Mastering the Self-Marketing Mindset

March 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Mastering the Self-Marketing Mindset

Skills of the Savvy Self-Marketer

Over the past month, we covered concepts related to the self-marketing mindset, including practical definitions of self-marketing (the “what”) and the importance of self-marketing (the “why.”) To wrap up on the topic, let’s address the skills required for the savvy self-marketer (the “how.”)

In order to differentiate your skills and strengths from the many available employees, contractors, and consultants in the market, these are the core skills that you need in your toolkit:

  1. Self-Review and Self-Assessment – Know your values, strengths, accomplishments, desired role, desired scope or level of work, unique lifestyle considerations, and desired compensation
  2. Research and Understand the Evolving Job Market – Where are the growth industries and growth positions, and how does your career path intersect?
  3. Define Your Target Market List – Don’t wait for job postings, but instead create a list of companies you admire that could need your skills now or in the near future
  4. Develop Your Personal Brand Message and Materials – Develop your personal branding message. Integrate that message in your networking pitch, resume, LinkedIn profile, cover letters, Facebook page, and best interview success stories
  5. Execute an Outbound Marketing Campaign – Go beyond the frustration of job postings to identify opportunities, and build a network of champions and advocates who carry the message of your value to decision-makers on your target market list
  6. Network, Network, Network – Leverage LinkedIn, professional associations, alumni groups, volunteering, coffee meetings, email outreach, and highly targeted phone calls to expand your visibility to decision-makers
  7. Hone Your Interview Skills – Learn to present your accomplishments and ability to solve the decision-maker’s problems in brief, compelling, authentic, and relevant ways
  8. Develop and Execute a Weekly Job Search Plan – Make a realistic commitment to the hours you will spend on your search weekly and allocate that time wisely
  9. Lather, Rinse, Repeat – Who knew that the humble shampoo bottle could contain such valuable career advice? Marketing your skills, whether for a job search or to find the next consulting gig, must now be a well-honed habit.

Learn to Ask for Help

Feeling stuck or over-whelmed? Remember that you are not alone. Perhaps we should add one more skill to the list: Learn to ask for help! Reach out to respected mentors and peers. Look for local free or low-cost resources like job clubs. Consider hiring an expert in career transition before your urgent situation turns to a career emergency.

 

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Developing a Self-Marketing Mindset

February 14, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Developing a Self-Marketing Mindset

What comes to mind when you hear the term self-marketing? Are you filled with dread at the thought of having to talk about yourself? Or, do you welcome the opportunity to present your potential value to a prospective employer or client?

Whatever your gut reaction to the term self-marketing, you are not alone if you find it much easier and more comfortable to market anyone or anything but yourself.

Let’s begin with a break down the concept of self-marketing.

Self-Marketing – a definition:

I see self-marketing as the sum of all activities that you may engage in to promote your best skills, strengths, and value to employers or clients for mutual benefit.

Other definitions of self-marketing include:

  • Knowing that you are the product, and presenting yourself successfully
  • Describing what you can do for someone
  • Promotion of yourself in a venue you think would be profitable
  • Consistently developing “You, the Product”
  • Developing a business plan and a target market for your talents
  • Being prepared to present yourself for unforeseen opportunities

All of these descriptions are correct, and other apt definitions could be added. Since it seems so simple to define self-marketing, it should be easy, right? I mean, what could possibly get in the way? This is what my clients describe as possible challenges or obstacles to effective self-marketing:

  • It’s a scary, uncomfortable thing
  • I’ve been taught “It’s not polite to brag”
  • I’ve been told to just get any job (and that could hinder my long-term progress)
  • Lack of clarity about my core skills
  • Lack of  knowledge about the latest job search techniques
  • Rusty networking skills, or outdated approach to resume writing

These are legitimate challenges, and each of them can (and must) be overcome if you are to find the next meaningful opportunity.

Why Should I Care About Self-Marketing?

That brings me to the “why” of self-marketing. Besides the obvious need for predictable income that most of us share, why in the world would you be motivated to develop a self-marketing mindset?

