A job hunt can often feel like chasing after buyers who just aren't interested in what applicants have to sell, making many job seekers long for a secret formula to reverse this all-too-common situation. According to marketing genius Frank Kern, that formula is Your Practical Value + Your Intrinsic Value = Your Perceived Value, and understanding it is the key to becoming a magnet to potential employers so you can score your dream job.
Your Intrinsic and Practical Value
According to Kern's formula, your practical value is what you do as your profession. Some examples include managing accounts, designing buildings, completing retail work, fighting fires and selling products. The only way to increase your practical value for the job hunt is to gain more experience and increase your skill set. Your intrinsic value, on the other hand, is much more malleable.
Intrinsic value refers to your presentation, positioning and branding in the job market. While all cars can get you from point A to point B, meaning they have a similar practical value, a Mercedes has more intrinsic value than many other cars because of its branding and positioning in the market. Just like cars, motorcycles and personal computers, job seekers have their own brand that lets them shape how potential employers view them, thus boosting their intrinsic value. The combination of practical value with the intrinsic value you create leads to your value as an employee as perceived by hiring managers and employers.
Shaping How Employers Perceive You
The trick to shaping your intrinsic value for the job hunt is understanding how people see you. Do you come off as calculating, creative or average? Once you know that, also decide how you want people to see you as part of your personal brand. Some of the best traits to position yourself include original, exciting, rare, popular and exclusive. Everything you do during the job hunt should express these traits.
Building Your Personal Brand
Although expressing key traits during interviews and networking events is important, start building your brand during the first stages of the job hunt. Begin by shaping your social media profiles on sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook to match your desired brand, eliminating unprofessional photos and statuses that cast you in a negative light. Also consider building a blog to share ideas and knowledge within your area of expertise. Being selective with your online presence is essential during the job hunt as the Internet is a popular tool for finding out more about job candidates.
Building your brand to shape your intrinsic value, and consequently your perceived value, takes plenty of time and effort. However, consistency is key in making the job seeker's formula work for you. With careful polishing of your online presence and positive interactions with other professionals during the job hunt, you can start attracting the position of your dreams.
Photo courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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