Is it possible to get an edge on the large number of people competing for the same job? The low-cost way to do so is by reading the plentiful articles written by career coaches and asking people of different generations how they are approaching the job hunt. Another way to get an edge on the competition is by implementing sales strategies for the job hunt and interview.
You may save time and effort using sales techniques for finding an improved match. This is possible when you follow the guidelines below as you deem appropriate for you:
Prioritize for a Qualified Match
Prior to needlessly submitting your résumé to 400 job postings, take sufficient time to create a list of your inherent talents. Next, create another list documenting which of those talents you enjoy using the most.
Is what you enjoy worthy of establishing a career that relies on these talents? Should your answer be “no,” then move on to the next talent in line that you enjoy most. When you get to “yes,” your next step is to outline the variety of applications for your talent. In other words, how can your talent be applied to a new career path?
Job applicants receive some difficult questions on interviews, so the better prepared you are, the better your success rate will be for getting hired. There are four more lists to compile and consider:
— To date, what have you liked the least and why?
— What type of work environment do you prefer? Solo or on a team? Corporate or at home?
— What difficulties did you encounter on your previous job, and how did you overcome them?
— Why are you leaving your job?
— What do you believe you still have yet to learn in order to become an expert in your field?
— Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Your next list should document all the possible endeavors you would like to pursue that would best utilize your talent.
Answering all of these questions and recognizing where you wish to go will give you a qualified list of the “what” to pursue. “Where” you will find the next job is up to you. Searching job boards, working with recruiters and reaching out to specific companies are all possibilities for inquiring about openings as they match your interests. Most people agree that your next best career move is through a personal introduction.
Apply Your Research to the Interview
Given you have highly qualified what you wish to explore for a career and that you’ve learned to boldly and succinctly express it in person and online, invitations for job interviews will arrive far more quickly. The next sales strategy is to research each company and associated industry thoroughly prior to the interview. Consider how your talent will work favorably for the company so that when asked, you will be able to speak with confidence.
Upon the start of the interview, say this: “You must receive so many résumés. What was it about mine that caught your attention?” This is the direct path for a fruitful conversation as you will be told exactly which areas of your experience are of most interest to the company. Focus on those first.
One of the last steps in preparation for each interview is to research your worth as compared to others in your field. This is done to protect yourself and increase the odds that the final negotiated offer is fair for all concerned. This is particularly important for women. Keep telling yourself: “Be bold, be strong and be confident”.
Consider these three components for pricing:
— Going Rate: On average, what are people in your industry making? With this in mind, do you believe you add greater benefit in the way you provide the service? Of course, awards, recognition and special achievements add to the credibility of your statements.
— Targeted Audience: As far as settling upon a salary with which you will be happy, conduct online research for comparable types of companies. Many factors will affect the offer, so explore the statistics for your level of education, experience, level of employment and the area in which you reside.
— Economics: By and large, thriving companies in good economic times will be more generous with the compensation plan. It will be up to each individual to try to negotiate a fair offer. If this is not possible, the decision becomes whether to walk away if you will barely be able to pay the bills. This type of arrangement is usually short lived. The better plan, if you can afford it, is to wait until the right job and offer come your way in order to enjoy long-term employment.
Elinor Stutz is a contributor to the Personal Branding Blog. She is the CEO of Smooth Sale, LLC, a sales training company. She teaches how to apply relationship selling skills to every endeavor including interviewing, writing a book and building your business. Elinor is the author of the best-selling book, “Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results” published by Sourcebooks. Her book was featured in TIME Magazine, translated into multiple languages and sells worldwide. Elinor’s new book, “HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews,” is based upon years of community service teaching job-seekers how to land the job they desire.
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How Sales Tactics Can Get You a Job originally appeared on usnews.com