| I was all set to call this column "MyValueProposition.com" as ironic commentary on the e-biz mania consuming our collective attention. Then I realized that some browsers would recognize it as a web address and deliver it as a hotlink. I wouldn't want to accidentally redirect you away from my erstwhile words of wisdom.
So I typed it into my browser and came up with ... nothing. All clear, for now.
But it started me thinking. Maybe it could be the name of a business. You could go there and post your resume as a business offering. Employers could go there and give you a job. Or venture capitalists could go there and give you a couple million dollars for your startup idea. It could be the marketplace for Internet investment.
Or, maybe it could be an auction site where employers could bid on contractors - you know, disintermediating the consultant bodybrokers, so you could max the hourly rate on yourself. Or it could be a portal for budding angel investors, eliminating the need for investment bankers and all those irritating SEC regulations.
I was just about to calculate my IPO price and decide when to quit my day job when I remembered that I'd still have to write the column anyway. Unless you'd be willing to accept that the column's not here yet, but it's coming. It's really coming at some point. And when it does come, it will totally transform you into the ultimately desirable job candidate and eliminate any need to go through all that job search crap. So, would you? Be willing to wait, I mean?
No, I didn't really think so. I figure you all expect a new column with some useful advice every month. Don't you? Isn't that why you're here? MyValueProposition is that I supply insight to the IT jobseeker and help you navigate the marketplace successfully. This monthly column is how I fulfill MyValueProposition for you. If I'm right - you come back next month (If I'm lucky, you tell your friends). If I'm wrong - you don't read any more.
Have you really considered MyValueProposition as an IT employee?
The Value Proposition
What is the Value Proposition anyway? Hard to find a real definition, though virtually every IT brand worth its moniker claims to have one, if the search engines are to be believed. According to some well-known management/marketing professor types:
A "value proposition" is a set of facts, assumptions, and perceptions underlying assessments of what is "valuable" to someone.
It's a theory, put forth to see if it is valid. The value proposition is what the seller suggests as the reason(s) why the buyer should select a particular product. On the flip side, what makes someone pick a specific option is the value that a particular individual perceives he/she will derive from that choice.
The seller bundles a package of differentiating factors into the value proposition and presents it for consideration. The buyer considers the value proposition, judges it against his/her personal requirements and
a) finds it wanting - rejects the product
b) finds it acceptable - buys the product
c) isn't sure - defers the decision.
Sounds like the job search process to me. You figure out what your package of skills, abilities and experience is and present it in a format which employers find attractive - your resume. The hiring manager reads the resume, compares you to his/her virtual ideal candidate and decides whether to buy (interview you), reject, or defer (put you in the maybe pile) your value proposition.
Then, you get to do it all over again during the interview. Think of the resume and the interview as separate channels for your value proposition. Can't be strong in one and not in the other. As with any other channel strategy, the value proposition needs to interrelate.
Before you go getting depressed or uppity about being judged here, remember that you'll be assessing the value proposition presented by potential employers yourself. Are there cutting-edge technology opportunities, real access to training, and the possibility of advancement? Is compensation just straight salary or are there stock options or bonuses tied to company performance? Is there free coffee? You get to control this choice.
What's Yours?
Value proposition, that is. How do you package the value you think you can offer to a potential employer? The key is to think about why you would hire yourself. What is the value that you can add to an enterprise?
What if...you rewrote your resume and substituted a value proposition for your job objective. Rather than saying you're seeking a challenging position in infrastructure support in a multinational corporation, what if you characterized yourself this way:
MyValueProposition: My LAN/WAN design and support skills have been proven in a 100-node network. I'm ready and willing to work nights and weekends to avoid inconveniencing users. I'm Novell-and Microsoft-certified and plan to keep up with industry trends and developments.
Or
Objective: To move from my current situation in mainframe support to a responsible position in eBusiness-related web development.
MyValueProposition: I have a solid background in COBOL and C programming and understand how the underlying principles are used with web-based languages. I plan to pursue additional training in Object Oriented Programming to prepare myself for the changing corporate environment. I understand that my value to an employer is based not on my previous strength in mainframe programming, but my evolving skills. I accept that the salary I can expect in the near term will probably be significantly less than my previous compensation.
I don't expect that replacing a resume objective with a Value Proposition is a trend that will take off any time soon, but it's a helpful method for seeing yourself through an employer's eyes. Spend a little time creating MyValueProposition and find a way to express it. Your potential employers will appreciate the effort.
More...
Remember all those ideas I had in the first section? Hey, they're mine and I'd better not catch any of you guys trying to pass them off as yours. But, for the right licensing fee, I would be open to considering an arrangement. My lawyers and I are waiting. But in the meantime, keep those cards & letters coming to jamie@jobcircle.com. Send my your New Years Resolutions and I'll print the best ones (or the ones that tickle me) in January. But please, no Y2K warnings, fears, jokes or merchandise. Until then, have a joyous holiday season. Peace.
Enjoy this article? Read more of JobCircle.com's Career Coach articles.
Jamie Fabian spent more than 15 years as a human resources executive before changing careers to become a senior project manager for a growing IT consulting company. Now in management consulting for a large Pharma company, Jamie would like to be seen as a hybrid of Tom Peters, Tom Jackson, and Tom Wolfe, but spends too much time working, driving carpool and watching mindless TV to write more than this column. You can contact Jamie with questions and comments at jamie@jobcircle.com.
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