Marketing Mix Strategies: The 4 P's

The Marketing Mix can be related to many different things in life especially when it comes to bussiness and the job market. The 4 P's of the Marketing Mix are product, place, price, and promotion. As we come to the end of our college careers we can now go out and put everything we learned in our college courses to use and look for a job. This is an exciting time in our lives but also a very competitive task.


While searching for jobs, handing out resumes, and going on interviews we have to think of yourself as the 'product'. You basically have to sell yourself and your skills to potential employers. Marketing your knowledge, work ethic, and professional behavior are essentials that you must 'sell' in a job interview.


The second part of the Marketing Mix Strategy is 'place'. This is also known as the 'distribution' variable. Location, coverage, transportation and costs all make up the 'distribution' variable. 'Place' is very important when making a job decision. Your potential place of work must be in a area that you are willing to work in. Some jobs you choose from may require you to relocate completely; this is a big decision and you must do a lot of research. If you have to relocate for your job you must look at your finances to see if the move is possible, make sure you will have proper transportation, and that the job you are choosing is worth uprooting your life for.


'Price' is the third part of the Marketing Mix. The 'price' variable is based upon decisions and actions associated with establishing pricing objectives, policies, and determining product prices. In the situation of youself as the product, the 'price' variable would be your salary. Job offers come with a set salary or wage that can usually be negotiated. Normally, you will have a salary in mind as the minimum that you are willing to be paid for doing the job, and the salary that you believe will make you the happiest. Hopefully, the job offer comes with a 'price' that satisfies you.


The forth and final part of the Marketing Mix Strategy is the 'promotion' variable. In the marketing world we think of promotion as advertising, publicity, and public relations. This can be easily related to oneself in the business setting. When you work at an organization for some time you will want to move up in the company and work to show management that you should be promoted. Just like you would do to market a materialistic product, you must advertise your skills and knowledge and maintain good relations with upper management and your coworkers.


Marketing is not only used for brands, products sold in stores, or for companies. All aspects of marketing can be related to you and your everyday life. The Marketing Mix is especially helpful when entering the job market. This can keep you focused during interviews and help you put your best characteristics forward.