Do you know your personal value proposition? If you’re a professional, you should.  Not to sound ‘preachy’ but I’m going to even take this one step further. You not only SHOULD, you MUST.

To put it in simple terms, you’re crafting your personal value proposition to share the value you bring to the table. Not the skills, or the characteristics, or even the degrees. It’s the actual value. 

People often think of their professional life in the terms of their current role. If they’re happy in their current position, they don’t think beyond it. 

But that kind of thinking can be harmful in three ways:

1. It can hurt your chances for internal growth.
2. It can make you expendable if another candidate shows up who can add more value than you.
3. It limits your impact within your industry.

As a professional in today’s competitive market, you can’t afford to NOT know your value.  

How do you go about crafting your Personal Value Proposition? Fair question. And since I’m sort of screaming at you about the importance, I thought I should help you create it. 

I’ve broken it down in some simple steps for you to help you in demonstrating value. 

Step 1. Identify the value of your strongest professional contributions

As basic as this sounds, it isn’t easy. There are a lot of candidates out there with similar skill sets.  You have to communicate how your implementation of these skills provides more value. 

For example, let’s say you’re an HR executive with exceptional talent in recruitment. What financial impact would your talent have on a company? If you are the one who can bring in the best CEO or the most talented CFO, what financial impact does that have? It’s HUGE, right? It sets you apart from hundreds of other HR executives. 

Here’s another example, because I know this concept can feel a bit daunting. This time let’s say you’re a software developer. Your technical skills are exceptional. But what sets you apart and adds a ton of value is your ability to break down the tech. In other words you can take complex information and simplify it. This talent is going to help the sales teams sell the software. It means you’re able to help the team generate revenue. And that adds value.

Step 2. Target organizations and industries who will value this contribution the most

Your value proposition has the power to make you a leader in your industry. Even if you aren’t looking for a new role, you want the world to know your value. Because if no one knows you add this value, what’s the point? 

Consider what companies would most appreciate the value you bring? What industries would value it?  Begin building your professional network and become known within these organizations. 

Join groups, connect on LinkedIn, and subscribe to newsletters in the field. 

You’re building your brand as you showcase your personal value proposition. 

Step 3. Decide what you want to do with this ‘value’

Are you looking for a new position? Do you want to build influence in your industry? Or maybe you want a raise. 

Once you determine what you want this value to do for you, you’ll need to communicate it clearly to the right people.  

If it’s a job you’re looking for, you’ll need to articulate how this value ties to the position. You can’t assume an employer will know, you have to show them. Spell it out on your resume, in your cover letter and on your interview. 

If it’s to build influence or become a thought leader, you still have to articulate your value. You do this using your LinkedIn profile and other professional publications. 

Consider writing articles that talk about your expertise and the value it adds to the world. Or get yourself booked on a podcast. You could share your expertise with other thought leaders.

Targeting in this way accomplishes two things. It communicates your value clearly. And it positions you as a thought leader in your industry. Win. 

Step 4. Create a “Yay Me” file 

This is how you’ll prove that you do bring this value. Any time you have a win, document it. You’ll be able to pull from this list when interviewing for a new position. Or even when negotiating your next pay increase. 

This is where you’ll pull your quantifiable results for your resume. It’s where you’ll grab information before you write your next article or post or speak at your next event. In other words, it’s the  quantifiable proof of your value.

Building your personal value proposition is the heart of your career strategy. Make sure it stands out. The way you do! 

You’ve got this!

Want help crafting your personal value proposition?

If you’re stuck with uncovering the details and then crafting your personal value proposition, or if you’re looking to develop your career, reach out for career coaching. This will ensure you can start taking control of your career – and stop letting your career control YOU.

Looking for a career transition or to create a bigger impact in your current career? Speaker and coach Cynthia Corsetti can guide you in Executive Leadership, Career Transition and Interview Skills. Connect with her on Instagram, LinkedIn. and Facebook