The Most Important Facet of Your Job Search Plan

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When you are planning your job search, you need to approach it as though it is a marketing campaign. The recruiters are the buyers and you are the actual product. As a product, you have to clearly articulate your value proposition – essentially your advertisement. The rate of success for your job search lays in your ability to fine tune your value proposition. So what exactly is your value proposition? It is the unique benefit that you can offer a school district that matches their exact needs.

You may be thinking that all teachers basically perform the same duties and so how will you come up with unique talents that set you apart. The key to finding what separates you from the competition is discerning what you do best. Oftentimes, what you do naturally may be a struggle for others. So if you excel at classroom management, lesson planning, or individual tutoring, remember that many others might consider these areas their weaknesses. Once you discover your value proposition, you’ve unleashed your marketing advantage.

A great way to uncover your biggest accomplishments and strengths is to use the C.A.R. (Challenge, Action, Result) method. By going through your accomplishments and discovering the challenges you faced, the actions you took to fix them, and the ending result of your efforts, you will get a better understanding of your strengths and, thus, your value proposition.

When targeting your applications to specific teacher job postings, you can utilize your value proposition to clearly communicate what you can accomplish for the school districts. Study their job postings and district websites to uncover their unmet needs. Once you’ve discovered their areas of focus and need, you can position your resume, cover letter, and other career documents to match those needs. Demonstrating to recruiters how you will solve their problems and bring strength to their district is definitely the best way you can position your application. 

Your value proposition does not end here. You will carry it with you throughout the entire job search process as your marketing strategy. Communicate your value proposition in your LinkedIn profile and while you network. And once you land that all important interview, be ready to further discuss your accomplishments and strengths in great detail.

So remember, a well thought-out value proposition will:

• ·       Create a strong differential between you and your competition
• ·       Increase not only the quantity, but the quality of  your prospective job search leads
• ·       Gain interest from school districts and position you as a desirable candidate
• ·       Assist you in enhancing your career documents and tools to improve your job search 

Your job search is not the time to under-sell yourself or be modest. Your positive track record and ability to bring value to school districts will override any possible concerns an employer may have about your application. So fine tune your value proposition and keep it consistent throughout your job search. It will become your brand and will end up getting you hired because school districts want to know what you can do for them, not the other way around.