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5 Proven Methods for Marketing Yourself to Potential Employers
Finding the job of your dreams is hard work. 75% of resumes are rejected before even reaching a hiring manager. And because of that, the average job hunt can take up to six months, which means that many people have to aggressively look for a job for an extended period before landing an opportunity they accept.
But even though getting lucrative job opportunities isn’t always easy, there are things you can do to dramatically improve your chances and set yourself up for success even when vying for the most competitive positions.
If you understand the most important principles of marketing yourself to potential employers, you will not only have a better shot of getting through the interview process but might find yourself fielding offers from eager companies who want to hire you.
Let’s go over a few proven methods for marketing yourself as a potential employee below.
Consistently Follow Up
Staying in the minds of the people who you want to get hired by is an integral part of coming out on top as you pursue your dream job. Hiring managers are extremely busy, so they might not remember each person that they interviewed, which can impact their decision process.
You can use a follow-up email template to send an email after an interview or after reaching out to a prospective employer. Reminding about yourself in a short and simple email can go a long way in increasing the likelihood that you will be strongly considered for the position. If nothing else, following up shows a commitment and interest in the position, which plays a role in how you are perceived as a candidate.
You can also follow up when inquiring about a job opening or even asking someone for career advice or potential opportunities. Being persistent in your communications is a big part of successful networking and can open up opportunities you would not even know about otherwise.
Build an Online Presence
Today, employees can’t just expect to send out a few resumes and get job offers to pour in. While that can happen occasionally, most employers look for people who have a presence online and aren’t afraid to share their expertise and personality.
Even having Instagram followers and a presence on the platform can be a sign that you understand the digital world and have strong qualities beyond your job description. And if you can back that up with a solid LinkedIn profile, with regular posts and a loyal following, that can provide you with a significant edge over other candidates.
Finally, consider starting a blog and sharing expertise around your profession. This will not only show prospective employers that you are knowledgeable and a thought leader in the industry but can even lead to lucrative job opportunities when people read your content.
Expand Your Knowledge & Skills
One of the best qualities top-level talent can have is a drive for continual improvement. Employers want people who want to progress in their careers and aren’t complacent, which means they prioritize those who are not satisfied with getting a degree and continuing their education throughout their lifetime.
Sure, a big part of that is simply gaining more work experience and progressing into roles with more responsibility. But at the same time, you should actively look for growth opportunities beyond your job, seeking out training, workshops, further education, and mentorships that can help enhance your knowledge, skills, and understanding of the industry as a whole.
The great thing about seeking out learning opportunities today is that you don’t necessarily have to go across the country to improve yourself. You can find almost any type of course, training, and mentorship online, with top-level specialists and some of the brightest minds in the industry sharing their knowledge and providing personalized guidance remotely.
Have a Strong Elevator Pitch
An elevator pitch is usually associated with entrepreneurs and business owners who need to briefly describe who they are and what they can do for people. But having an effective elevator pitch that describes your position and some of the main ways you excel can also be very useful when building relationships and establishing a network of prospective employers.
Almost anyone can say that they are a marketing specialist, accountant, or data analyst. But creating an additional dimension for your short introduction can help make your introductions more impactful, and allow your core message to stick in the minds of people who might be looking for someone like you now, or in the future.
In fact, you could even take it a step further and create business cards with a catchy introduction, which would also give you something to pass around to people who might be able to help you find the more lucrative opportunities in your industry.
Bottom Line
Even though finding a new job can be a big challenge, savvy employees utilize a range of strategies and tools to give themselves an edge and discover the most lucrative employment opportunities that others might not even know exist.
By following the strategies above, you can gain an advantage over other candidates, showcase your qualifications online, and have a way to get yourself remembered by people who could help you down the line.