There is so much competition out there at the moment for the jobs that are available. Advertisers are being swamped by applicants and only the strongest will win. You need to think outside the square, be fast on your feet, and really set yourself apart if you want to secure employment. Here are some insider’s tips on how to market yourself:

We all know social networking sites such as Linked In, Facebook, and Twitter are very popular within certain groups worldwide. They certainly are not about to lose popularity- if anything there will be more of these sites about over the next few years that will just see improvement upon improvement. If technology is not your thing perhaps it is time to get into it and realize the potential within these sites. PLEASE be aware though that what you post onto these sites may be seen by potential employers/ business contacts and we have all heard of the horror stories with these sites when used unprofessionally.

Take a look at your CV you have been using. Is it the same old template you and 10,000 other people have downloaded for free or does it stand out, project your level of professionalism, and make people want to take action? 90 percent of the CVs that come by my nose every day are very boring; on a standard old template that every other person uses............. do you get what I mean? Do something for goodness sakes-this is your first point of contact with employers! Take the time, spend the money if you need some help, but please take this advice!
I can hear you saying “My what......?” Your unique selling point! Your USP is what YOU are offering to your employer. It is what you want to stick in their heads when you leave to make the experience with them a memorable one! Why would an employer want to hire someone that is only average at what they do with no unique benefit? Surely they would hire the person that would add value to the business through their unique selling point as well as their great experience!
You must be able to fulfil your USP but think about why you are unique, and why they should hire you over all of those other applicants. A lot of people don’t know why they should get the job over the other 10 suitably qualified and experienced applicants. It amazes me-which is why I am sharing this with you now. So go, sit down and take the time to think about what makes you special! Just remember your USP needs to be relative to the role and industry you are applying for, articulate, and memorable!

Now I do not mean be a stalker to the poor Consultant or Employer because that is not a good look but what I do mean is ensure you follow up. I say it to people all of the time. YOU are responsible for YOUR job applications and YOU need to follow up! Keep a register of all of the roles you are applying for, the way in which you are applying, who you are dealing with, and the date you need to follow up. If you do not follow up, you do not show you are keen or set yourself apart- now be mindful that there is a fine line between being a stalker and showing you are interested. Always be polite, friendly, professional, and ask when they plan to get in touch next.

I know a lot of candidates at the moment want full time work on a permanent basis. It’s understandable because of the money, security, and the need to get life back to normal. You do need to understand that with the economy being the way it is a lot of employers are on the cautious side of things and would be open to hiring staff on a temporary / contract basis or perhaps in a part time capacity initially. If you are offered a role in one of the aforementioned contracts, then why not? You never know where it will lead and who you will meet through the contract. Apply for temporary, part time, and fixed term contract roles- there is no harm in doing that and like I said- something is better than nothing!

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