Interviews and the Four P's

The four P's of marketing, also known as the marketing mix, can not only be used for marketing products, but people as well. When a person walks into a job interview with resume and letters in hand they are "selling" themselves. They are advertising their best qualities in hopes that the customer, or manager in this case is persuaded that they are the best thing available.Using the four P's of marketing is a fantastic way of thinking in regards to interviews.

Product: You are the product. Products can be goods, services, or ideas. You are all three. Companies produce products in hopes that they will address customers' needs and wants. There isn't a huge difference in the hiring process. Most managers are looking for an employee that will fit the needs of their company. Know how your style and best qualities fit in with the company before applying for the job. If you can display yourself in a way that fits all of a company's needs you are more likely to get the job.

Place: A company needs to know their target market and be able to reach them when setting up shop. The same goes for an employee. If you live three or four hours away and are unwilling to make the commute, maybe this job isn't for you. On the other hand, if you are willing to pick up and move wherever the company needs you make sure you highlight that fact. Your flexibility in this area may be seen as a great asset to a company.

Promotion: This is the big one. Large successful companies aren't hiding behind their competition or putting out insignificant advertisements, and neither should you. Your resume is a great tool in promoting yourself, but the words on the page need to line up with the words coming from your lips. So put yourself out there, sell yourself, and make them take notice. I'm not saying be loud and obnoxious, but going into an interview with confidence can have a huge impact. Educate your interviewer and don't be afraid to show off a bit... you are on display!

Price: Price for a customer is one of the most important aspects of selling a product. Customers want quality items for discounted prices. The hiring world isn't much different. Employers want competent employees who aren't going to be greedy. Don't push your limits. As a fresh graduate out of college you may have to be on the lower end of the salary scale for a while, but we all have to start somewhere.

How many people in your life started off right at the top? I bet not too many. The four P's can help you get into an organization and from there the opportunities are limitless.

Marketing, Advertising, and Propaganda

Advertising and propaganda are both under marketing's larger canopy. Marketing is a tactic in which a company not only wants to create a relationship with customers, but the company wants it to be a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship. Marketing not only helps sell products, but it helps to create products by focusing on not only what the customer wants, but what the customer needs. 

Advertising is a tool that is used to draw the customer to the product. It doesn't necessarily produce life long customers, but it is a beneficial and necessary step for businesses to succeed in marketing. Customers need to see your product and be convinced that the benefits are going to out weigh the cost. One example of an advertisement drawing customers are hair commercials and advertisements. These commercials show beautiful women with gorgeous silky hair and they inspire customers to buy and test the product. However, just because customers bought the product based on an advertisement does not mean they are committed to the product or the company. 

Propaganda is using information or ideas to either sell an idea or product, but at the cost of another person or organization. Propaganda is mostly thought of as a very negative idea in our society, but isn't always dealt with. The most obvious example I have seen of propaganda is in political campaigns. Candidates often time use information, supposedly gathered by legitimate sources, to bash and bring down their opponents. These candidates are in essence using negativity to build themselves up and sell themselves.  

Where is the line between advertising and propaganda? Which organizations do you think have crossed the line in a major way?