• Marketing Mag Website

  • Marketing Network

Network Network

network

business and careersresource

brought to you by
brought to you by

Career development through self-marketing

this article
  • Page 1 of 4
  • 0
  • 27

Brien Keegan is a senior recruitment consultant at LINK Recruitment, specialising in marketing and communications roles. He can be contacted on 03 8319 1111.

Advertise with us

Despite the fact that their raison d’être is to influence people, marketers are notoriously bad at selling themselves. The answer is simply a matter of treating yourself life a commodity, says Brien Keegan.

When it comes to preparing a job application or presenting themselves in the best possible light at interview, marketers sometimes forget about the real advantages they possess. My experience is that it’s a tough marketplace out there and candidates need to draw on everything they have in their professional armoury.

The one undeniable advantage marketers have is that they know about the point of differentiation. They know about branding and they know how to package up a product or service. When it comes to marketing their own brand, however, they often let themselves down. It’s the classic case of the plumber with the leaky taps at home.

If you’re about to take the job plunge, the first rule is to step back and assess how proficient you are at marketing the product that is ‘you’. Ask yourself these key questions:

  1. If you’re asked what makes you special, do you have a simple but memorable response? Are you able to articulate exactly what it is that is your personal point of difference – a point of difference to which any employer would respond with interest?
  2. Do you see your CV as a sales tool for the product that is ‘you’? I often come across communicators and marketers with ineffective résumés and CVs. Ask yourself what does this potential employer want to know about me? What is the most effective way for me to present this? How do I demonstrate my claims?
  3. How effectively are you networking to find the job that is right for you? Are you active in your job search? Registering with agencies? Speaking to former colleagues and hiring managers and selling yourself to their network of contacts?
  4. Are you putting the time and effort that is required to be successful in your job search? You wouldn’t kick off a marketing campaign without some strategic thinking, so you should always dedicate the appropriate resources to your job search too – that’s if you’re serious and not just having a bad day in the office.

Developing the ‘you’ brand

Developing a brand for yourself works, especially if you are looking to change industries. Be clear about how you can add more value to an employer than candidates currently working in that industry. FMCG and financial services both have high barriers to entry, so for these industries you need to think about the value proposition you offer.

  • Article links
  • Article links

Be the first to have your say...

To have your say, login at the top of the page or register free and start commenting.