What makes you different and more marketable than your peers?
1. The Company You Keep
The company you choose to align yourself with says a lot about who you are as a professional. Is your company a well-respected market leader with high standards and a reputation for excellence?
2. Your Professional and Educational Experience
My combined education and background in law, administration, marketing, sales, customer service and management combine to make me a well-rounded individual. When I was a real estate agent, one of the main things that set me apart from the crowd was the fact that I had previously been a real estate paralegal, closing on average 500 transactions a year. That extensive legal knowledge and real estate experience ensured a successful transaction for my clients. What about your background or experience sets you apart?
3. Your Technical Expertise
It is becoming increasingly important in today's business world to learn, use and fully understand a variety of programs. I'm proficient in Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, Excel, Outlook, QuickBooks, Paint Shop Pro and Adobe Acrobat, and also have a comprehensive understanding of blogging, website maintenance and search engine optimization. As a professional, you can no longer rely upon others to handle the technical stuff. If you aren't up to speed, take some time to learn new skills.
4. Your Interpersonal and Communication Skills
This is quite possibly the most important skill set to develop. Do you have strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to handle complex situations with the highest degree of integrity and confidentiality? Are you detail-oriented, proactive and reliable? Do you have admirable business ethics?
If you were asked, "What makes you different?" how would you answer that question? Do you highlight your most marketable skills in your resume (otherwise known in real estate as your listing presentation)? Do you treat each and every client like a prospective employer? Do you take the time to learn new skills to improve your knowledge and expertise?
It doesn't really matter whether you are in real estate or pursuing a position in the corporate world, the principles of success are the same. Take a few moments out of your busy day today to think about what sets you apart. Is it your competence, creativity, commitment to excellence, communication skills, critical thinking, ethics, leadership ability and/or the reputation of your company? Incorporate and showcase these skills into your resume, presentation or interview, and I guarantee you'll become a more marketable and sought-after professional!
If you are a consumer looking for a good real estate agent, give me a call. As a referral agent (I'm no longer involved in the day to day real estate business), I can help match you with the perfect agent to help you buy or sell your home.
Kelly ~ Great to see your post this morning. These tips on how to stay marketable or how to become marketable are really helpful. We can always use refresher courses on this subject. Thank you for posting way to improve our marketability!
Hi Kelly. A great list. I particularly like the focus on the communication skills. This is a HUGE weakness many people have, and if you MASTER this one people will be coming to YOU. Well thought out post (as always!).
Good advice, Kelly, and you're right. It applies to any line of work.
Kelly, I agree it is important to have interpersonal and communication skills in any profession. ANY
One of my past clients 3x's job at the U is to teach Dr.s how to have bedside manners. Now have you ever heard of that one?
Seriously.
Terrie: You are very welcome! It's always very important to take stock of your skills and to make sure you shine when compared to your competition.
Gary: I agree. Good communication skills are essential.
Patricia: It sure does! Sometimes real estate agents focus on their selling skills and forget about their other abilities.
Missy: You mean there's an actual class on developing bedside manners? Hmmm....I know some doctors that must have missed that one, lol! :)
Dear Kelly,
You know what it takes to be a great professional whatever field you work in. Last week was my twin's Bar Mitzvah and the preparation was insurmountable. I am almost recovered andwould love to have a late breakfast with you... how about tomorrow.
Judy: Thanks for the compliment...and thanks for taking time on Friday to have lunch! :)
This is great food for thought and action, Kelly. We all bring different skills and qualities to the table and you are right that it is important to identify and recognize them, so we can effectively communicate our special skills to our potential clients. I'm going to take a look at my resume again with these points in mind, thanks for another well written and thought provoking post:-)
Deb: Good for you...you've got great skills...highlight them!
Kelly, In any line of work we must be able to justify why we should be given opportunities. Very few people just get lucky by winging it.
Carol: Absolutely! I find that in real estate, however, many agents simply rely upon past successes or volume when they attempt to "sell" themselves to a new client. I believe that clients will increasingly demand more from their agents...so it's a good idea to highlight real world skills...past performance does not guarantee future performance!
Thanks, Kelly, I sure try:-)