[Correction: Pasha's last name was incorrect in the first post. I have corrected it to Pasha Stocking. Check out her web site at www.hirepasha.com]

Would you use a billboard to advertise your company? Yourself for a job? Your company for investors?

The answer to the first is it depends. The answer to the second is probably not. The answer to the third should be an absolute No.  If you do not understand why you would not use a billboard to advertise for investors, then ask any lawyer about SEC rules.

Pasha Stocking is using a billboard to advertise herself for a job.  Visit www.hirepasha.com.  CNN wrote about her on April 13, 2009. 

Mark Heuer is doing the same thing on www.mark4hire.com.  Pasha got her idea from Mark when he was featured on the news.

There are so many things I could talk about regarding these two people.  Instead of talking about personal brands, or going crazy with your job search, I will focus on these three recommendations.

Recommendation 1: Be clever with a new media for your activity. Use it to generate buzz and interest in you. 

Clearly, both Pasha and Mark do this because a billboard is UNUSUAL and got them on the news.

Recommendation 2: Be very consistent (and clear) on your message.

When you advertise yourself publicly, people will remember this message. On his web site, Mark is great at just writing about his successes and what he can do for you in sales or management.  On her web site, Pasha writes about her marketing/PR, but she misses the point in just looking for a job.  Her site has links to where she is looking for clients for one of her many businesses.  Which is it? Is she looking for a job, or looking for clients.

The answer is simple: She is looking for both, but prefers a steady job where she can make a difference and grow.  In the meantime, if someone would like her service for short-term, then she is available. Or, if someone just wants to try her out before hiring her permanently then she is also available.

Unfortunately, she causes the public to have to think about this. The reality is that most do not. People will think that she is just hopping from job to job. There are ways she can spell this out. 

Recommendation 3: Focus on TANGIBLES (accomplishments) on your resume. If you post it publicly make sure it dazzles.

Let us be really unfair and compare Mark to Pasha.  Mark lists specific accomplishments on his resume.  He has 29 bullet points.  17 of them cover accomplishments that show how he grew his company. Pasha does not have a single specific accomplishment like this.  I am sure Pasha has these accomplishments. Only Mark’s dazzles.

Same thing applies to when you talk to investors: if you have accomplishments and successes then use them!

Both Mark and Pasha get many points for guts and getting their names on the news.  Pasha is looking for a position in PR and/or marketing and consults in this area.  For getting on CNN alone, she should be considered by some firm as someone eager to learn, able to think outside the box, and gutsy enough to do something with it.

However, for looking to someone to grow my company, I would only look at Mark. He talks about successes.