Your 140-Character Brand

I have written recently on the new ways social media is effecting the job search. One of those articles looked at how things like tweeting on Twitter may become more important in some situations, even possibly replacing the need for a resume. While even I thought that was a leap, the information was very interesting and worth reporting on. So, you can imagine my feelings when I ran across yet another similar example related to this change in the job search ideas of old.

Shep Hyker, a well-known voice in the Customer Service industry, recently published a blog post titled Create Your 140 Character Brand Promise. The post discusses how Pizza Hut recently interviewed for a social media manager, but in order to interview for the position, you had to be able to do so within 140 seconds--reminiscent of the 140-character limit on Twitter. The interview would also include a live viewing of the candidates LinkedIn page. Pizza Hut would not accept paper resumes.

“It's the modern day elevator speech. The time you have to tell a story, engage a customer or leave a lasting impression on someone socially has shrunk to seconds,” is what Doug Terfehr of Pizza Hut says according to Forbes writer Aaron Perlut. It is a fast paced world no doubt, and some jobs – like a social media manager – must be filled by someone who is quick thinking and able to make a valid point, compacted into a small container.

Company slogans can make or break a company, and so can quick catch phrases sent out in social media cyber-space. Also, quick and fun phrases can be useful in drawing attention to company ads, specials, etc. Many companies can quickly be identified by these types of short slogans and descriptions, and Hyker lists some examples in his article by playing a game of name that company:

A chain of department stores that is known for its amazing customer service? (76 characters)

An airline that has reasonable flights, fun flight attendants and lots of peanuts? (88 characters)

The point is that it should be possible to create a short brand that quickly identifies a company, product, or service. Therefore, try creating the same type of brand to describe you in a similar manner. Can you come up with something that is concise, accurate, and that you are able to deliver? This kind of practice can be very helpful when it comes time to answer that age-old interview question – “tell me about yourself.” 

So, when you are out interviewing for that CSR position or any position for that matter, keep things concise, compact, and constructive to your self-promotion. 

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