THE BEECHMONT CREST CAREER GUIDE:
SURVIVING AND THRIVING IN THE CORPORATE JUNGLE
Chapter 3: Organize, Market, and Sell Yourself
Develop your own USP
It is important to know who your target market is, but it is even more important to know who you are. As a job seeker, you should develop your own USP, or Unique Selling Proposition. Your Unique Selling Proposition is short statement that tells employers what makes you stand out from the crowd. Your USP will naturally vary according to your own background and qualifications, but the USP is always a pithy statement of professional identity:
“I am a material handling equipment sales professional with a proven track record in new account generation.”
“I am a software engineer with a mastery of Java, C++, C#, and Visual Basic”
“I am an experienced manager who has demonstrated an ability to motivate teams in high-pressure, demanding environments”
Once you have formulated your USP, weave it strategically into cover letters and introductory emails. A carefully crafted USP will compel employers to read your entire application rather than simply filing it or hitting the delete key.
Copyright 2006 Beechmont Crest Publishing