How to sell yourself.

It seems the only way to get close to getting a job these days is if you have the ability to sell yourself. Professionals and graduates alike have to make themselves marketable and desirable. This idea of making yourself salable is a task that can be rather daunting for young graduates that have little experience of talking about themselves in such a ‘showy-offy’ sort of way. I have some tips, targetting those young and inexperienced undergrads, on how to sell yourself.

STEP 1 - Sales techniques

First thing’s first, you need to get to grips with some basic sales techniques. If you can sell products, then you should be able to make yourself the product and sell yourself!

Sales technique 1: Make yourself sound GREAT to the interviewer/manager. The only way of doing this well is by understanding what the organisation/role requires and what it wants. If you can understand what your customers need, then you can more successfully market yourself towards filling that need.

Sales technique 2: Sales is just as much about asking questions as it is providing solutions. This is your way of finding out what impression you are giving to the interviewer, and what their thoughts are.

“How do you see me fitting in with your organisation in 5 years time?”
“What are you looking for in the candidates and how do I compare?”

Sales technique 3: Use a lot of positive describing words that demonstrate passion and enthusiasm.

I can communicate well > I am a strong communicator

I am interested in this industry > I have a passion for this industry

I am a good team player > I love working in teams and with people

Sales technique 4: Build rapport. Generate a relationship with the interviewer, especially if you are interviewing with the manager. This person has to see that they are going to get along with you in the day to day working environment.

Sales technique 5: Close the sale. Make sure that you don’t leave the interview without asking the employer some questions about the next stages in the process. It shows that you are keen and looking forward.

“Do you have any reservations about me that would stop you from selecting me?”
“What are the next stages in the process?”
(And only if you are brave & have built up enough rapport) “When do I start?”

Step 2 - Practice selling

This step is for those that may feel uncomfortable talking about themselves. Start off with any item you can find in your room and sell it. Practice selling one item in your room every day and you will find that you will start to get better at it. Certain words and phrases can sometimes be recycled and used on other products. The flow of words will become smoother with less hesitation. Once you have done some practice on this, you should try and apply it to yourself. Look at yourself as one of the items in your room and just sell.

Step 3 - Research the company

Preparation is key for any assessment day or interview. If you have done your research, about the role especially, it will be easier for you to target the employer’s needs. The most important thing to look at, if you can find it, is the list of Core Competencies that the employer is looking for in prospective employees. Make sure you look at these very closely. An example of some core competencies: leadership ability, teamwork, relationship building etc. Once you have looked over these you can keep these fresh in the back of your mind during an assessment day. These core competencies are what the employers are looking for on the assessment day. Are you demonstrating team working ability? Leadership? Ambition? etc.

So, if you are handed a group task to complete you will know how to target it. If leadership is a core competency you should try to exert your influence on the other team members and direct the project. If team work is what they are looking for then you should show how great you are at working with people.

Conclusion

Think of it this way. Most of the greatest and most popular products out there are the result of a top-quality marketing campaign. Marketing works. Marketing makes you think that you need that product, and you think about how you’re going to use that product once you get it and how great it would fit in with your life. So make the employer think that you would fit in great with them.

Ok, so maybe its not as easy as it sounds. But if you have ever wondered how that lazy student that always comes to lectures late and never seems to stop partying got the job at (highly desirable firm) then this should provide you with the answer. Either they know someone on the inside, or they market themselves well.

Do you agree? If you have any thoughts on this leave a comment.