You’ll often hear people in business ask, “So what’s our value proposition?”

Value proposition is defined as “a collection of tangible and intangible things your product or service offers.” So what they’re really asking is, “What does this mean for our customer? Why would someone want to buy this? What are the benefits?”

The tangible elements of a value proposition are the product’s features, while the intangible elements are what it enables or how it makes the customer feel.

If you were writing a value proposition for a new hybrid car, for example, the tangible elements would focus around fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, price, etc. The intangibles would be the more emotional benefits, such as how fun it is to drive while helping to protect the environment.

Did you know that people can have value propositions as well?

Consider this question before your next job interview — What’s your value proposition? What are the tangible reasons someone should hire you, such as your knowledge, skills or experience?  What are the intangible benefits you bring to the table, like creative problem solving, a great attitude or your dedication?

The best value propositions always include both the tangible and the intangible benefits.  And the candidate with the best value proposition gets hired. Make sure you’ve thought about both aspects and you’ll really shine during the interview!