Differentiating Yourself From The Competition

Jeff Domansky, the PR Coach, recently interviewed me for an article about what jobs are hot and trending in the PR world.  You can read the whole article here.

Two other recruiters and I offered tips such as:
”Treat yourself like you treat your most important client. Craft and tell your story to back it up with relevant and credible messages. Differentiate yourself from the rest of the market.”

So here’s my take away – 5 tips when trying to differentiate yourself from the competition:

1. Don’t ramble.  What is your best success story?  Be specific here, but make it interesting.

2. Be memorable.  If you are interviewing, this is your chance to impress the interviewer.  For example, let them know if you’re in line for a promotion or have just had a significant media placement. Find some way to stand out from the crowd.

3. Be fair and balanced. Take credit when credit is due, but give credit just the same. Using an example on which you collaborated shows your ability to be a great team player.

4. Show passion.  We often get feedback from interviewers that the candidate seemed flat or lacked enthusiasm for the specific position or the company itself.  Even if you realize half way through the interview that it’s not your dream job, don’t let them think you’re bored or not interested.  You never know what other doors that particular key-holder may unlock.

5. Use metrics if you can.  Senior professionals who are hiring tend to like people who get results: Stories that have numbers are more effective.

Chaloner

Chaloner, founded in 1979 as Chaloner Associates, is a national executive search firm that focuses on recruiting mid- to senior-level communications, public relations, marketing and investor relations professionals.