Position Yourself as an Expert in Your Industry

You need to stand out when you are competing for a job.

The best way to do that is to be known as an authority in your field, and the Internet gives you an outlet to do just that.

If you are searching for a job then why not spend some of that time in positioning yourself as the go-to-person for your ideal employer to get information from?

Just being active online will open up doors and demonstrate that you have initiative to get a project off the ground.

In some respect, the advice below is contrary to sending out your resume or simply networking to get your next job. What I’m proposing is to create content that addresses people’s problems, and build your personal brand.

Focus on a skill

Do an inventory of all your passions, skills, and qualifications that employers have paid you for, and pick one that is relevant and in demand. For example, if you are fantastic at sales then consider producing content around how to improve sales for a specific type of company.

Pick a platform you feel comfortable in

If you’re strong writer then consider starting a blog. If you want to connect of influencers then set up a Twitter account and be active there. If you’re more a video person then consider posting on YouTube. If you prefer to do just audio then consider starting a podcast and publishing it on iTunes. Pick a single platform and start there.

Dedicate time to it

Producing content, just like anything that’s worth doing, is hard and takes time to master. However, thanks to the power of digital content, you can repurpose much of it, and it’s more scalable then having one-on-one conversations. You have the potential to reach millions of people with your own personal brand. What I’m proposing here is to establish yourself as a thought leader which is an asset you can bring with you as you change positions or companies.

Be helpful

As you produce content that addresses specific issues in your industry then go ahead and find relevant places where it can help the decision-makers or managers and start engaging them. Join industry-related LinkedIn groups and answer the questions there.

Focus on your strengths

Instead of trying to figure out how to set up a blog, consider getting help from someone who does that professionally so that you can focus on the most important parts, which is generating content and giving advice.

By being a content producer you’ll have things to talk about during your job interviews or while networking. It will demonstrate to future employers that you are digitally savvy and also take initiative to solve issues no matter your employment status.

This approach leverages your current skills and makes you more desirable in the competitive employment market.