While there are many good reasons for adopting this mindset, two reasons stand out as compelling:

1. Every job is temporary

2. Meaningful work is a cornerstone of a good life

If you feel stuck in your job search or career development, seek outside perspective. This can mean tapping into the wisdom of a trusted mentor or former boss, or finding a career coach to accelerate your learning curve.

Next: Mastering the Self-Marketing Skill Set

 

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Do You Have the Right Skills for the Future?

August 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Do You Have the Right Skills for the Future?

New Rules for Career Transition

If you have recently found yourself in a career transition or job search after a long tenure with one company, the new rules of managing your career may seem overwhelming. Given the rapid pace of change in business, technology, and the economy in recent years, the skills required to make a transition have changed.

In many instances, the rules for making a good hire have changed too. Do you have the skills that hiring managers find critical when making tough hiring decisions?

The skills I am referring to, in this instance, go beyond the technical requirements of the position. These are skills you may not want to refer to directly in a professional resume, but that you must infer through success stories included in the resume, cover letter, and the interview process.

Take a look at a list I have compiled based on feedback from hiring managers, recruiters, and those of you who have made successful transitions in the current market.

  1. Resiliency: This describes the person who bounces back from disappointments quickly, and who takes the initiative to gather new skills or resources when faced with challenge.
  2. Life-Long Learner: Are you inquisitive and interested in continuous learning? Find ways to demonstrate your ability to learn about new technologies, products, or methodologies.
  3. Smart Risk-Taking: Successful career transitions happen more readily for those who are willing to get out of their comfort zone and test new environments and skills.
  4. Adaptive Thinking: Think of examples of how you have solved problems through innovation, or how you found opportunity in a problem. Turn these examples into success stories in your resume and interviews.
  5. Future-Focused: Today it is necessary to focus on concrete results while remaining alert to trends in your  environment. The person who leads positive change is in demand.
  6. Social Intelligence: The ability to collaborate and drive results is based in part on strong social skills. This includes self-awareness and the ability to engage the motivations and strengths of others.
  7. Social Technologies/New Media: Have you embraced wise use of social technologies in your career? This means leveraging the value of LinkedIn and other social media tools to enhance your professional skills and career visibility.
  8. Virtual Collaboration: Many companies have integrated flexible work options that require skills in working and communicating virtually. Take extra steps to create a positive virtual presence to bridge the distance gap.

Are you ready to reinvent yourself if the next career change demands it? How well do you measure up on this list of skills? Don’t worry if you can’t check everything on the list today! Instead, choose one or two that you can improve now.

Accelerate Your Career Transition

Consider the value of objective advice in accelerating your transition and engage in some career counseling, or tap into your trusted mentor network. Remember that adapting this set of skills can not only speed you to a satisfying transition, but also positions you for long-term success once you are on the job.

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Job Search Success in 2011– Five Winning Strategies

January 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Here’s to your job search success in the New Year! Whether you are just beginning a job search or you’ve been out there a while, take a step back and consider the job search strategies you can integrate to speed your search and get a job offer sooner:

1. Embrace the fact that the contingent work force is where most of the hiring is taking place. That means contract positions, temp-to-hire, and consulting. Taking such an assignment and turning in a stellar performance means you are the top candidate when full-time hiring kicks in.
2. Find all the new online places where contingent, contract, or consulting gigs are available and visit weekly.
3. Add one new thing to your search strategy this year: Publish an article, write a white paper in your area of expertise, join in or start discussions on Linkedin Groups, or start a regular blog.
4. Make your search “Outbound” by researching and making a manageable target list of companies in your industry. Find ways to network to the decision-makers within these companies.
5. Get out of your comfort zone. Develop a networking script for emails and phone calls that will help you connect with decision-makers and establish relationships. (Note: You won’t be asking for a job initially, just finding ways to connect and in some cases help them network.)

These are proven strategies that can be game-changers for you. Choose one or two that are new to you, and develop a plan to master the skills involved. Doing so will help you stand out and speed your job search!

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