Part of looking for a job is to market yourself.
For some people, however, talking about themselves can feel uncomfortable because it can feel like bragging.
Still, knowing how to sell yourself—or more accurately, sell your skills—is critical to land an online job.
Here’s how you can be better at it.
Establish Career Goals
First, set a few career goals for yourself so you know what you want to achieve.
For instance, if you’re currently applying for virtual assistant jobs, what do you hope to accomplish?
Do you want a job where you gain skills and experience as leverage for a promotion? Or to use your competencies in a different field altogether?
You might also want to write down all of your work non-negotiables before job hunting.
Some examples include a fully remote role, a clear career development trajectory, training, etc.
This way, it’s easier to filter which roles to apply for, especially if they fit your criteria.
Work on Your USP
A unique selling point (USP) is common in marketing.
Basically, it’s what makes you stand out from other applicants.
What is it that you can offer to your clients, that the other applicants can’t?
Maybe, you have a specific niche for online writing jobs. Or you could have extensive work experience that puts you ahead of rookie remote workers.
Whatever your USP is, you want to make it known to your clients early on in the application process.
Put Yourself in the Employer’s Shoes
To market yourself better, imagine yourself as an employer.
You’d probably be asking applicants about what they can do for you.
This is where your skills and experiences come into play.
If you’re applying for online bookkeeping jobs, employers might ask you about how long you’ve been a bookkeeper, your strengths and weaknesses, why you chose bookkeeping, etc.
Answering with anecdotes where you’ve demonstrated a useful skill or successfully solved a problem helps clients gauge if you’re the right fit for the role.
Craft an Elevator Speech
The term “elevator speech” (or elevator pitch) came from how long a usual elevator ride lasts, which is around 30 seconds.
So, imagine that elevator ride with someone—your potential employer, in this case.
How would you make them remember you?
You can start with who you are, what you do, your USP, and maybe a brief work-related anecdote.
Crafting an elevator pitch gives your client an idea of your background and potential.
However, it can also take time to polish a perfect elevator speech.
Just keep it short while highlighting all the key points about yourself.
Put Your Networking Skills to Use
Lastly, don’t forget to use social media to your advantage.
Most of the time, you can meet other professionals on LinkedIn (just be sure to avoid these red flags that might put others off from connecting with you).
You can also attend on-site events to meet new people in your industry.
Further, it’s a great way to practice your elevator speech—and ultimately, to get a job.
Learn How to “Sell” Yourself
Knowing how to market yourself is a vital skill.
After all, you need a competitive edge to stand out in today’s saturated job market.
Just don’t forget that job hunting is a two-way street.
Yes, you’re selling your skills to companies, but companies want you to work for them too.
In all, it’s a matter of marketing yourself to the right people.
On that note, if you’re looking to work online, check out Remote Staff’s job listings.
Landing a client as a remote contractor is already challenging. Imagine having to market yourself several times, only to interact with shady or dubious employers.
At Remote Staff, we make sure to vet our clients so you know our job listings are legit, making the process easier.
Interested? Register today!
