What is a value proposition?
Noun: (in marketing) it’s an innovation, service, or feature intended to make a company or product (that’s you!) attractive to customers.
Forbes: it’s a positioning statement that explains what benefit you provide for who and how you do it uniquely well. It describes your target buyer, the problem you solve, and why you’re distinctly better than the alternatives.
Identify your value proposition here:
Every time I interview someone, I start off by asking them what their value proposition to an organisation is to gain clarity around what they will deliver and how I can position them in a competitive field. It is often surprising how many people give me a blank look and have not thought of their skill set in this way. Yet it is critical to gaining that competitive advantage – if you don’t know why you’re the person for the job, how will they?
In order to identify your value proposition look at what people naturally gravitate towards you for, what do you enjoy doing, what comes naturally and what skills and experience you have that helps people solve problems. Remember, if anyone is looking to employ someone or engage a service, it’s because they have a problem they need solved.
So put yourself in the buyer’s seat and identify where you can add value:
•What problem can you solve for them?
•What skills/expertise do you have that would help solve that problem?
•How is your service offering different to your competition?
•What extra value can you bring?
List the employer’s goals and needs then list your skills and expertise and find the crossover. This will require some self reflection and research and may involve speaking to others to gain their perceptions and impressions of your professional profile and achievements.
The clearer you are on what you have to offer and the value you provide the easier it makes it for the buyer to take action!