Jumping in The Jobs’ Pool? Here’s How To Market Yourself Effectively

Anyone who’s ever been through the gruelling hunt for a job can confirm how the whole song and dance of applications, several interviews, and long-winded tests can be rather unforgiving and cutthroat. Putting yourself out there in the hopes of being ‘the chosen one’ is no easy feat. This is why it’s important to be able to market yourself and play on your strengths, so your interviewer can see your potential.

The Application Process

Laborious and tedious as it may be, it’s necessary and all part of the game. I’m by no means an expert, of course. But I’m simply sharing my own experience based on what I found worked best for me.

These are the tips I’d give to any jobseeker:

• Have an updated CV on the ready

I tackled this topic in one of my previous articles because, like the document itself, I feel it deserves great attention. A good CV should be easy to read, provide all the relevant information pertaining to your job history and education, and list other noteworthy certificates and/or skills. Be sure it’s spruced up and has all the latest details. More importantly, it needs to be presented in a crisp and clean manner.

• Don’t underestimate the power of a well-written cover letter 

While it’s the bane of a lot of people’s existence, it’s still a good tool to use as a means to introduce yourself on a more ‘personal’ level. It’s also a great way to show you’ve researched the firm.

You don’t need to wax lyrical about the company, but be sure to do the legwork: learn about the company’s ethos and core values and explain how they resonate with you and, more importantly, how you’d be able to put those beliefs into practice with your own work ethic. Despite its bad rap, a cover letter is a great opportunity to share why you are a top candidate who has a lot to offer. An effective cover letter should:

– Be customised: For the specific job application and company. Make reference to the role you’ve applied for and, if possible, address the hiring manager or recruiter by name.

– Highlight relevant experience and skills: Again, emphasise the experiences and skills from your CV that directly relate to the job and its duties. Use keywords listed in the job description and give examples of how you’d demonstrate your capabilities.

– Express enthusiasm: Explain why you’re interested in the role and how it aligns with your career goals.

– Be succinct: Keep it short and simple. The standard length is usually one page. Focus on the main points you want to highlight.

– Be checked and proofread: Check grammar, syntax, spelling, and formatting. An error-free letter exhibits your attention to detail and professionalism.

– Showcase why you’re a great choice: Describe how the company’s values reflect your own beliefs.

– Encourage them to get in touch: End the cover letter with a call to action. Express your interest in discussing your qualifications and skills further.

Bonus tip: express gratitude for the opportunity to be considered for the role.

• Remember, first impressions aren’t limited to face-to-face interactions

There’s this misconception that first impressions are only lasting when people meet face to face. In reality, they can be formed from the very first interaction made, whether by phone, email, or any form of correspondence. Be more mindful and polite when answering calls and emails, and give as much relevant information when requested.

• Update your LinkedIn profile

This social media channel is a fantastic tool for headhunters, ambitious, career-oriented people, or job seekers. Whether it’s networking with like-minded people, making new connections within the sector you’re working in (or one you’d like to join), or looking for jobs. You can even get recommendations from previous and current employers and colleagues.

• Be ambitious and aim for gold

It’s possible that you might not tick all the boxes or even be familiar with all the tasks, duties or programs that are used within the firm – but don’t let this deter you from applying for the job. You need to be confident in yourself and your abilities to learn the ropes. Being green or a newbie isn’t a sign of weakness. Everyone was a novice in their job at one point or another. It just takes that one employer to believe in you and give you a chance. So grab the bull by the horns and go for it!

The Interview Stage

• Show eagerness and willingness to learn

Be upfront and say where your shortcomings lie, but don’t focus on them. Instead, divert the conversation to the more positive, emphasising how you’re excited to learn new skills and add another feather to your cap. Do this with conviction and ask follow-up questions about how such skills will be taught.

Resistance to being trained in new things is a surefire way to be ruled out from the list of promising candidates. If you’re already showing signs of apprehension or lacking confidence in your capabilities, how can a potential employer see what you’ve got to offer?

• Preempt questions

Be prepared for possible questions you might be asked. While certain employers like to ask trick questions to ‘test’ candidates, others ask run-of-the-mill ones. Indeed.com has an insightful article about this topic that lists 10 of the most commonly asked questions.

• Ask questions too

This will show that you’ve taken an interest not only in the role itself but also in how you’ve thought about what it’d be like working with the company. There are plenty of questions you can ask. But don’t overdo it.

Ask enough questions to show interest but not too many to prolong the interview. Look out for cues when the interviewer seems like they’d like to wrap things up. Look at their body language and listen to their tone of voice. As much as they wouldn’t mind answering a lot of questions, keep in mind that this is not your induction day, and they might have more interviews scheduled after yours.

The Post-Interview Phase

There are a number of different scenarios once you’ve applied for a job and attended one or several interviews.

• Being offered a job on the spot

This is a rarity—it would be appropriate to thank the employer and tell them that you need time to consider their offer. Understandably, you might have other job interviews or offers lined up and don’t want to be too hasty in your decision. Ask about the company’s deadline for your answer and act accordingly. If they’re pressuring you to give an immediate reply, be cautious.  

• The waiting game

Try to be patient. Granted, this part can be the most daunting because you’ve been shortlisted for the role, interviewed and jumped through hoops.

A serious company should show enough respect to candidates who’ve gone through the trouble of the application process to at least send some sort of feedback regarding the status—whether positive or negative. Normally, this should take around a week. If more time passes and no answer is given, that’s usually not a good sign.

• White noise

There’s no two ways about it: being left in the abyss of white noise isn’t fun. The least you deserve is closure, even if it’s not the reply you’ve been hoping for. Unfortunately, we don’t live in an ideal world, and some interviewers leave candidates hanging. I believe such behaviour is very much indicative of the way they treat employees and the company’s work ethic—or lack thereof.

Many ask, ‘Should I follow up after an interview?’ If you don’t hear from them after the hiring timeline they initially indicated, it wouldn’t hurt to follow up once. A call or email to the interviewer or HR contact should suffice. Use this correspondence to reaffirm your interest in the position and ask about the new hiring timeline. If you still don’t receive any form of feedback, just move on.

Concluding Thoughts

Despite the impersonal and superficial comparison, when applying for a role, you need to think of yourself as a product. The way you promote yourself can be thought of as your personal brand. And, whatever you submit in your application is the packaging in which your skills, experience and expertise are being showcased.  

So, if you’re taking a dip in the somewhat icy jobs pool, be sure to market yourself well and effectively, know your worth and don’t ever sell yourself short. Most importantly, keep your eye on the prize because one day, you will succeed!