Get Yourself Hired – Practical Advice from the SG Group

Kingston University. 20th February 2008

Delegates were treated to a lively and engaging evening of practical advice from the team from The SG Group - consultants Sheelagh Walton and Shayna Main, along with the Marketing Manager at the SG Group, Lou Bushell.

As with many aspects of life marketing professionals looking to get hired need to undertake some planning, and the SG offers the following six step systematic approach:

Be clear about what you want
- what sort of challenge are you looking for
- what is the nature of the tasks you'd love to do
- what kind of environment enables you to be at your best
- what is important to you
- what kind of people do you like being around
- what package are you looking for?
Be clear about what you have to offer
- what is the nature of the problem or challenge you’re the solution to
what are your strengths/skills/personal qualities
- what additional training or experience do you want
- how can you go about getting this?
Identify your route to market
- Proactive – Networking
- Speculative approaches
- Reactive – Recruiters/ responding to ads.
Create a compelling message
- CV as marketing brochure
- write with the reader in mind
- add a profile/ focus on achievements
- keeping it concise
- make it interesting
- remember 30 second rule.
Do a great interview – preparation, preparation, preparation
Know thyself. 'I' not 'we'/show enthusiasm/ask great questions
Negotiate at win/win deal- Know your market worth and understand what is important to you
Remain calm, reasonable and polite.

To round off the evening delegates were offered a list of useful books and web sites that offer practical tips on such topics as writing the perfect CV, interview techniques, researching job markets etc.

Suggested Reading (links open a new window with Amazon UK):

Further top tips are on the SG Group website: