Friday, March 4, 2011
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
References As A Marketing Tool
One of the most important marketing tools we should always be developing to help reinforce our brand is our references. Just like many companies use their client list and client references to build credibility and confidence for their products and services, we should also leverage our references to build credibility and confidence in our capabilities and brand. Sometimes reference checks are just a formality, but in most cases potential employers (i.e., potential clients) use reference checks as their final validation that they’re making the right decision. Having someone else you have done work for speak highly of you and of the quality of your work is a great closing tool.
While reference checks typically come towards the end of the hiring process they can also be used very effectively up front in the process as a marketing device to set an early positive framework of your capabilities. Whenever it is possible get written references on company letterhead from your managers and key stakeholders or customers. Make sure they are rave reviews (discussed later in this post) and reinforce the key branding and messaging points you are selling. In some cases you may be able to write a draft of the reference that your manager can modify, or you can ask them to specifically include certain positive attributes that line up with your brand messaging. Written references are important because you will want to include them with your job resume and in your student portfolio. Talk up your references during the interview process. It’s a powerful selling technique when you bring up that you have very strong references and speak to specifics. Encourage the employer to talk to your references.
Make a point to keep in regular touch with your past and current references so that you can provide accurate and up-to-date email and phone number contact information. Whenever possible, try to use a direct office number or better yet, a cell phone number, or both. Use this contact information to give your references a heads-up whenever you are going to use them as a reference (and to verify the contact information is correct). If possible, give your references some background information on the position and use the opportunity to reinforce your brand promise so the reference can echo those points if they are contacted.
Bring your reference letters with you. Also, in addition to having your references in your LinkedIn profile, also include your reference letters in your on-line ePortfolio or Profile Layouts. There are several eportfolio and Web Portfolio internet sites available. One of the best ones out there is Apojigo at http://www.apojigo.com. Apojigo has a very easy to use tab based interface that lets you create an online eportfolio that can contain any multimedia material you want to present. You can include your resume, write a biography and samples of your work. E-Portfolio and online portfolios are a great resource to give potential employers. Web Portfolios allow you to include additional supporting information along with your references.
Click for more information : http://www.apojigo.com
Author Bio : Apojigo is your own, personalized online Web space that provides you with easy to use tools to quickly build and present a comprehensive and professional jobs and online Profile that will let you go far beyond your traditional resume to give you the competitive and professional advantage you need.
While reference checks typically come towards the end of the hiring process they can also be used very effectively up front in the process as a marketing device to set an early positive framework of your capabilities. Whenever it is possible get written references on company letterhead from your managers and key stakeholders or customers. Make sure they are rave reviews (discussed later in this post) and reinforce the key branding and messaging points you are selling. In some cases you may be able to write a draft of the reference that your manager can modify, or you can ask them to specifically include certain positive attributes that line up with your brand messaging. Written references are important because you will want to include them with your job resume and in your student portfolio. Talk up your references during the interview process. It’s a powerful selling technique when you bring up that you have very strong references and speak to specifics. Encourage the employer to talk to your references.
Make a point to keep in regular touch with your past and current references so that you can provide accurate and up-to-date email and phone number contact information. Whenever possible, try to use a direct office number or better yet, a cell phone number, or both. Use this contact information to give your references a heads-up whenever you are going to use them as a reference (and to verify the contact information is correct). If possible, give your references some background information on the position and use the opportunity to reinforce your brand promise so the reference can echo those points if they are contacted.
Bring your reference letters with you. Also, in addition to having your references in your LinkedIn profile, also include your reference letters in your on-line ePortfolio or Profile Layouts. There are several eportfolio and Web Portfolio internet sites available. One of the best ones out there is Apojigo at http://www.apojigo.com. Apojigo has a very easy to use tab based interface that lets you create an online eportfolio that can contain any multimedia material you want to present. You can include your resume, write a biography and samples of your work. E-Portfolio and online portfolios are a great resource to give potential employers. Web Portfolios allow you to include additional supporting information along with your references.
