Identifying Your Professional Niche

5 strategies that helped me find a niche as a trainer / facilitator, and feel excited investing time and energy into it. First, I rejected the idea of niching. Then, when I understood why, I found it hard to decide. 12 years running my Learning and Development consultancy, I’ve pivoted three times. Sometimes by accident. But eventually, with more intentionality and a more robust way of making decisions. Here are a few things I’ve found helpful 📝 List out your opportunities • Jot down the problems you solve • Who has the problem (avatar) • Ask yourself how this problem impacts the avatar If you solve multiple problems for the same avatar, list them out separately and/or find an overarching problem they fit into. 🧮 Analyse each opportunity • How severe is the impact on the avatar? • How easily can you find the avatar? • Can the avatar pay? (or is there a way to access funds with/for them as part of your service?) Bonus question: If you want to invest time and energy in developing an offer... Do you like the avatar? 🕵🏻♂️ Do some competitor analysis • Who else is serving the avatar or solving that problem? • How do they position themselves, and at what price points? (if you can find out) • What might be missing? Be mindful of imposter syndrome when you’re here. The idea is to get the lay of the land to offer something different. 🎯 Prioritise opportunity • Compare the pros and cons of each opportunity • Rate and weight your responses to the ‘analyse each opportunity’ questions • Make a list of things you love doing, things you like doing, and things you can do but don’t do any more This filtering and prioritisation process is both an art and a science. If you are really struggling, speak to a friend, coach, mentor etc. 🌊 Remember, niching is not forever • Finding a niche opportunity doesn't mean you have to pigeonhole yourself • You can always change niche • BUT the skills I’ve developed serving each niche compounded every time I pivoted Without an unlimited marketing budget or time, picking a niche opportunity is about starting somewhere. And take it from there. What else have you done to find an exciting niche opportunity to work on? #WorkshopBusinessBuilder #BusinessDevelopment #Facilitation #LearningAndDevelopment #TrainingAndDevelopment

"Find your passion," they said. "The money will follow." Great in theory. Nightmare in practice. Choosing a niche felt like trying to pick a favorite child - impossible and slightly guilt-inducing. But here's the truth: The perfect niche isn't found. It's created. Here's my 5-step method to craft your ideal niche: 1. Intersect your skills and passions: - List your top 3 skills - Jot down 3 things you can't stop talking about - Look for overlaps 2. Identify market demand: - Research trending topics in your areas of interest. - Use keyword tools to gauge search volume. - Check if people are willing to pay for solutions. 3. Analyze competition: - Study successful creators in potential niches. - Look for gaps in their content. - Ask yourself: "What unique angle can I bring?" 4. Test the waters: - Create sample content in 2-3 potential niches. - Share with a small audience or focus group. - Pay attention to engagement and feedback. 5. Commit, but stay flexible: - Choose the niche that feels most promising. - Give it your full attention for at least 3 months. - Be open to pivoting if it's not working. Remember: ~ Your niche can evolve. ~ Specificity is your friend. ~ Passion without market demand is just a hobby. The sweet spot? Where your expertise meets audience needs and your enthusiasm. Don't wait for the perfect niche to appear. Start creating, keep refining, and your niche will find you. What unexpected combination of interests could become your unique niche? #linkedingrowth #linkedinforcreators

Your Personal Brand is Your Career Story: Write It Well Early in my journey as a career coach, I worked with someone who had the skills and experience but felt invisible in the job market. We quickly realized that the issue wasn’t just about qualifications—it was about how they were presenting themselves. We started by focusing on a simple but powerful idea: *What story does your career tell?* It wasn’t just about listing jobs or achievements; it was about showcasing the unique value they brought to every role. This meant highlighting their passion, problem-solving skills, and resilience. With some thoughtful changes, everything started to click. Their resume, LinkedIn profile, and even their conversations began to reflect a consistent and authentic personal brand. Suddenly, they weren’t just another candidate—they were someone with a clear story. The moral of the story? ✨ Your career isn’t just a series of job titles; it’s a narrative that only you can tell. Make sure it reflects who you are and what you stand for. ✨ Ensure your personal brand is consistent across all platforms—resume, LinkedIn, and in person. This builds trust and makes your brand memorable. ✨ Don’t try to be someone you’re not. Your personal brand should reflect the real you—your strengths, passions, and even your quirks. ✨ Your personal brand isn’t fixed. As you grow in your career, let your brand evolve with you. I’ve seen how a well-crafted personal brand can open doors and create opportunities. Remember, you’re the author of your career story. Write it well. 📌 What steps will you take today to start shaping your personal brand?

