Job Search Marketing is a lot of work but is doesn’t have to be complicated. Comprehensive, “yes”; complicated, “no”, yet so many people cause themselves a lot of difficulty and stress. I’m going to try to make the concept of job search marketing simple for you to understand. I won’t be able to make it simple for you to undertake, however. It will always be hard work. Nevertheless, with understanding, maybe you won’t feel as though it’s an uphill battle.

By Rob Taub


The 3 Concepts for “Job Search Marketing Made Simple”

 Positioning  Marketing  Exposure

1. Positioning: Identifying your job search focus covers the role you want to play in the next job and the industry. With that you can define specific targets – the specific "customers" for your wares: Talents, background and qualifications, etcetera.

Defining the focus of the job search (role and industry) is the first step in "positioning". Detailing your interests, credentials, background, likes, dislikes, strengths, etc. is the second step. To do this effectively, you should interact with someone who knows you well and who can remain objective. You’d be surprised what deep, attentive, interactive discussion will reveal; and resultant is the clear-cut understanding of the “best fit” position, type of organization and also, why it’s a “best fit” for the employer, your “customer” as well. Now you know what the product has to offer and to whom, and thus forearmed with all the information you need to develop a marketing strategy.

2. Marketing: This is the advertising, promotion, selling of your goods to create proper interest and be invited in to an opportunity. The “marketing” is accomplished via strong written and oral communications using a number of different “tools” such as a resume and letter or resume letter combo or marketing letter; and other means of expression used to promote your value and benefit to an employer such as an executive bio / summary, a proposal letter, or some other statement of value. Too, a variety of channels are combined as would be in any marketing campaign to touch as many potential “customers” in the shortest period of time – strength (and confidence) in numbers, yes?

3. Exposure: As in a product launch, implementation of a marketing communication strategy that targets your audience utilizing various “channels”, simultaneously, will gain you maximum “exposure” in your targeted market. The goal is to ensure that in the end, your talents are bought by the right company at the right price. Implementation strategies and channels may include the following: Database reports (i.e. Hoover’s; D&B; BizStats), news releases, spot opportunities, and setting up Job Alerts; public speaking, joining discussion groups, business and trade associations; utilizing college career offices, recruiters, retained search firms, and social media networking; also writing articles, serving as an expert in online discussion groups, volunteerism with community / civic organizations, and other vehicles like job boards, company websites and online classifieds. As you can see, there are many avenues in the blueprint for getting “exposure” in the job marketplace.

Clearly, it is a lot of work, and comprehensive, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. You are moving from point A to point B, so naturally you start with the end in mind, that is, Point B – the “focus” of your search, specifically, your “customer”. Once you are focused and have defined your customer, to identify what it is – all that it is – that appropriately links you to that customer shouldn’t be all that difficult. The link is all the attributes that exemplify the “fit” between you and the customer, or… why they should want you and pay so much to get you. After the linkage is defined it is a matter of developing your documents and presentations, or the marketing communications. Finally, the steps you take … 1…2…3… that utilize many or all the “channels” as it were, provide you with the “exposure” you need to succeed in today’s job marketplace. Make sense?

I am hopeful that understanding these concepts and how they neatly fit into your job search, combined with your hard work and determination, will help you reach the next step in your career!

Hope this helps!


YT,

Rob Taub of Job Search Corner and the
Blog, “Job Searching with Rob”

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