Let’s face it. Most of us are not natural born salespeople. We generally prefer to go about our business and hope that others will automatically recognize our greatness. Unfortunately, it usually doesn’t work out that way.           

In order to land that perfect job or win that prized promotion, you must persuade others that you are the answer! You need to become an effective salesperson of… YOU!

 The good news is that is that marketing yourself is a learned skill. So if you feel a little inexperienced (or uncomfortable) about putting yourself out there, here are some pointers to help you get started:  

·      Make a list of all of your strengths, qualifications, experiences, and accomplishments

·      Consider why they would be valuable to an employer 

·      Identify some personal stories that convey your attitude, unique achievements, and commitment to excellence

·      Be prepared to convincingly answer questions such as:

o   What value can you bring to the table?

o   What are your strengths and weaknesses?

o   Why should we hire you?

o   What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishments and personal attributes?

o   What motivates you?

o   What are you passionate about?

o   What are your most significant professional qualifications?

o   What’s the most difficult challenge you ever faced, and how did you deal with it?

·      Understand what the employer is looking for (qualifications, etc.). Consider how your assets address their needs. Think of yourself as the solution to their problem.

·      Build a compelling resume that highlights your strongest accomplishments and competitive advantages

·      Network with as many people as you can to receive endorsements and inside connections http://dennistrittin.com/view_blog.aspx?blog_id=139

·      During interviews, be personable, confident but not arrogant, look your interviewer(s) in the eye, repeat their name(s), shake their hands firmly, listen intently, come prepared with questions, show an interest in their company and the job, ask for a business card, promptly send a handwritten thank you note, exhibit confident body language, be yourself, and smile. That’s all!

If you’re able to do the above, you can become successful at marketing yourself. Your ability to answer why you are  the best person for the job is essential and not at all a sign of arrogance!

If someone asked you why you’re the best person for a job, would you be able to answer it with confidence, conviction, and humility? Please share your insights and experiences with us; we’d love to hear your comments below! And share us on your FB page or Twitter feed; we hope you’ll pass this along to your friends, family, and colleagues.

When we compete at an early age, the stakes usually aren’t that high. Whether it was a pick-up game or a spelling bee, our world didn’t end if we lost. However, as we age, the stakes become greater. It becomes getting into the school of your choice, or landing your dream job where you have to out-compete a worthy list of candidates.

 Like it or not, you’ll face many important competitive tests in life. Often, you’ll find these situations associated with your career. For this reason, it’s essential that you develop your distinctive advantages along the way. The more skilled you are at doing this, the more likely you are to win the job or that special promotion.

Our world is much more competitive than ever before. Gone is the day when our U.S. economy was built on manufacturing and manual labor with jobs that didn’t require a college education. In those days, workers were paid by the hour and there was little differentiation in wages. Our economy has become more service-oriented and knowledge-based, which has changed everything. Now, you have to demonstrate something special (i.e, skills, experiences, and achievements) in order to land the job and advance in your career. Together, these make up your competitive edge, and should include:

•  developing both skill-based and attitude-based competitive advantages. Together, they’re a powerful combination.
•  considering what would stand out about you to future employers during your eventual job search
• going the extra mile to become better qualified through experiences and continuing education
• taking every opportunity you can in these next several years to work, intern, and network. It’ll help separate you from the crowd.
•  if lacking a skill or a professional qualification, attacking it with full force
• demonstrating an attitude of continuous improvement and a commitment to excellence
• showing results and impact. Create great personal stories that will inspire employers. If you don’t, remember that someone else will—and they’ll wind up with your job or promotion!

You’ll gain two significant benefits from building your competitive edge. First, you’ll expand your skill set and become more marketable, promotable, and valuable. Second, it will show employers that you’re passionate about your work and are driven to perform. Give an employer a great skill set and a winning attitude, and you’ll be a success story in the making!

Help the young adults you know to evaluate: As you assess your skill set and experiences, what do you consider to be your greatest competitive strengths? What are your weaknesses? How can you maximize those strengths and strengthen the weaknesses?