Do you struggle with this interview conversation starter:  🎤 "So, Tell Me About Yourself." In my experience leading executive searches, rambling is one of the danger zones candidates enter at the beginning of a conversation because they haven’t prepared to answer this typical starter question. This can be particularly difficult to answer when you have twenty or thirty years of experience to explain! And how about those twists and turns versus a career with a straight line? Can you relate? ✋ I’ve honed a framework to help people tease out the relevant themes and patterns of their career so they can communicate what I call their career “throughline.” These themes and patterns define your professional journey, help you understand how to answer “Tell me about yourself,” and help your listener gain comfort with you and “get you” immediately. Doing this important preparation takes time, but it makes all the difference. Here’s how to uncover and articulate your unique value proposition: 🎈 Step 1: Collect your work history (resumes, LinkedIn profile information, past performance reviews, awards, recognitions, and testimonials) in one place. 🎈 Step 2: Reflect on your career journey. Ask yourself how your upbringing, early life, and educational choices influenced your professional direction. Then ask yourself, what motivated your career transitions? Were there recurring reasons for moving on? These insights can reveal your career's underlying themes and help you create your narrative. 🎈 Step 3: Organize key points to create your “throughline.” I recommend just one or two ideas for your early career and a few more for your mid-career. For executives, most of what you will explain is your “recent work” in the last five years or so because this is what will likely be most relevant to your job search now. Organizing your career story with this framework will help you confidently answer the "Tell me about yourself" question and highlight the unique value you bring to the table. Like many candidates I have interviewed, you may struggle to answer this question. This is why I built a framework to coach them to develop their unique value proposition (UVP) and get to the heart of their story immediately. ❓ So I ask – what is your career “throughline?” #jobs #careers #management

Have you ever felt like you're stuck on the mid-career plateau? Those promotions you've been eyeing seem just out of reach, and opportunities keep passing you by. It's a frustrating place to be, but let me assure you, you're not alone. Many mid-career professionals are navigating the sometimes treacherous waters of corporate life. But here's the good news: there's a way to get out of it through personal branding. Picture yourself as the CEO of "You Inc." In today's interconnected world, your professional reputation precedes you. A robust personal brand paints you as a thought leader, a go-to expert, and an invaluable asset in your industry. It's what gets you noticed by recruiters, future employers, and potential clients alike. But how do you craft a personal brand that truly sets you apart from the crowd? Here are two actionable steps to get you started: 1️⃣ Unearth Your "Why" and "What": Your brand story begins with a deep dive into your unique strengths and experiences. What challenges do you tackle head-on? What solutions do you offer? Identifying your value proposition is like unleashing a superpower – it's what makes you indispensable in your field. 2️⃣ Embrace Your Online Presence: LinkedIn isn't just a platform; it's your digital storefront. Craft a profile that exudes expertise and impact, sprinkled with keywords relevant to your industry. Share success stories that pack a punch with quantifiable results, and dive into meaningful conversations within industry circles. And don't stop at LinkedIn – consider contributing to industry publications or starting your own niche blog to further solidify your authority. Remember, personal branding is a journey, not a destination. Consistency is key – stay engaged, create valuable content, and network strategically to build a robust online presence that opens doors to new opportunities. Drop a comment below and share your biggest challenge in building your professional narrative! #careerdevelopment #personalbranding #leadership #midcareerprofessionals