Click for more information : http://www.apojigo.com
Author Bio : Apojigo is your own, personalized online Web space that provides you with easy to use tools to quickly build and present a comprehensive and professional jobs and online Profile that will let you go far beyond your traditional resume to give you the competitive and professional advantage you need.
Monday, September 6, 2010
It's Not an Interview, It's a Sales Pitch
One of the common mistakes I see a lot of candidates make when they go to an interview is that they think it is a question and answer session. They approach the interview with a mindset that their role is to be prepared to answer a bevy of questions thrown at them. This puts you in a passive role, playing defense. A much more effective approach is to go into the interview with the mindset that you are a salesperson, and the product you are selling is you. You want to convince the employer that you have something of real, tangible value to offer them for their money. You have an advantage in that you know what they are looking for because you have the description of job in your career resume. Now, you need to sell them on why your skills and experience are the best solution they are looking for compared to your competitors.
Prepare and rehearse your sales pitch until it is second nature. You want to have the most compelling pitch as to why you are the best person of all of the sales pitches they are going to get from other candidates. One way to do this is to really dig deep to discover what your one or two major strengths are and how that directly relates to the job description. It might be your 10 years of experience doing exactly what they are looking for (they’re getting a proven commodity), it might be your unique and proven approach to the position (I know that successful project management is about people and I know how to motivate people), it might be your passion and drive (I give every project I do my all and hold nothing back). The point is to come up with your selling points for the position and to keep driving them home throughout the interview. These are your consistent message points. It is what you want to leave the interviewer with after the interview. As you answer questions and make your pitch you want to find subtle ways to bring each answer back to emphasize these message points.
You also need to have the supporting evidence to support your sales pitch. You can not just say it; you need to prove it. Use an on-line ePortfolio or Web Portfolio that has examples of your work and your value proposition. There are several ePortfolio and Web Portfolio internet sites available. One of the best ones out there is Apojigo, a Portfolio website. Apojigo has a very easy to use tab based interface that lets you create an online Portfolios that can contain any multimedia material you want to present. You can include your resume, write a biography and samples of your work.
If you approach an interview as a sales pitch it will make the interview more fun and vibrant. It will help to focus your attention and give you a clearer goal. You don’t just want to “get through” the interview; you want to win the interview. Remember, you have competitors that are also trying to win this business so you want to out sell them. You want to make the strongest and most compelling sales pitch to win the job.
Check http://www.apojigo.com for more information.
Prepare and rehearse your sales pitch until it is second nature. You want to have the most compelling pitch as to why you are the best person of all of the sales pitches they are going to get from other candidates. One way to do this is to really dig deep to discover what your one or two major strengths are and how that directly relates to the job description. It might be your 10 years of experience doing exactly what they are looking for (they’re getting a proven commodity), it might be your unique and proven approach to the position (I know that successful project management is about people and I know how to motivate people), it might be your passion and drive (I give every project I do my all and hold nothing back). The point is to come up with your selling points for the position and to keep driving them home throughout the interview. These are your consistent message points. It is what you want to leave the interviewer with after the interview. As you answer questions and make your pitch you want to find subtle ways to bring each answer back to emphasize these message points.
You also need to have the supporting evidence to support your sales pitch. You can not just say it; you need to prove it. Use an on-line ePortfolio or Web Portfolio that has examples of your work and your value proposition. There are several ePortfolio and Web Portfolio internet sites available. One of the best ones out there is Apojigo, a Portfolio website. Apojigo has a very easy to use tab based interface that lets you create an online Portfolios that can contain any multimedia material you want to present. You can include your resume, write a biography and samples of your work.
If you approach an interview as a sales pitch it will make the interview more fun and vibrant. It will help to focus your attention and give you a clearer goal. You don’t just want to “get through” the interview; you want to win the interview. Remember, you have competitors that are also trying to win this business so you want to out sell them. You want to make the strongest and most compelling sales pitch to win the job.
Check http://www.apojigo.com for more information.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)