Marketing is an important part of any successful organization. In fact, no matter how good a product or service is, without good marketing, it's doomed to failure. Marketing helps define the distinctive benefits of any product or service, set's the price, and communicates to viewers and readers what they should know. How does that apply to job seekers? Just like a service or product, you need to market yourself to employers.
Marketing Is Not Sales
Sales is part of marketing, and ''selling yourself'' on the job market is an important part of getting the right job for you, but there's more to it than that. You can actually create yourself as a kind of brand or product, and use tools beyond the ones used in sales to help you get the job you really deserve, without being passed over. Getting a good position is a marketing job just like any other.
Plans Are Important
Just like any business venture, job seekers who don't have a plan aren't going to have it as easy as those with one. Think about asking yourself a few questions about your career and job history. For instance, where has your career been, where is it now, and what will happen if you make no effort to improve things? Where do you want to go with your career, and how should you get there? What steps need to be taken to reach your goals, and if you're not succeeding, what changes should you make to your plan?
Research Your Market
Understanding the trends in your career field and gathering information about companies you'd like to work for is just another kind of market research. Consider using the United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook - it tells you the important characteristics of just about any career out there, and talks about the potential for growth in that field. Consider talking to professionals in your field to find out what advice they have to offer, and read up on the art of a good interview.
Being able to research potential employers and jobs is essential to success in job hunting. It'll help you tailor your resume, write your cover letter, and succeed once you've been invited for an interview. Find out just about everything possible, from what the company does and what its goals are, to what the experience of working there is like.
A Good Marketing Mix
The standard marketing mix is made up of four Ps - promotion, product, price and place. These are the factors you can control to succeed in your job search. Just remember to approach your job search like any other marketing job.
When it comes to job searching, you're the product. That means you need to take a look at the features and skills that make you different from the rest. Then, play them up, so you'll stand out from other job searchers. Features that could be part of your product include leadership experience, certifications, work experience, training, education or special skills. Focus on your accomplishments and the things that make you different from other job seekers looking for the same job.
Of course, even the most attractive product won't be recognized unless it's been correctly positioned on the market. Positioning is a three step process, and it's all about developing the way you're perceived in the eyes of your employers. Start by identifying possible competitive advantages, and select the ones that will work for a particular employer. After all, they're all looking for something different.
Once you know what position you want, you'll need to deliver it effectively to the market. This is the promotion segment. How well you promote can have a serious effect on your job search. In the context of a career, promotion means resumes, phone calls, cover letter and interviews. The tools include anything that'll get you an interview and then an offer. If these tools aren't polished, your chances aren't as good. Make sure you have a solid resume, interesting cover letter and great interviewing skills - good tools are important to any marketing job.
There are plenty of places to network. Consider co-workers, both current and former, professional organizations, alumni, family, friends, and just about any other gathering. Think about the strength of your network, and how you can make it better.
Price is the last piece of the marketing mix. For job hunters, this refers to any kind of compensation you can expect from potential employers, plus strategies to help you get the compensation you want, and that your employer thinks you deserve.
Remember that price includes more than just salary - it's also made up of insurance, possible raises, overtime pay, bonuses, sick days and vacation days, retirement options, club memberships, parking, expense reimbursement and more. Know the basics of salary negotiation, of course - how much to ask for, when to talk about it, and how to get the salary you want.
These marketing tips can help you be a lot more competitive in the job market, and will aid you in getting the job you want. Job searching is a marketing job just like any other, and correct application of marketing principles is key to success. Use these marketing tips to get the perfect job for you!
