Upload.Search.Get Hired
➦Have a different pitch for yourself.
Differentiation is powerful. It will position you apart from the crowd,
and is a cardinal rule for any job search. If you don't have a
different pitch or approach, you are a generic version of the name
brand; you are not memorable or persuasive
➦Have a relevant USP.
Have a value proposition that is relevant to the market, just like a
winning brand. You need to develop what distinguishes you and the
benefit you bring to the job and the organization.
➦Think 'outside-in.'
Think of what your industry or organization or boss is looking for
(outside), and then figure out how you can meet those needs (in). Most
people concentrate on what they want. It is much smarter to concentrate
on what your key target audiences want first.
➦Have a strategy.
You need to know where you want to be 2 years or 5 years from now.
What's the best way to position yourself to achieve those goals?
➦Develop an action plan with specific tactics.
Develop a plan that can get you from A to B to C. There is no one right
path, but some roads will be more effective than others. Know what
experiences and skills are valued within your company and specifically
know what achievements you need to attain to win that next promotion.
The important thing, though, is to act. Even if an avenue doesn't work
out, there will be learning.
➦Get some visibility.
Learn what skills and experiences are needed to achieve the next level
and then make yourself available to work on special projects that get
you noticed and help you develop the necessary skills. Volunteer to
lead a high-profile project that no-one else wants to lead.
➦Bring intellectual value.
We used to make things. Now we're in the business of ideas. We're in
the Knowledge Age. That's why you need to keep up with what's going on.
Keep up to date by reading about your company's developments, trade
journals, business magazines and newspapers.
➦You're always on stage.
Every meeting, every interview, is like a sales call. There is no such
thing as a performance that doesn't count. You are always on stage and
need to be selling yourself. Brush up your communication and
presentation skills. It can have a big impact on how 'promotable' you
are.
➦Dazzle interviewers with a killer CV.
Many CVs read like a laundry list of skills and jobs with no focus or
message. But your resume can be a powerful way to position and sell
yourself and create a powerful personal identity. You do that by
adopting a marketing mindset for the brand in question: you. Write your
CV as if it were an advertisement for yourself. Have a focused message
and a document that looks attractive and impressive.
➦Prepare to 'ace' the interview.
Interviewing is an art. Approach an interview as a conversation. It
should be a two-way street, where you just don't answer questions, but
ask them. You will find the balance of power changes dramatically when
you have a conversation. And brush up on the art of storytelling —
stories are memorable. Relate your answers to business situations,
actions and outcomes as much as possible. It can help to think in terms
of a narrative format with conflict and resolution, dialogue and
character development. If you took an action that produced results that
were not as successful as you had hoped, don't despair. When you talk
about tough situations, you make it easier for people to relate to you
and care about you and your experiences.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
