Creating self-demand in job market
Most people hate acting as their own direct marketeer, but that is
what searching for a new job is all about. Those who are successful
'create their own luck'. It starts with marketing the best product that
you have - youself!
Do some research and find out which industries are hot right now and
identify good companies within those industries.
Network constantly and aggressively, but with focus. Direct your
networking to where there are real opportunities.
If you're to find that ideal job in that ideal industry and company,
you will have to do a phenomenal job of self-promotion. Understand
marketing and use it.
You will need to sell yourself to the organisations that you want to
hire you.
Think about the opportunities, problems and goals of these preferred
industries and companies, on the one hand, and your ability to help
solve problems and achieve goals, on the other.
Brand
Develop your resume so that it dramatically and effectively
communicates your credentials, knowledge, skills, experience and
philosophy as key ingredients to help preferred employers achieve the
things that are most important to them.
Who are you? How do you think of yourself? How do others think about
you? How do you want others to think of you? If the answers to these
questions are different from question to question, you have some work to
do.
They should be congruent so that you could reduce internal conflict
and dissonance and arrive at a consistent message and image that is
crystal clear. It should be authentic to yourself and the people who
matter the most.
Dig deep into yourself to extract your core abilities, technical and
softer side of yourself. Create and develop marketing collateral that
communicates how awesome you are based on past deliverables,
accomplishments and interests.
By investing time and money in developing your personal brand and
using personalised marketing collateral, you will differentiate yourself
from your job- searching competitors and become more desirable to
employers.
Sell yourself
Most interviewers remember more of what they have said during an
interview than what the applicant has said. To get beyond this, and to
set yourself apart from others, you should impress the interviewer with
your own knowledge of the company and its industry.
The best way to do this is by asking concise, focused questions that
allow you to demonstrate that you've done significant research about the
industry, about the company itself - including its products, market and
competitors.
Opportunities
If it appears that you may have to accept a position at a lower level
on the executive ladder than your previous one, don't assume that you
are losing opportunities to move forward. In a hot company, or a hot
industry, you may move ahead faster than if you seek higher positions in
companies or industries that are contracting.
Unfortunately, not many employees consider this and as a result they
miss golden opportunities to progress in their careers. You should
network wherever you can and wherever you can meet people and collect
market intelligence - its people who know where the opportunities are.
There are lot more job opportunities than what is advertised.
Networking can occur in formal and informal venues and both
interactions surface amazing opportunities. You might find your best
advocate or employer in the most informal setting.
Whatever you do, recognise that you must understand yourself,
identify your interest, know how much you are worth, provide
extraordinary value, establish your brand, and network strategically to
secure the best fitting job, best compensation and benefits package and
most fulfilling job experience. |