I used to think "choosing a niche" would trap me. But it set me free instead. Here's how: Most people fear getting stuck solving one problem forever. I get it. I worried narrowing my focus would limit my potential. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱: ❌ Starting specific doesn’t restrict your growth. ✅ Starting specific creates your growth. You just need a strategy. You've probably heard: "Don't worry about finding a niche—you ARE the niche." It’s powerful in theory... but here’s the challenge: ↳ How do you actually become the niche? ↳ How do you create content that helps real people? ↳ How do you build a business around who you are? This is where 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 creators get stuck. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗜 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵: You become the niche by creating your Niche of One. Then, you're free to evolve your Niche of One over time. Ever read the book Crossing the Chasm? It taught me to think of this strategy like bowling: - You can't knock down every pin individually  - You need to hit ONE pin perfectly - That first impact builds momentum To 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘮 between your early success & sustainable growth: 1. Channel your identity into solving ONE specific problem 2. Apply your diverse passions to creating ONE unique solution 3. Create content that speaks to that need while staying true to who you are This is 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 how I'm building Nicheology: ↳ First problem: "find your niche" ↳ Master this ONE problem completely ↳ Build momentum through real results Then, from this foundation? I'm expanding into helping creators monetize their Niche of One—but with my unique approach. This isn't random. It's evolution. Who knows what I'll evolve into after that! 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵? • Your first niche isn't a prison—it's a starting point • Starting specific isn't limiting—it's liberating • Your diverse interests aren't wasted—they're applied to each solution ❌ You don't have to carve your future in stone. ✅ You can grow with curiosity, learn new things, and build on each success. What's one specific problem you're ready to own today? Let's chat! — Hey, I'm Cait ✌️ • I believe creators deserve better than shallow "find your niche" advice. • I'm obsessed with helping new creators not just find, but create their Niche of One. p.s. If you found this helpful leave a comment!

Teaching ESL online is an incredible opportunity to create a full-time income doing something you love, from anywhere in the world 🌍 BUT... With so many English coaches out there, how do you make yourself stand out? Look, I'm not saying this is the only way, but here's what worked for me ⬇️ 1️⃣ Find a niche that has a need for your service, the financial means to pay you what you want to earn, and that you feel passionate about helping. Then craft an offer that solves their biggest English challenges. I found my niche in Brazilian professionals working in Ireland ☘️ My offer was a 10-week program that levelled up their confidence, job interview performance and email writing. 2️⃣ Learn how to quickly locate and connect with these people. I used Sales Navigator, but with most niches, you can do this easily for free. LinkedIn allows you to filter by location, language, and profession, making it easy to pinpoint your ideal audience. Don't start selling yet! Emphasise providing value in your initial message 🎁 3️⃣ Create a LinkedIn profile that speaks directly to your niche. Demonstrate you understand their challenges and goals, and talk about how your solution is tailor-made to help them reach them. Try to avoid generic goals like 'more vocab'. Focus on the stuff that really matters, like helping them crush their next job interview or ace their IELTS exam. 4️⃣ Share content: 4 posts a week if you can. Your first 3 posts should share actionable tips for your niche. The aim is for them to spend just 1-2 minutes consuming your content and then walk away with something valuable that moves them closer to their goals. In your 4th post, talk about a client you've helped. Mention the challenges they had before working with you, And share specific results you know other members of your niche care about. If you've got one, attach a testimonial. No need to be a Canva Picasso. Raw, unedited screenshots beat fancy graphic design every time. My top-performing post for my teaching business was a simple WhatsApp voice note from a thrilled client telling me she performed great in her interview and got the job 📱 5️⃣ Learn how to talk to your prospects in DMs, so you can quickly identify the ones who are a good fit for your program and set up calls with them. Asking the right questions is key here. Every message you send should be short and as easy as possible to respond to. No essays or chunky paragraphs. And no unsolicited sales pitches. 6️⃣ Get comfortable communicating the value you bring to the table during your calls. Remember, sales is about communication, not manipulation. Listen carefully, and only make an offer to the prospects you're confident you can help. One more thing... If you need a helping hand, I'll leave some free resources for you in the comments 🤝 Have a great Thursday! Robbie :) _____ 🚀 I share practical tips to help talented teachers have more impact and income | Robbie Kane 🔔 #esl #tefl #english

