For a few years now, I’ve been saying, “Stop acting like a job seeker, and start acting like a solution provider! Stop acting like an applicant, and start acting like a consultant!” People usually react in stunned silence when I say this. What I try to convey in these statements is that candidates MUST distinguish themselves by immediately demonstrating how they add value. Their message needs to focus on what they can GIVE to the employer, not on what they want to GET from the employer. Sorry, but the company doesn’t care about you or what you want; they only care about what you can do for them – NOW! It seems so obvious. But only a very, very small percentage of job seekers understand this simple dynamic. It’s all a question of how compellingly you can present yourself and articulate your value.

ExecuNet just featured a short article on this subject, entitled, “Market Up; Competition Up; It’s Now About Presenting Yourself Well.” I really liked the piece, and I urge you to check it out here: http://insights.execunet.com/index.php/comments/market_up_competition_up_its_now_about_presenting_yourself_well/your-career

If you’re in the New York City area and you are looking to jumpstart your media career, you might find some helpful information at the MediaBistro Career Circus on August 4.

Even if you’re safely employed, it’s never a bad idea to get out there at events like this and see what and who is new in your field. It looks like some of the panels are going to address career progress, something employed people tend to neglect. Remember: your job may not last forever, but your career is something you’ll be working on constantly.