In developing one's career, it helps to look at oneself as a product -- a high-quality, functional and affordable product. Since every product, no matter how good it is, requires proper marketing strategies and programs for successful commercialization, then it is advantageous to learn about basic marketing concepts and apply them to one's career.

Marketing consists of 5 key interrelated concepts: target market, product, pricing, promotion and place (or distribution).

TARGET MARKET

First, you have to decide who you are serving. Who is the employer you wish to serve? A proper description should include details about the targeted industry, the size of the company, the products or services it offers, etc.

PRODUCT

Next, you have to package your human capital (education, experience, skills, energy, motivation, etc.) into a solution that will be wanted by employers. If the description of your solution or product is sharp and precise, then it will be easier to promote it. A good example of a sharp definition is "a telecom project manager." A not so good definition would be "a marketing professional."

PRICE

Price here refers to your salary requirements, but could also include resources and equipment that you need from an employer to do a good job. Obviously, a free agent requires from an employer fewer resources and equipment than an on-site, permanent employee.

PROMOTION

Today, there are more opportunities than ever to promote oneself as a value-adding professional. Linkedin is just one example of a socioprofessional networking site where one can connect with potentially 14 million other professionals and managers. The key is to communicate a clear description of who you are and what you are capable of doing.

PLACE

Place refers to the ways in which you deliver value to employers and clients. In many professions, it is possible to work from home since an employee can send via Internet his work and can use communications technologies (cell phones, Blackberry, Skype, etc.) to be in constant touch with coworkers, collaborators and clients.

The above 5 marketing concepts, if understood and applied diligently to your career, can help you to proactively and strategically manage your professional value. Specifically, it allows you to focus on an area that needs improvement, so that you become a complete solution that can be communicated clearly to employers.

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