Feedback is essential for improving your resume and portfolio, especially if you want to stand out in a competitive job market. However, not all feedback is equal, and you need to know how to ask for, receive, and apply it effectively. In this article, you will learn how to use feedback to enhance your personal branding and showcase your skills and achievements.
Before you seek feedback, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your resume and portfolio, and who you are targeting. Your goals and audience will determine the content, format, style, and tone of your documents. For example, if you are applying for a creative role, you might want to use a more visual and expressive portfolio, while if you are aiming for a corporate position, you might want to stick to a more formal and concise resume. Write down your objectives and research your potential employers to understand their expectations and preferences.
The more clear you are on what you want to get out of the feedback you seek, the better. When we’re building our career, sometimes we don’t know exactly what we want, but we can still have a vision for where we want to be 3-5 years from now and this is essential in setting goals and getting in front of the right people. Be clear on your questions and look of roles
When updating your resume and portfolio, know what you want to achieve and who you are targeting. I recently applied for social media marketing roles in agencies and corporates. I took feedback from people who knew social media marketing and hiring managers in the industry. This helped me to understand what employers were looking for in candidates. - For agencies: I used a more visual portfolio - While for corporates: I stuck to a formal resume. I could only do this when I wrote down what I want, what I am good at, what would the hiring team expecting, my goals and researched my potential employers to understand their expectations and preferences but also took feedback from the experts.
Not all feedback sources are equally helpful or relevant. You want to get feedback from people who have expertise, experience, or insight into your field, industry, or role. They can offer you constructive and specific suggestions that align with your goals and audience. Avoid getting feedback from people who are too close to you, such as family or friends, who might be biased or too vague. Also, avoid getting feedback from too many sources, as this can lead to confusion and inconsistency. Aim for 2-4 feedback sources that can provide you with different perspectives and insights.
Look at the people with careers you admire. Get uncomfortable and dream big and get feedback from people who worked hard to get to where they are. No path is linear so you wanna understand the journey
When you ask for feedback, you need to be clear and specific about what you want to know and improve. Don't just ask for general opinions or impressions, as this can result in vague or irrelevant comments. Instead, ask for feedback on specific aspects of your resume and portfolio, such as the layout, design, content, language, tone, or impact. You can also ask for feedback on how well your documents match your goals and audience, or how they compare to other candidates in your field. You can use tools such as Google Forms, SurveyMonkey, or FeedbackFruits to create and send feedback requests that are easy to fill out and analyze.
While I agree with this as a means of receiving constructive and prescriptive feedback, I also believe in the merit of asking about first impressions. Resumes and portfolios are designed to act as emblems of your personal brand, and it's important to understand how - even at a quick glance - you are coming across to your potential colleagues. I'd advise to start a feedback session by asking for this general impact ("What's the first thing that came to mind when you saw my resume?" or "How would you describe the overall look/tone/feel of my portfolio?") before diving into the nitty gritty. Modern generations are increasingly leaning into the importance of solid "vibes," so might as well embrace it.
When you receive feedback, you need to be open and receptive to different opinions and suggestions. Don't take feedback personally or defensively, as this can prevent you from learning and improving. Instead, thank the feedback providers for their time and input, and ask for clarification or examples if you don't understand something. You can also ask for positive feedback, such as what they liked or what stood out to them, to balance the negative feedback and boost your confidence. You can use tools such as Google Docs, Dropbox, or Behance to share your documents and receive feedback online.
When you apply feedback, you need to be selective and critical about what you change and what you keep. Don't blindly follow all the feedback you receive, as this can dilute your personal branding and make your documents inconsistent or generic. Instead, evaluate the feedback based on its relevance, validity, and usefulness for your goals and audience. You can use tools such as Grammarly, Hemingway, or Canva to edit and improve your documents based on the feedback. You can also test and measure the impact of your changes by using tools such as Resume Worded, Jobscan, or Portfolium.
Finally, you need to repeat the feedback cycle until you are satisfied with your resume and portfolio. Feedback is not a one-time event, but a continuous process of learning and improvement. You can always find new ways to enhance your personal branding and showcase your skills and achievements. You can also seek feedback from different sources and at different stages of your job search, such as before, during, or after an interview. You can use tools such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor, or Indeed to find and connect with potential feedback sources and opportunities.