Careers coach Penny Strutton is writing a weekly column for This Is Nottingham with advice for job seekers. This week she looks at the need to create a 30 second commercial or elevator sppech...
Your CV alone won't guarantee an employer chooses you over your competition. Being able to effectively promote yourself at every level of the job search process is essential in convincing potential employers you're the perfect fit for their company.
Many find the prospect of promoting themselves daunting. Modesty gets in the way and people feel that "blowing their own trumpet" is an immediate turn off in any scenario. Job searching is the one scenario where promoting yourself is essential. Being able to cage your success and experience in a confident manner builds your credibility and potential interest in you as a recruit.
One of the job search techniques that I recommend is to network. Whether it is face-face or online, building your contacts is an essential step in identifying opportunities and getting referrals to decision makers. Before you start using and building your network, take a step back and think about what exactly it is you're promoting or asking for. Having a 30 second commercial or elevator speech ready and polished will help you succinctly communicate who you are, what you've achieved and what you're looking for next.
To help you get one written up, I'll take you through a simple process.
1. Write down the type of job you're looking for
2. Identify the skills and experience needed for this type of position
3. Match up your own skills and experience with those required and think about some examples or achievements which demonstrate your ability in this area
4. Think about the reason why you're looking for this type of role, how does it fit into your career plan?
5. What type of company are you looking to work for and why? Is it a specific culture you're after or location?
6. What makes you stand out from the crowd? What have you done or have got which is unique and sets you apart from the competition?
Once you've listed the answers to the questions, start writing them up in full sentences. You'll need to edit the paragraph to ensure it is succinct and clearly conveys who you are and what you want. The idea is that the paragraph will only take you 30 seconds to talk through. The trick is to learn the paragraph but not repeat it parrot fashion.
Once you've clearly identified these points you will feel more confident when communicating them and able to answer questions effectively. It will help you compile letters and emails and give you focus and credibility in all networking scenarios.
If you're finding the process tricky, please do get in touch and I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. Take a look at my website for contact details.
Your CV alone won't guarantee an employer chooses you over your competition. Being able to effectively promote yourself at every level of the job search process is essential in convincing potential employers you're the perfect fit for their company.
Many find the prospect of promoting themselves daunting. Modesty gets in the way and people feel that "blowing their own trumpet" is an immediate turn off in any scenario. Job searching is the one scenario where promoting yourself is essential. Being able to cage your success and experience in a confident manner builds your credibility and potential interest in you as a recruit.
One of the job search techniques that I recommend is to network. Whether it is face-face or online, building your contacts is an essential step in identifying opportunities and getting referrals to decision makers. Before you start using and building your network, take a step back and think about what exactly it is you're promoting or asking for. Having a 30 second commercial or elevator speech ready and polished will help you succinctly communicate who you are, what you've achieved and what you're looking for next.
To help you get one written up, I'll take you through a simple process.
1. Write down the type of job you're looking for
2. Identify the skills and experience needed for this type of position
3. Match up your own skills and experience with those required and think about some examples or achievements which demonstrate your ability in this area
4. Think about the reason why you're looking for this type of role, how does it fit into your career plan?
5. What type of company are you looking to work for and why? Is it a specific culture you're after or location?
6. What makes you stand out from the crowd? What have you done or have got which is unique and sets you apart from the competition?
Once you've listed the answers to the questions, start writing them up in full sentences. You'll need to edit the paragraph to ensure it is succinct and clearly conveys who you are and what you want. The idea is that the paragraph will only take you 30 seconds to talk through. The trick is to learn the paragraph but not repeat it parrot fashion.
Once you've clearly identified these points you will feel more confident when communicating them and able to answer questions effectively. It will help you compile letters and emails and give you focus and credibility in all networking scenarios.
If you're finding the process tricky, please do get in touch and I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. Take a look at my website for contact details.
