Marketing Yourself To Employers Made Easy
If you want to join a business, you have to think like a business.
And every business needs to market themselves!
As a job seeker, in order to grab the attention of employers you need to give some thought to how you advertise yourself. Not only does this help you stand out from your competition, it instills confidence in the employer that you will treat their brand as seriously as you treat your own.
But how do you market yourself effectively?
So glad you asked!
Here are 8 easy steps that you need to take when marketing yourself to employers and recruiters alike!
1. Develop brand ‘YOU’
A brand’s design consists of a few common elements. But the most important one is ‘consistency’!
You need to have a consistent look and feel in all of your personally branded material — including your resume, cover letter, portfolios, and social media profiles.
Some things that you can design which can be used across your different material include:
- A professional headshot.
- A logo
- A colour/colour combination
- A personal statement
- Fonts and typography
- A look and feel (minimal, vintage, techie, etc.)
2. Keep your online presence alive
Your resume can show employers your history, but they also want to know that you’re still active today. One of the best ways to do that is to maintain a strong online presence.
Start by frequently checking to make sure all of your social media profiles and portfolios are up to date with the latest information about you and your work.
Next, share things and interact with people in the relevant communities. These could be channels related to your specific industry, but also about personal and professional development in general.
Finally, be sure to follow companies and business leaders that you’re interested in. Not only will they see this, but you’ll be in the loop about their activities too!
3. Attend networking events
Trade shows and expos aren’t just a convenient way for businesses to meet potential clients, it’s also a way for professionals to meet as well!
Be sure to attend as many networking events as you can. Start by identifying which ones professionals and employers in your desired industry will attend, then casually introduce yourself.
Remember, digital meetups are becoming more common and can offer just as strong an opportunity for you to network!
4. Prepare an elevator pitch
Elevator pitches — they’re not just for infomercials anymore!
Jokes aside, an elevator pitch is an extremely efficient vehicle for delivering everything an employer needs to know about you and your value in under 30 seconds.
Your pitch should include:
- An introduction (your name and greetings)
- A summary of your experience
- A list of your skills and strengths
- Your goal/ambition
- A request (or “call-to-action”)
Above all, remember to speak to the BENEFITS you offer employers, not just your unique features. Which brings us to our next point…
5. Demonstrate your value
Too many job seekers make the mistake of describing ad nauseum their accomplishments, positions they’ve held, credentials they’ve earned, etc.
The truth is, your potential employer is much less concerned with what you HAVE done than what you CAN do!
In every interaction, from your resume, to your social media profiles, to your interview, and beyond, ALWAYS talk about how your skill set will benefit their business.
Your recruiter understands what’s valuable to their business. You need to focus on making them associate you with that specific value by connecting the dots between your qualifications and their needs.
6. Look before you leap
Conducting research on a company — and even a specific recruiter or employer — is going to pay off tenfold.
By getting to know their business, you can decide in advance if they’re worth chasing for a career.
It will also give you great insight about the company culture and values, as well as their overall mission. This information will allow you to tailor your networking and application process perfectly.
And finally, it shows recruiters that you’re passionate about them and their business!
7. Share your expertise
And if you’re not an expert yet — become one!
Industry “experts” are people who display lifelong commitment to studying and improving the ways a particular industry works.
They market themselves to others as teachers, guides, and mentors. They are able to discuss high-level ideas, but break them down into explanations that are simple enough for anyone to understand.
If you present yourself as an expert (and have the dedication, the knowledge, and the wisdom to back it up), you will be seen as a candidate of great interest to any recruiter.
8. Dress (and act) for the job you want
The way you present yourself says more about you than any curated content you post online.
Because it’s more off the cuff, people read more into how you behave in person. There are also a lot more subtle cues they can read from you.
But even if it feels like you’re more out in the open, it’s important that you act with confidence in these types of situations.
Whether at a networking event or an interview, you need to dress and act with professionalism.
Conclusion
Now that you know 8 new steps to market yourself to employers, the next step is to get out there and put these into action!
Belleville Office
Unit 8, 161 Bridge Street W.
Belleville, ON K8P 1K2
Phone: 613-966-9069
Toll Free: 1-888-401-9636
Fax: 613-966-7357
Bancroft Office
Unit 3 124 Hastings St. N
Bancroft ON
Office: 613-332-3115 ext 202
Mobile Phone: 613-202-1584
Fax: 1-866-705-4520