…but what you can do for an employer.
This simple switch can really help you stand out to potential employers during your search. Every job seeker is looking for an employer they would like to work for, otherwise they wouldn’t apply. However, it is the job seekers that show those employers how they meet the needs of their company that stand out from the crowd.
At what point can you start branding yourself to potential employers as the answer to all their problems? It begins with your presence on social networks. Within your various social profiles, carve out a niche for yourself. Develop an expertise in something and participate with others with similar interests to become a master of a certain industry, skill, etc. Also, turn your profiles into a kind of resume, inserting a quick self-pitch in your bio, and get recommendations from past coworkers on professional networking sites such as LinkedIn so potential employers can easily see that your past work backs up what you say you can do. (Read more about building your social media presence in this blog post: Finding Jobs Using Social Media.)
The self branding continues with your cover letter and resume. In your cover letter, highlight your uniqueness – they ways in which your background, experience, and education blend together to make you the perfect fit for a given position. In addition, make sure your resume reflects what the employer is looking for. How do you know? The job description, of course! If the job description says they need a person who has experience manning a register, and you have that experience, don’t forget to include that specifically in your resume.
If you get called in for an interview, the self branding carries on! Make sure you do your research about the company before you go in for your interview. Assess where you can fit as a solution to a problem they’ve been having. Are they looking for an HR representative? Do you have a track record of hiring great people in previous positions? Let them know! Instead of just telling your interviewer that you can make a difference, make sure to support your statements with specific examples of how you can accomplish that.
This simple switch can really help you stand out to potential employers during your search. Every job seeker is looking for an employer they would like to work for, otherwise they wouldn’t apply. However, it is the job seekers that show those employers how they meet the needs of their company that stand out from the crowd.
At what point can you start branding yourself to potential employers as the answer to all their problems? It begins with your presence on social networks. Within your various social profiles, carve out a niche for yourself. Develop an expertise in something and participate with others with similar interests to become a master of a certain industry, skill, etc. Also, turn your profiles into a kind of resume, inserting a quick self-pitch in your bio, and get recommendations from past coworkers on professional networking sites such as LinkedIn so potential employers can easily see that your past work backs up what you say you can do. (Read more about building your social media presence in this blog post: Finding Jobs Using Social Media.)
The self branding continues with your cover letter and resume. In your cover letter, highlight your uniqueness – they ways in which your background, experience, and education blend together to make you the perfect fit for a given position. In addition, make sure your resume reflects what the employer is looking for. How do you know? The job description, of course! If the job description says they need a person who has experience manning a register, and you have that experience, don’t forget to include that specifically in your resume.
If you get called in for an interview, the self branding carries on! Make sure you do your research about the company before you go in for your interview. Assess where you can fit as a solution to a problem they’ve been having. Are they looking for an HR representative? Do you have a track record of hiring great people in previous positions? Let them know! Instead of just telling your interviewer that you can make a difference, make sure to support your statements with specific examples of how you can accomplish that.
