How to market yourself effectively
When it comes to talking about oneself many of us are often taught from an early age to limit it to a few sentences, and not to brag. So when it comes to interviews it is understandable that for those who consider themselves polite, trying to persuade a stranger that they are the best person for the job can feel awkward and alien, even if they believe it to be true.
Marketing yourself is becoming more important with increased competition for jobs and is an essential skill for employment and self-employment, so for those currently job-seeking, it is paramount you start searching for that inner-salesman.
People dont get taught how to market themselves, so often learn through trial and error. There is an oversupply of candidates competing for the same job in the current job market, so marketing yourself is essential to succeed in the changing world of work. Marketing comes naturally to some people, but it is a skill that can be learnt.
Marketing yourself for jobs
Marketing is different to what many people believe; it is about understanding the needs of your target audience and positioning yourself, your skills and experience, to fit their requirements, yet still be authentic and true to yourself.
Marketing yourself risks rejection and brings up natural fears about failing and feeling not good enough. To market yourself effectively takes self-awareness, confidence in your abilities, know-how, and where and when best to market. Social media has opened up opportunities to market yourself globally, with negligible cost. The world is your oyster if you can master marketing yourself for a job.
Tips to help you market yourself
1. Objective setting be clear about the purpose of your marketing and what outcome you are seeking.
2. Target audience define in detail who you are marketing yourself to and make sure you learn and use the language they use.
3. Research invest time in understanding the needs and problems of your target audience.
4. Blockbusting uncover any limiting beliefs you have about marketing which might hinder your success.
5. Define your niche create a distinctive personal brand for yourself.
6. Key words research and use the key words for your specialism.
7. Know your skills be armed with examples and evidence of when and how you add value.
8. Sizzle marketing is about the benefits of what you bring (the sizzle) which appeal to the emotions more than the features you have, i.e. what you do.
9. Trend watch trends are changing fast so make sure you keep up with them and dont get left behind.
10. Self-belief believe in your talents and that you are worth marketing if you dont, why should anybody else?
