Every step along the job search process is an opportunity to clearly articulate your brand and to pitch to employers why they should fight for you.

As a jobseeker, you may think that your job is to be the best you can be and that the right company should by the very nature of the process fight for you. While in some instances, where the supply of talent is low and the number of positions is high this might be the case.  However, giving reasons for the employer to fight for you can still benefit you.

Generally speaking, there are two markets and in both instances, having a compelling pitch that resonates to the employer is essential. Those where the number of qualified talents outweighs the number of positions and those where the number of positions greatly outweighs the number of qualified candidates.  In both markets, you want to have the hiring company fight for you. 

Fighting for you doesn’t mean people you encounter along the recruiting process (Sources, Recruiters, Hiring Managers and Decision Makers) will all want to move your resume to the top of the pile, that they would fight for budget to give a reason to choose them.

How do you know you’ve succeeded? When they are pitching to you vs you pitching them. They are explaining how great the job, the people, the industry are to you. Once that happens you are on the right path.

What are some ways to make the recruiting company want to fight for you?

• You Attitude – Ensure they know who they are and why they fit, and this position into your career arc
• Pitch Perfect – Always be sure that you can quickly and succinctly translate your past into your fit
• Presentation Polish – When you speak to anyone along the process, present yourself for your future end role. If you want to be the CEO one day, act and dress and prepare like a CEO. If you come into the room in surf shorts and flip-flops and meet senior executives, they will remember your lack of polish. They might not remember your experiences but they will remember your presentation and polish.
• Emotional Quotient – As you go through the interview process you will speak to many people along the way. Some people might be easy to dismiss as the person at the front desk, or perhaps a filler when a senior leader couldn’t take that spot. Don’t be complacent, be aware that hurtles can sometimes be added as test of your EQ.

"Fit" is such a hard thing to explain. But as trite as it can seem, think of it like this, if you can show experience that allows everyone to know you are capable, you are now presenting to them that you are the person they’d want to be up at 3 AM with when something goes wrong.

Ask yourself these questions to see if you’re pitching yourself so others can pitch you

• After three minutes do others understand your story and background and why you are a fit?
• Do they have a little unique story they can tell about you that makes you stand out?
• Are you positive and fun to be around?
• Do you fit in? You don’t have to be a match; this means you bring something to the team that they want.
• Will you push and motivate versus distract and demotivate? 
• Are you interesting and would they want to get to know you better?

Like a dating game, individuals in the recruiting process want to “fall” for a candidate. Give them the arsenal to do so. Your job is not to get a recruiter to look at your resume. Your job is to make them remember your story so that when there are five resumes to shortlist, they can pitch to others what your pitch is and clearly articulate what makes you special and a great future team member.

Be sure that an opportunity is a fit for you first, reinforcing your choice by evaluating your ProValues.