Marketing lessons we can all learn from recruitment
We’re recruiting for a Junior Account Executive at the moment, and as ever, the process has been a real eye opener. And I can see parallels between the way the candidates have marketed themselves, and how many small businesses carry out their own marketing. So here are the lessons I think we can all apply to our own marketing to make it even more successful:
Make sure you’re applying for the right job: I had one application from a lady who wanted to use her “Knowledge of Applied Physics in her next role”. We’re offering a sales and marketing role: had she read the job description? And yet in marketing terms this isn’t unusual. Don’t waste your time firing off irrelevant marketing to people who will never have a need for your services. Think carefully about your target audience and adapt accordingly.
Tailor your application depending on the role you’re applying for. The best applicants have read my job description, thought about how their skills match up with my job description and created a covering letter which draws my attention to their relevant attributes. It takes longer, but for the right job it’s worth doing. It’s the same when you’re marketing. Think about who you’re sending your brochure/ flyer to, why they might need you, and tailor a covering letter to that business’ needs. You’ll find that you get much better results.
Check your spelling and grammar. The standard of English was appalling. Enough said. If you’re not dilligent enough to get your CV right – your one marketing tool, then why on earth would you do a good job in the real world under time pressures? It’s essential that these key pieces of marketing are correct. Check, check and check again, and then hand to a friend to check.
Quality not quantity. Finding a new job, like finding customers, is a numbers game. But better to apply for a few jobs properly than the blanket approach badly.
Take an interest in the company you’re applying for a role with. These days it’s not difficult to prepare for an interview is it? An hour or two on the internet reading the website and researching the company. And yet the majority of people we have interviewed have shown absolutely no interest or knowledge in my company. Not only is this pretty rude, it doesn’t encourage me to want to employ them! It’s the same with marketing. Arrogance, disinterest or lack of preparation is easy to spot. And it’s a BIG turn off…
I’m sure there are plenty more, but that gives you enough to be getting on with. And I feel a lot better for getting that off my chest 
