Three Retail Marketing Strategies for Job Seekers

http://www.michaelpage.com.sg

With a recent report out of the Congressional Budget Office forecasting that US unemployment won’t fall below 8 percent until 2012, job hunters can be forgiven if they’re moving from discouraged to desperate. And with youth unemployment even higher than the national average, young people face an even steeper uphill climb.

If you’re on the hunt for a job, there’s no magic bullet in this environment, but there are different perspectives to keep you looking at your job search with fresh, critical eyes. In this spirit, personal branding maven and one of Entry-Level Rebel’s Gen Y bloggers to read in 2010, Dan Schawbel, talked to HR expert Patricia Hunt Sinacole this week. Sinacole, who is also a columnist for the Boston Globe, suggests job seekers can use the tricks of the retail marketing trade to improve their chances of getting hired:

Advertising — A job seeker��s resume is a sort of advertisement. A resume should be concise, crisp and error-free. A good resume does not need to outline every detail about a job seeker��s professional work history — much like an advertisement. It should provide a compelling overview. Word-of-mouth — Referrals are critically important for both a retailer and a job seeker. Think about how many times we all have shared information about a retailer -�C good or bad. Competitive edge — Retailers often are successful because they have a competitive edge. They might offer an extra benefit �C- a drive-through in a particular location, wide and well-light aisles or an amazing level of personalized service. This is similar for job seekers as well. How can a job seeker differentiate themselves from their competitors? Maybe it is a specialized knowledge or industry experience? Or an advanced degree, that may not be required but is preferred? Job seekers should give thought to highlighting their competitive edge.

These tips are just part of a larger interview covering social media restrictions at work and ways to up your employability, among other topics. Check out The Personal Branding blog for the complete interview.

Six Ways to Stay Positive During a Tough Job Hunt Recruiters’ Top Resume Pet Peeves Three Steps to an Attention-Grabbing Resume Five Tips for a More Efficient Online Job Search