Here's a game-changing piece of job search advice: Prove to organizations how you can add value. Your mission is to show potential employers exactly why they need you. Job searching can be daunting, especially in today's competitive market. Standing out and easing employer doubts about your fit for the job is crucial. Inspired by Josh Cohen and Christine Moorman, I've found a powerful strategy that I want to share with you: identify the organization's Job To Be Done (JTBD). Think of yourself as presenting a product on QVC - showcase how you can solve their JTBD. Start by using your network and conversations to understand their goals, challenges, and what they aim to achieve in the coming year. Example: I recently navigated a competitive recruiting process with a top organization. Despite being up against candidates with backgrounds I lacked, I didn't let me hold that back. Instead, I focused on adding value. Knowing this organization wanted to connect with energy and climate tech companies, I created industry snapshots for three key sectors. I identified a growing set of relevant companies and provided contact information for their CFOs. I offered to connect them with relevant colleagues in my network. Result: By demonstrating my understanding of their JTBD and showing my capability to add value, I reduced their doubts about my fit for the role. I advanced through the interview process, consistently asking, "How can I help you do your job better?" Does this approach resonate with you? Let me know if this framework and way of solving problems to demonstrate value makes sense and is helpful! #jobsearch #careeradvice #networking #careerdevelopment #interviewtips #valueproposition

You don’t get hired for effort. You get hired for value... So many people spend countless hours taking courses, acquiring new skills - only to face rejection after rejection. During your job search, it’s easy to think you need a whole new set of skills to meet every requirement. But that’s not the case. The first skill you need is the ability to explain why your current skills are valuable—𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄. If you can’t explain the value of what you already know, no amount of new skills or degrees will help. The candidates that get hired aren't the most educated or most experienced... The ones that get hired are the best at positioning their existing skills in the most compelling way. Here’s the good news: If you can identify your skills and communicate them effectively, you can do anything. So, instead of chasing more certifications, try this: 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 (𝗣𝗩𝗦) 👇 1. Introduction: A clear overview of your experience and core expertise. 2. Your Why: Your motivation and passion for your field or target role. 3. Achievements: 2–3 concrete accomplishments that showcase your value. 4. Closing Statement: A strong statement about your ability to deliver results. Then, put it together into an impactful statement (𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 - it's too long to include here). You highlight your value. And you speak with confidence. One of our clients put it to the test “I had a recruiter call today for a $250K OTE AE role. I used the PVS and it worked perfectly.” The Personal Value Summary works because it shifts the focus from what you’ve done… …to why it matters. Give it a try. It’s a game-changer for your career. 💪

“Where do I even find students?” 🤯 If you’re an online tutor, you’ve asked this. I’ve been tutoring online for 15 years. And this is always the #1 question. Here’s the truth: 👉 You don’t need everyone. You need the right students. Start here ⬇️ 🎯 Pick your niche. Not “I tutor everything.” Be the go-to for one thing—like high school algebra or early reading. That’s how referrals happen. 🌍 Go where your clients are. Target parents if you help little ones. Focus on students if they’re older. Ask: Where do they spend time? Online? In real life? 📍Local tips: Flyers at jump parks or gas stations (yes, really!). Just get permission first. 💻 Don’t skip this: Build a simple website. Set up your Google Business Profile. Let people find you when they search “tutor near me.” You don’t need 50 strategies. But if you want them… 📩 I’ve got a list of 50+ ways to find students. https://lnkd.in/gqsxYgm7 ✨ You can grow your tutoring biz. It starts with focus. P.S. What’s your tutoring niche right now? Let’s hear it 👇