Selling Yourself
Following are some helpful tips from a sales professional on how to market yourself to prospective employers through out your job search process. After all when it comes to employment you are very much a sales person marketing your skills and abilities.
The key is to regard your job search as a newly launched sales campaign. It's up to you to utilize the resources you have at hand to reach your target market and sell them on the idea of hiring you.
The first step in this process is to define your product. In this case you are the product, so it is critical that you understand both what you're seeking and what you have to offer. Take a few moments to answer the following questions- and be honest with yourself as you do.
| Define Your Product:
1) Desires- What are you seeking? What do you want to do? Where would you like to work? What industry are you hoping to work in? What salary range would you like to see? 2) Skills- What skills to you have to offer an employer? What experience do you bring to a new company? What can you do for them? 3) Needs- This is the flip side of Desires. What is the minimum pay you can accept? What do you absolutely need, financial, professional and so forth in your next position. |
The next step, after defining the product, is to better identify your target market. This step will lay the ground work for how you initiate your job search.
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Research Your Target Market: 1) Companies- What employers in the area match your desires? What types of companies offer what you're seeking? 2) Jobs- What positions are the best match for your skills? For your personality? What jobs meet your personal goals for scheduling and other criteria? 3) Research Resources- Where can you find information about these area companies or specific details about these positions? Possible resources include: the library, newspapers, trade papers, company websites and promotional information, the area chamber of commerce, professional societies and organizations and networking groups. |
At this point, you've probably begun to collect a pretty significant amount of information. The last stage is to organize your research and formulate an effective plan and put it to use.
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Make a Plan: 1) Be Pro-active, not Re-active- Even if a particular target company doesn't seem to have an available position, don't hesitate to contact them to discuss your background and skills. This not only allows you to network more effectively, but it gives you the opportunity to learn more about other positions or companies that may interest you. Further it gives you the clear advantage of not simply competing with hundreds of other responses to a listed opening. 2) Celerity Cover Letter- Don't use a standard 'cloned' cover letter for every opening. Instead, make your cover letter stand out, tailor it specifically to the company you're contacting. The cover letter is more than a formality, it is an opportunity for you to highlight your skills and market your abilities. The more effectively you can highlight your fit for each position, the more likely you are to be granted an interview. 3) Celerity Resume- Revise each resume you send with a specific position in mind if possible. The resume and cover letter are a team. Use the cover letter to give them a preview of your experience and skills and follow-up with a well written, focused resume. Be certain to include as many skills and achievements that can be directly related to the current opening as possible. Use powerful language and detail specific accomplishments. |
Remember
PERSISTENCE IS KEY IN SALES AND KEY IN LANDING A JOB!