Branding yourself is, of course, very important. As a job seeker, you must know what your key skills are and how to articulate them and show value. But, there’s really so much more to it than that. Consider this analogy…

You need a new suit for an important meeting. You go to a store that you know will have suits. You go to your size and you buy one off the rack, thinking that these are the only options, and you need to make one work. Will the suit fit and flatter you? Maybe, but probably not as well as it could.

On the other hand, if you decide that you want the best, most flattering fit – the one that makes you look and feel your best –then you go to a custom clothier. You bring your spouse to get a second opinion. You look at cut, colors, patterns and textures. You get it tailored to precisely fit your dimensions. This suit will make you look fabulous and will help to highlight your best features!

Your job search is analogous to this suit-selection process, and you shouldn’t assume that all the best jobs are there “on the rack” just waiting for you. Sometimes you need to do a little creative thinking outside the traditional box (tailoring, if you will) to identify the best options and ultimately get the best fit.

If all you’re doing is going to the rack (these are the job boards) to see what’s there, you’re doing what everyone else is doing, so you’re probably going to have difficulty standing out from the crowd.

If you embrace a custom solution – one that’s tailored specifically to your network, your skills and experience, and your career goals, then you’re much more likely to find success. By leveraging unique strategies and techniques, you will, by default, be viewed as more unique.

Most people were never taught how to do any of this, and most people look for the path of least resistance. We help you get out of comfort zone and get better results. It’s like the old saying goes, “If you’ll do the things others aren’t willing to do, you can have the things others aren’t able to have.” That’s how you stand out – by being clear, concise and strategic.

Thoughts shared by Mike Lynch, VP of Career Coaching, of Centennial

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