Every now and then someone bothers to make a comment on one of the blogs I write, either down below, or on social media. And last time, someone suggested the qualities I was describing as being necessary for job hunting, were much the same as being an entrepreneur. Fair call.

Of course, most job hunters, not all, but most, might not necessarily think of themselves as entrepreneurs at this point in their careers. But they should. Here’s why:

1. Know your brand

Entrepreneurs know the power of a brand. You are your own brand. Define it. Promote it.

2. Stick to it

I once heard the number one quality for success in entrepreneurs described as ‘stick-to-it-ness’. Entrepreneurs keep going until the job is done. Or in this case of job hunters, until ‘the job is own'. And they’re more than happy to test, measure, revise, adjust, adapt and improvise along the way. You should too.

3. Solve a problem. (Theirs, not yours.)

And finally, well, actually, I’m sure there are many more similarities also, but for brevity, I’m going to call it quits at three.

So finally, they focus on the problem they’re solving. It’s all well and good to fall in love with your own product. Or to be passionate about what you want to do with your time. But generally speaking at least, customers don’t care about your hopes or dreams. And neither do potential employers.

They don’t care how much you want to earn, that you want a big break, or to buy a new car, or anything else.

They have a problem to solve, and you need to understand what their particular problem is, and present them an elegant solution — you! But you packaged in a way that makes it easy for them to see how you solve their problem.

Be the solution

So bust out your entrepreneurial sprit, and start solving problems! People like me, and other potential employers, often have more than our fair share of problems to solve. And we’re willing to pay people who’ll solve them for us. Show us how you can be that solution. And you know what? Do it well enough, and you might just solve your own job problem in the process. But in that order. Theirs first. Then yours.

ABOUT SPUTNIK

Sputnik is an internationally awarded creative and brand consultant at Out of this World where he has worked on projects for some of the world’s biggest brands including Disney, Coca Cola, Unilever and The Simpsons. He is the author of ‘The Swashbucklers Guide to Becoming an Astronaut' and the creator of the Job Hunter's Boot Camp.

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