| In my job search training I like to get job seekers to | | | | field of work? Is teamwork a big part of the job or are |
| see themselves as marketers, with the focus on | | | | you expected to mostly work on your own? What is |
| relationship marketing. The marketing basics are quite | | | | the usual pay scale and how do they pay their staff? |
| simple and I believe any job seeker who follows these | | | | I once took a few weeks off from my job in the public |
| basic principles will significantly increase their work | | | | service to try my hand in real estate. I soon found |
| opportunities. The three principles are; | | | | myself back in the public service as I realised that a |
| (1) Know your product - You are the product, so make | | | | new agent in real estate has to wait months before |
| sure you know everything about yourself. This would | | | | anything close to decent money comes through, and |
| cover; specific work skills, unique attributes, interests | | | | you had to pay back the small amount the agency |
| hobbies and values. Your values are an integral part of | | | | was bankrolling you when your sales commissions |
| who you are and working for an organisation where | | | | finally came through. I had failed to do research, to |
| these are constantly compromised will only lead to | | | | understand that as a real estate agent you are like a |
| unhappiness and stress. Think about Wall Street and | | | | self-employed subcontractor to the agency and |
| the Charlie Sheen character! | | | | needed money in the bank or some other income |
| You must also distinguish your work objectives both in | | | | coming in to help you get through the first 6 months. |
| the short term and longer term. Through defining your | | | | The other issue was that at the real estate company I |
| objectives you will give yourself greater knowledge | | | | worked for the agents were sharks and their morals |
| and awareness of where you are heading, which is a | | | | were questionable, something I had problems dealing |
| good thing both for your career and also in a | | | | with. |
| marketing sense, as employers respect job seekers | | | | The time spent in research, especially if you are looking |
| who are clear and knowledgeable about what they | | | | at changing careers, will be beneficial and reduce any |
| want and where they are heading. | | | | possible shocks to the system like I encountered. |
| The last area you should consider is your job likes and | | | | (3) Know how to reach that Market - This relates to |
| dislikes. Draw up a list of the jobs/fields of work you | | | | the various marketing strategies you need to effect. |
| do not like and then list all those jobs that you would | | | | This will cover; cold canvassing methods including |
| like to do and could do, even if it meant getting some | | | | targeted networking, general telephone and face to |
| further qualifications. | | | | face canvassing, marketing flyers (specific jobs), |
| It is said that there are over 1000 different jobs out | | | | covering letter, resume and the job interview. |
| there so leave no stone unturned in checking out all the | | | | The market that you are aiming for should be targeted. |
| jobs. The internet is handy for this. As an example, | | | | I am of the school of thought that believes that |
| when I left the public service 16 years ago I kept on | | | | creating your own job is the best way to operate. This |
| looking for clerical/management positions and did not | | | | has come about through direct experience I had |
| look outside my area of experience. One day I spotted | | | | targeting specific employers and marketing them for a |
| a job as an employment consultant in the disability field, | | | | job on behalf of job seekers with a disability. |
| something I would never have considered in my | | | | Again, I have found out from my experiences that the |
| wildest dreams. I applied for the position and have | | | | best way to reach your market is not by sending out |
| never looked back since. | | | | marketing material, resumes or emails. The best way |
| Once you have put together all the information about | | | | to reach your market is via creating relationships with |
| yourself then you need to put these together so that | | | | people at targeted companies - talking to people who |
| they form your Unique Selling Proposition (USP), which | | | | work there, initially over the telephone but followed up |
| will be your ongoing message being delivered to | | | | through a face to face meeting. If done effectively you |
| employers as a main strategy of your marketing | | | | can get the job you want in the company you want to |
| campaign. | | | | work for with no competition. |
| (2) Know Your Market - You must have knowledge | | | | In summary, if you see yourself as a marketer instead |
| of the market you are applying for work in. This | | | | of a job seeker then you will automatically approach |
| requires research on; where jobs are advertised, | | | | your job hunting from a different perspective with a |
| employer expectations, experience levels, specific | | | | set of basic principles, that when applied properly will |
| qualifications and standard hours of operation. | | | | give you the best opportunity in you getting the job |
| This also encompasses the values I talked about | | | | you really want. |
| previously. What ethics and values exist in a certain | | | | |