Marketing Yourself Successfully

Q + S = M

[Qualifications + Salesmanship = Marketability] Corporate Pedigree Education Stability Results & Accomplishments Job Titles Attitude/Image Interviewing Branding Packaging Marketing Q + S = M

Are you creating new opportunities? Should everybody allocate their time according to these statistics?

Do you have a plan? (even a crummy plan is better than no plan at all…)

158 resume submissions. First solid lead after 33 days. 12 phone interviews. 23 live interviews. Six job offers. [now that’s a marketing plan!]

Channel #1: Job Boards [Did you know 3 sites alone contain 95% of the openings out there?]

The “Holy Trinity” of Job Boards www.indeed.com www.simplyhired.com www.craigslist.com

Tips on Using Job Boards

Use Boolean syntax for precision

Data mine for company targets, not just job leads

Save your searches as automatic alerts

Study each ad carefully for clues to the “backstory”

Send an e-mail note, not a full cover letter

Use the “Trends” tool to identify hot credentials

Be done by 9am each day with this part of the process

Channel #2: Recruiters [The key question: are you recruitable ?]

Tips on Finding Recruiters www.searchfirm.com (shallow, but free) www.searchselectonline.com (deep, but costs money) www.linkedin.com (time-consuming, but extremely current)

Tips on Working With Recruiters

Know the different types

Ask them whether you are “fee eligible”

Keep in touch, but don’t pester them

Work with as many good ones as you can find

Ask them not to distribute your resume wantonly

Be a long-term resource for them

Let them help you land the job

Don’t do an “end around” to the hiring manager

Are you creating new opportunities? while everybody else Is duking it out Chasing Leads now let’s talk about Creating Opportunities

Channel #3: Networking [sadly, the most misunderstood avenue of all]

Having coffee is NOT networking Attending events is NOT networking Hanging out with friends is NOT networking Surfing social media sites is NOT networking [So just what the heck is networking?]

“ I’m really busy for the next few weeks, but I’ve got five minutes right now. What can I help you with?”

Tips on Networking

Have a killer elevator pitch

Manage your “social capital” religiously

Touch base with each contact at least monthly

Educate people on how best to refer you

Recognize the signs of a brush-off

Think reciprocally; don’t be a schmuck

Aim for at least a 1:1 ratio in generating referrals

Close the loop with people

Master the use of LinkedIn.com

Trust Me. There’s nothing more useful for getting good networking results than to compile a list of the Top 20-30 Companies You Most Want to Work For

Channel #4: Direct Marketing [when else fails, pitch yourself!]

Target marketing works. While sending out resumes blindly is a waste of effort, there’s always a market for the right value proposition, delivered to the right decision-maker, at the right moment in time… [ even for job hunters ]

Are you creating new opportunities? 1,500 ??? [500+ employees] [1-500 employees]

Great Sources of Company Data www.zoominfo.com www.jigsaw.com www.linkedin.com www.googlemaps.com www.seattle24x7.com www.tradevibes.com www.washingtontechnology.org

Tips on Direct Marketing

Sell solutions, not qualifications

Leverage your most effective communication style

Consider leading with a question

Don’t attach a resume

Show them you’ve done your homework

Focus on getting a meeting, not closing the sale

Attitude… Are you acting like you deserve a great job? If so, knock it off. Are you coming across like a winner who is in control of your own destiny? Are you tending to talk more about your past or about your bright future ? Is your job search reflecting the strengths you claim to have as a professional? Are you taking active steps to keep your skills sharp and maintain peak marketability? Are you getting out of your comfort zone regularly? [is almost everything]

Lifelong Career Management [ lather : rinse : repeat ]

Tips for Ongoing Career Health

Wrap up your job search appropriately

Capture key lessons learned

Keep running track of your accomplishments

Update your LinkedIn profile

Maintain touch with key contacts at least quarterly

Consider hosting a signature annual event

Monitor job leads to ensure you stay marketable

Always have a backup/contingency plan

Pay it forward and help others

Are you creating new opportunities? www.career-horizons.com [free blog] [ free newsletter] [private career coaching] [resume writing] [corporate outplacement]