Job searching, advancing within an organization, and switching to a new position or career are challenging tasks. You are already asking yourself a zillion questions such as: Where do I want to work; are there advancement opportunities or does the schedule fit my lifestyle, and many others? The goal is to persuade a potential employer that you are the best candidate for the position. The actions used to convince an employer entails marketing yourself in a positive light.
What does it mean to market yourself? Showcasing your interpersonal skills, ability to collaborate with others, work experience, and skills that make you unique to employers is marketing yourself. In today’s technologically advanced world, presenting oneself in all its forms—on your resume, in person, and online—is crucial. I am going to go over four ways that can get you started!
What is your 30 Second Commercial or Elevator Pitch?
Interviewers or recruiters repeatedly ask, “Tell me about yourself?” This question can be challenging to respond to, but with preparation producing a 30-second commercial or elevator pitch will allow you to communicate your experience in a matter of seconds. This statement needs to sell your abilities, express your experience, and how your qualifications will help the employer be successful. The benefit of having a solid elevator pitch is that you can build on it, tailor it to any position and use it to describe yourself throughout your job search journey.
What is your brand?
A personal branding statement explains your identity, passions, values, motivating forces, and how these characteristics contribute to your skill set. Employers are interested in learning more about the employees they hire because doing so will help them decide if they are a suitable fit for the company. On the other hand, being aware of who you are will enable you to identify the ideal organization for which you want to pursue a career. Focusing on the impact you have had and will continue to have will help you formulate this statement. This statement may occasionally come out as egotistical. Don’t think of it that way; you are presenting yourself to employers appropriately and professionally.
If you don’t know yourself, it will be tough to explain to an employer what your strengths are. Soul-searching will assist you in formulating these personable statements in a way that comes across as genuine and honest. There are several personality and job interest assessments below for self-discovery.
How to engage with your Network?
It’s often said, “It’s not what you know; it is who you know.” Such a true statement in the professional world: connections matter and can make a difference in your job search and career success. Networking is an action that can help you market yourself within your industry or profession. This action is going to take time and effort. If you’re ready, let’s talk about strategy!
These days, networking is beneficial both offline and online; either strategy can assist you to succeed professionally. Remember, networking is not about YOU! What you can offer should be the driving force behind your endeavors, and you must constantly consider how your network could benefit. Stay connected by helping people connect and stay in touch with engaging information that will help others within their personal or professional life; with time it will be reciprocated.
Consider the following if you are networking on social media:
- Connecting people or events to your network may have facilitated their work efforts.
- Post positive and engaging information because it speaks to who you are.
- Stay current on industry trends; be a constant learner.
- Proofread before posting a comment because it speaks to your credibility.
- Always stay professional when posting or commenting; positivity is attractive.
Similar considerations apply if you plan to network in person:
- Dress and conduct yourself professionally.
- Always be punctual, engage, and be an active listener.
- Volunteer your time and effort for experience and knowledge.
- Attending events to meet other individuals from all walks of life to learn from different points of view.
Bottomline: networking is socializing with a goal in mind; it is an integral part of professional development. Whether you network to exchange ideas, connect with colleagues, or learn more about other people in your industry, it opens the door to meeting with people who can open you up to new ideas, strategies, and opportunities.
Learn, Learn, Learn!
Every profession has a minimum of education to apply for the job. It’s a start, but at times it’s not enough. Again, today you don’t need to attend a class in person to learn or strengthen your skills. You can participate in an array of classes or training programs online from the convenience of your home.
These training or certifications don’t need to be obtained by a formal university. There are several online learning platforms available.
- Workforce Solutions Online Learning
https://www.wrksolutions.com/for-individuals/online-learning
- Matrix learning
https://workforcesolutions.metrixlearning.com/sd/index_sd.cfm
- LinkedIn Learning
https://www.linkedin.com/learning/
Because no two positions are alike, it is crucial to have transferrable skills. The ambition to build on your current skillset or learn a new skill will make you much more attractive to an employer. Being curious will keep you on your toes and enable you to open your mind and understand what you already know in a new or more modern way.
Marketing yourself or self-promotion can come out as bragging, so carry it out modestly and beneficially. It is a must-do function to communicate with potential employers about your accomplishments and achievements, besides, how else will they know you have what it takes to do the job? Take the time to craft your elevator pitch in a way that speaks to the employers’ needs and wants, define who you are to catch an employer’s attention, promote your network to help them with their craft, and be a constant learner to improve your value. I am confident implementing these actions will help you reach your destination within your professional life.
Jessica Quintero is a Career Navigator for the Workforce Solutions Regional Team. Jessica brings over 23 years of experience in the insurance industry and over 2 years of experience within Workforce Solutions. She is a graduate from the University of Phoenix, where she studied Business Management. She is dedicated to educating herself and learning from her experiences so that she can inspire others to be their best selves.
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