Many entrepreneurial types harbour a desire to one day be business owners. The truth is we are all already running our own businesses in the form of our careers. If you can look upon yourself as a company with a product or service to sell and apply a few simple business rules, success in your career should follow.

Businesses have to work hard to win new clients. In trying to do so, they are evaluated against many different criteria. Good business owners, therefore, spend considerable time developing a plan before going to market.

Evaluate your attractiveness to employers by answering each of the below questions. Then develop your attractiveness to employers by re-visiting the questions a week later.

1. How well do you understand your market? (Consider why companies are recruiting, what skills are in demand, where you fit best, how companies you could work for differ)
2. Have you developed a polished marketing campaign? (Consider your CV, cover letters, approach to recruitment consultants, time spent networking)
3. What benefits can you offer employers? (Adopt a customer-focussed approach to presenting your skills, achievements and qualifications...knowing companies hire employees who offer them the best results and the best value for money)
4. Are your skills marketable and up-to-date? (Review multiple job adverts, check the language, find and talk to contacts in similar jobs, understand what is in demand)
5. Can you provide evidence of a track record of success? (In business, testimonials are important; similarly, employers want to see evidence in your CV of specific, measurable achievements)
6. What are your unique selling points? (Businesses win new customers by developing USPs. Give yourself an advantage; analyse what other employees in your field offer. You must strive to differentiate yourself by offering something extra)
7. What are your short, medium and long-term goals? (Can you define and prioritise, how realistic are they, what time-frames apply)
8. What is your product development plan? (what skills are you trying to develop, are you aware of gaps)
9. How effective is your sales pitch? (Learn about interview techniques, test your presentation skills on a friend, read about body language, take time to practice tests)
10. When did you last have an appraisal or independent assessment? (Assess yourself objectively and enlist the help of a friend to help you evaluate your proposition)

By adopting a planned and proactive approach, you will maximise your chances of achieving your career goals.
Unsuccessful businesses don’t plan to fail – they fail to plan.