GeekMBA360

We all know how important sales is — after all, they bring in the money for any company to survive and prosper.

If you think yourself as a product in the job market, a good recruiter will be your sales person — he/she will market you, promote you, sell you, and help you move up and get more money.

But, you need let your sales person know what your value is, what price you want to offer, how you differentiate yourself against others, etc. You must guide your recruiter. You need to come up with your own personal marketing plan, and give it to your recruiter.

What should you provide a recruiter?

1. Your unique selling proposition – in 30-second, explain what differentiate you from others, and why potential employer should pick you over others — this is your elevator pitch.
2. A list of your major professional accomplishments with specific examples.
3. What is your fit to the company you’re interested in?
4. How much do you think you worth? For most jobs, you should add 25%-40% on top of your current salary. I’m sure recruiters will tell you not to do it. But, the reality is that recruiter’s primary motivation is to get you hired so that they can get paid. I think you should never reveal to recruiters the minimum acceptable salary you’re expecting. Start high, and leave room for negotiation. In term of salary negotiation, recruiters probably won’t help you much. They want to close the deal more than helping you getting the highest salary possible.
5. What job title do you expect?
6. Your resume