An approach to Career Building

Beginning the journey

You are embarking on building a career, an endless journey which will have you traversing every which way as you go through life.

Building a career is about constant growth, evolution, adaptation, awareness and introspection.

It is crucial that you gain insight into the state and inner workings of your industry as well as the driving economic forces of both the business and the world.

Understanding these factors as well as your wants, needs, desires, and personal values will help you make better decisions and measure the value you offer others as well as the value you gain.

Understand the game

“ Product: A thing or person that is the result of an action or process.”

When entering the job market you are entering a segment of the broader economy as a product, and it’s your job is to become a product of value (Something someone wants) and position yourself effectively. Achieving this is tuff as consumers (In this case employers) needs, wants, desires and finances vary and are constantly changing.

It is essential to understand the nature of the transaction. Like any transaction there is a trade, you provide value to your employer in exchange you want to gain something for your efforts. You must understand what your time is worth and what it is to be gainfully employed at any given time (See gainfully employed).

With so many variables to consider it is crucial that you understand your strengths and objectives then amplify them in the job hunting process this is where having your value proposition comes in handy.

The value proposition

Just like any organisation or brand you need to create your value proposition, so employers understand what you stand for and the value you offer. The value proposition creates a story and is the foundation that links everything together from your portfolio to your cover letter, to your CV to your interview creating a coherent message.


So what is a value proposition?

In the context of an individual seeking employment, a value proposition explains why someone should do business with you, and why you offer the most value/ benefit in the marketplace.

Create your own value proposition

The keys to a successful personal value proposition depend on your ability to answer the following questions honestly and succinctly;

Why: Establish what you are about and why you do what you do? (Don't be afraid to express your ambitions).

What: What value you can add to the organisation or project?

How: How do your skills support your what statement, what proof do you have in your portfolio that you can demonstrate to support your claims?

Who: Who do you do this for and who will benefit?

If you can answer these questions what you stand for and offer (your brand) will be apparent to any prospective employer.

Establishing answers to these questions also helps to answer and justify the following both to yourself and an employer;

  1. Reason for existing.

  2. Reason to be chosen over its competitors.

  3. Reason for charging what you charge.


The value of the value proposition

Your value proposition will serve as the foundation behind any supporting artifacts you create for your prospectus, binding them into one cohesive story. The value proposition does not just support the creation of artifacts; like in sales the value proposition also provides a practical framework to create marketing material, address direct questions and sell a product or service, directly translates into both cover letter writing and interview situations.


Personal prospectus

Your value proposition should be the foundation behind any supporting artifacts you create, binding them into one cohesive story (Your prospectus). Your prospectus at a minimum should include your portfolio, resume and cover letter; each of these artifacts should affirm your value proposition, thus creating one concise message.

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