If you’re like me, you’re pursuing higher education because you want to either: garner a broader skill set or you want to pursue a new career. After reading “Positioning Your Startup is Vital — Here’s How to Nail It” by Arielle Jackson, it’s clear we have to position ourselves to recruiters as if we’re a startup going to market.
The brand positioning statement can be your start to understanding:
- What job do you want? (company/research)
- Which job descriptions align with your goals and resume?
- What’s your product? Self-Brand? (yourself)
- What do you bring to the table? (skills, traits, experiences)
- What sets you apart from the competition? (other applicants)
As stated by Ms. Jackson, you don’t want to use our positioning statement verbatim in your marketing/job hunt, but it’s a good reference to keep yourself on brand.
By nailing down your positioning statement first, you can better understand the market dynamics and where you fit in and have the best opportunity in securing a job. By understanding the companies you’re applying to and how your skills align with their needs, you can better position yourself. If there’s a gap in their needs and what you have to offer, pursuing an online master’s program or getting more experience could supplement your “key benefits” and set you apart from competition.
For me, this is my Brand Positioning Statement:
For (All companies seeking marketing professionals)
Who (Are seeking to fill a role in Digital Marketing/ E-Commerce),
(Philip Eng) is a (Marketing Professional and Temple’s Masters Student in Digital Innovation in Marketing)
That (that has experience in E2E supply chain manufacturing and retail management).
Unlike Other Applicants (I have ample experience working with consumer-facing brands with large e-commerce businesses, selling directly to customers, and project management.
Of course, depending on the job/company/industry you’re applying to, your brand positioning statement could change in certain areas. You will just have to position yourself differently depending on your “target market”.
Now when I apply to jobs, I am going to reference my Brand Positioning Statement to ensure that I stay focused on the jobs I’m pursuing and that I am perfectly positioned when the right opportunity is posted.
Leave a Reply