THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT YOURSELF

Now think differently about yourself. This is the part where the strategy meets reality. What makes you different? You have identified your potential, your passion, your substance and convictions. So what is your product or service? Where are you in the market? Are you online or offline? You are aware that it is really important to use your creativity. You now also know your strategy comes from your personality.

Now look for feedback. Does your product or service light up the eyes of your potential clients as well as the existing ones? If not, rethink your product. What have you done lately to stand out professionally? Do your peers and stakeholders know it? Your boss, customer, husband, wife, friends, colleagues? Or are you still blurry to them? Does the CEO or the human resources manager of the company you are working for, or you want to work with, know about you and your specific qualities? Does he know your identity, vision, mission and values? Does he understand your point of view, your experience and the extent of your knowledge? Were you able to convey it during the last interviews, or at the last assessment session? Did he find an article written by you about a specific topic relevant for the job you want to be in? Or a speech you gave at a conference? Or on the website you’ve created about your subject?

Remember your online presence today often presents your first impression on people, which you then need to confirm ‘live’. As an individual you are more than the bits and bytes that form you. The perception other people have of you, starting with your name, helps your peers to differentiate you. The secret is to transmit coherently the quality of your substance, your unique offer and special service to your peers.

If you are not sure about these yourself how can you expect other people to be? Have you made no effort to differentiate yourself in the market? To acquire specific skills? To understand market needs? Well, wouldn’t it be prudent to give it a serious shot and use the brand concept for yourself? Wouldn’t it make sense to combine creativity and strategy, off- and online, to use the intangible intelligently?

Choices have multiplied in all markets and the job market is no exception. A human resources manager responsible for recruitment today has more choices than ever. In all the companies that I had or worked for, I always recruited staff personally because I think of it as a key management responsibility, especially in service companies where the only thing that really counts are the people.

Well, the fact is that for every single job you offer you receive literally hundreds or even thousands of CVs. How can I choose? How can other people responsible for recruiting in much larger companies with even more job candidates make their choice? How can you choose the perfect collaborator or partner? What does it mean for you? Well, you have competition wherever you see. Direct (similar profile) and indirect (different profile). Known and unknown. Better, faster, and many times cheaper. There is now total competition.