My main observation since heading back to the office in 2021 is that the candidate market is super competitive. Jobs remain scarce (come on Adelaide clients, start to hire!!)
I’ve wanted to write about discovering your own unique selling point for a while, and I thought now was the perfect time, after the many discussions I’ve had over the past 4 weeks.
When you’re in a tough market, i.e giving financial advice, most Financial Planners will offer holistic advice, so how can you stand out against other professionals?
Here are some tips to help you identify your own USP.
1. Identify your USP.
You need to identify what your USP actually is. The skills, knowledge or experience that you can offer, but others can’t.
What are you good at? Including inside and out of work?
Have you taken any specific courses or been trained by industry leaders?
What have you learnt on the job?
What roles have you had in the past?
What voluntary or charitable positions have you undertaken?
Once you’ve written this down, think about;
What skills, experiences and knowledge fields stand out?
Which ones are unique to you?
2. Tailoring your USP.
Once you’ve decided what skills differentiate you from others, it’s time to tailor your USP to the job you’re applying for. Cross reference them against all of the requirements outlined in the job description.
If any match, use them as the focus of that application!
3. Focus on the Benefits to them.
If you handed your own CV to yourself, and you were the one paying salaries out of your own pocket, would you hire you based on your current document?
Employers, want to know one thing about their candidates: how will you benefit them?
How much money will you bring in?
What will your return on investment be?
Are you worth the time, hassle and money?
Instead of claiming ‘I’ve done X, Y and Z’ you should focus on what that means for the employer; ‘I can do X, Y and Z which means that I’ll save you time, money and effort’.
4. Prove It.
Recruiters love facts and figures, bosses love them even more! If you can include them in your applications, you’re guaranteed to be favoured over other applicants.
If you implemented something at a previous workplace that streamlined the process and saved your office X amount of money or time, talk about it.
The above point is aimed at Client Service Managers, I see the same duties in most CV's. Remember, it's not your current role applying for a new job, it's you! What have you done that separates you from the crowd!
If you wrote $100,000 of new business in one quarter, don’t sit back and hope that potential employers will eventually find out…talk about it. Don't keep your figures a secret!
5. Short and Sweet.
For your opening statement and in 2 to 3 lines, summarise how you are the best candidate for the job.
Don't open with 'Passionate, Proactive individual'. Lead with your identified USP's, linking them in with why you're the perfect candidate.
6. Consistency is Key!
Finally, throughout your CV, cover letter and interview, you should keep showcasing your unique selling points. This will enable your potential employers to get a sense of the “real you”.
The market is becoming increasingly competitive and it's more important now than ever before to identify your strong points within your CV.
If you're struggling to identify what your USP really is, reach out to Simon for a career discussion.
simon@cadencerecruitment.com | 0452 520 776
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