How To Win A New Job.

We constantly scan for shiny things.

Shiny or bright or loud or scary.

We scan for incongruity. It’s what our brains do.

This is true for marketing and selling anything in business, including you.

Getting a job is like any other business development exercise.

You need to be interesting (you are).

You need to focus on people (do you?).

You need to do the work (are you?).

But it all starts with interesting.

Like the white bell bird.

Nature has been practising and evolving the art of looking interesting for as along as food has been important and procreation a desired outcome.

Ok, for a long time.

Birds seeking a mate is no different a business development challenge as you seeking a job.

It starts with differentiation.

The Amazonian white bellbird shouts. Really loud. In it’s partners face.

That’s quite some sales pitch.

I don’t suggest you do the same.

But you do need to be interesting. You need to stand out, to stand for something.

Companies desperately seek to appeal to as many people as they can. But in so doing they end up meaning very little to not many people. Better to mean a lot to a few people.

You’ve got to stand for something; to have a point of view, a perspective on what you do best and who you do it for. Don’t be scared to alienate. Alienating is your friend.

This is true for companies trying to sell. It’s true for you trying to sell too; selling you to companies who might buy you with a job.

You’ve got to stand out. You have loads of experience and perspectives which are true to you. Be brave. Take the time to know these things. And confidently stand behind them.

And then you need to focus on people. Build the networks, know your network (because you have one), and be in touch with them; taking time to communicate your point of view to attract those with whom your ideas resonate. And repel those who do not.

And repeat, repeat, repeat.

Whilst marketing > business development > sale / transaction is a medium term activity, the act of getting organised, of committing to and implementing a plan has the habit of unlocking opportunity, of shaking the bottle.

And whilst this is true selling company to company, it’s true for getting a job too.

1) Be interesting.

2) It’s all about the people (people buy people).

3) Do the work; be in touch often and usefully.

And while this can only reliably pay dividends in the medium term, the act of getting organised has a habit of bubbling things up in the short term too. But if it doesn’t, no problem. Better to sew the seeds now to enjoy those medium term fruits.