form to file their taxes every year.

Internal Revenue Service. " About Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement ."

Internal Revenue Service. " Self-Employed Individuals Tax Center ."

Internal Revenue Service. " General Instructions for Forms W-2 and W-3 (2021) ."

Internal Revenue Service. " Topic No. 753 Form W-4 – Employee's Withholding Certificate ."

Internal Revenue Service. " 2022 Form W-2 ." Page 2.

Internal Revenue Service. " Topic No. 751 Social Security and Medicare Withholding Rates ."

Internal Revenue Service. " Forms and Associated Taxes for Independent Contractors ."

Internal Revenue Service. " About Form W-2 G, Certain Gambling Winnings ."

Internal Revenue Service. " About Form 1098-E, Student Loan Interest Statement ."

Internal Revenue Service. " About Form 1098-T, Tuition Statement ."

• Guide To Federal Tax Forms 1 of 54
• Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement: What It Is and How to Read It 2 of 54
• Form W-2G: Certain Gambling Winnings, Guide, and Filing How-to's 3 of 54
• Form W-4: What It Is and How to File 4 of 54
• How to Fill Out Form W-4 5 of 54
• W-8BEN: When to Use It and Other Types of W-8 Tax Forms 6 of 54
• What Is a W-9 Form? Who Can File and How to Fill It Out 7 of 54
• Form 1040: U.S. Individual Tax Return Definition, Types, and Use 8 of 54
• Form 1040-NR: U.S. Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return Explained 9 of 54
• Form 1040-SR U.S. Tax Return for Seniors: Definition and Filing 10 of 54
• Form 1040 V: Payment Voucher and IRS Filing Rules 11 of 54
• What Is Form 1040-X? Definition, Purpose, and How to File 12 of 54
• Form 1099: Reporting Non-Employment Income 13 of 54
• What Are 10 Things You Should Know About 1099s? 14 of 54
• Form 1099-A: Acquisition or Abandonment of Secured Property 15 of 54
• Form 1099-B: Proceeds From Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions 16 of 54
• Form 1099-C: Cancellation of Debt: Definition and How to File 17 of 54
• Form 1099-CAP: Changes in Corporate Control and Capital Structure Definition 18 of 54
• Form 1099-DIV, Dividends and Distributions: How to File 19 of 54
• What Is Form 1099-G: Certain Government Payments? 20 of 54
• Form 1099-H: Health Coverage Tax Credit Advance Payments 21 of 54
• Form 1099-INT: What It Is, Who Files It, and Who Receives It 22 of 54
• Form 1099-K: Definition, Uses, Who Must File 23 of 54
• Form 1099-LTC: Long-Term Care and Accelerated Death Benefits Definition 24 of 54
• 1099-MISC Form: What It Is and What It's Used For 25 of 54
• Form 1099-OID: Original Issue Discount: What it is, How it Works 26 of 54
• Form 1099-PATR, Taxable Distributions Received From Cooperatives Definition 27 of 54
• What Is Form 1099-Q: Payments From Qualified Education Programs? 28 of 54
• Form 1099-R: What It's Used for and Who Should File It 29 of 54
• IRS Form 1099-SA: What It Is, Who Has to File, and How 30 of 54
• IRS Form 706: Who Must File It and Related Forms 31 of 54
• IRS Form 706-GS(D): Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Return For Distributions 32 of 54
• Form 843: Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement: How to File 33 of 54
• Form 1078: Certificate of Alien Claiming Residence Definition 34 of 54
• Form 1095-B: Health Coverage: What it is, How it Works 35 of 54
• Form 1098: Mortgage Interest Statement and How to File 36 of 54
• Form 1310: Purpose for Taxes, Who Files, and How to File 37 of 54
• IRS Form 2441: What It Is, Who Can File, and How to Fill It Out 38 of 54
• Form 2848: Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative Definition 39 of 54
• The Purpose of IRS Form 2848 40 of 54
• Form 4070A: Employee'S Daily Record Of Tips Overview 41 of 54
• Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return: Definition and Filing 42 of 54
• Form 4868: 6-Month Extension to File a Tax Return 43 of 54
• Form 5329: Additional Taxes on Qualified Plans & Other Tax-Favored Accounts 44 of 54
• What Is IRS Form 5498: IRA Contribution Information? 45 of 54
• Form 6251: Alternative Minimum Tax-Individuals Overview 46 of 54
• What Is Form 8379: Injured Spouse Allocation? Definition 47 of 54
• What Is Form 8396: Mortgage Interest Credit? How to Use 48 of 54
• When to File Form 8606: Nondeductible IRAs 49 of 54
• Form 8689: Allocation of Individual Income Tax to the U.S. Virgin Islands 50 of 54
• Form 8888: Allocation of Refund (Including Savings Bond Purchases) Definition 51 of 54
• The Purpose of IRS Form 8949 52 of 54
• Form 8962: Premium Tax Credit. What It Is and How to File 53 of 54
• Form 9465: Installment Agreement Request: Meaning, Overview 54 of 54

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