I mean, it's downright rare. Is it that people are too self-absorbed to realize what works, and what doesn't, and why? I'm referring here specifically to the idea that the entire job search, from the very beginning until you plant your fanny in the chair at your new job, is SALES. Just SALES. Nothing but SALES.
Think about it. When you're looking for a job, you're hoping that someone is going to give you money. For what? For doing something...for them. Would you give money to someone -- I'm not talking about charities, now -- and expect nothing in return? I sincerely doubt it. You'd expect something for your money. Why, then, do so many people just entering the job market simply assume that the job search is all about the them, job seeker? It's most definitely NOT. It's about the potential employer, the ones who are paying the salary...it's about THEM and THEIR NEEDS, not you or your needs.
They're the ones with the money. They're the ones who, if you're offered and accept the position, will be paid by them. For what? For doing what they hired you to do. What could be simpler? Yet time after time, I speak to intelligent and articulate people who think that all they need to do to get a job is respond to a posting, send in a (frequently poorly-written) resume, and assume that the recruiter will be rushing to call them in for an interview.
Let's talk about SALES. Really excellent salespeople know their products and services cold. There isn't a question that they can't field. There's a real art to sales, and it consists, if you're the salesperson, of 1) you understanding what the buyer wants/needs; 2) knowing what you have that satisfies the buyer's wants/needs; and 3) being able to illustrate how you have provided previous buyers with those same solutions to their wants/needs, so that you can prove to the current buyer can see how you can help him...because if you've done it successfully before, you can do it just as successfully (if not more successfully) again.
Simple, yes? Then why do so many people not realize what the relationship is between job seeker and company, employee and employer? As the saying goes, this is not rocket science!!
If you're starting out in your career, be certain to:
- Know what your strengths are. These are the benefits that you are "selling" to potential employers.
- Learn what your strengths are by examining your past accomplishments. Whether they're school-related, internship-related, job-related, or having to do with some personal situation in your past that you were able to work out successfully, what you're proudest of having achieved contains clear examples of your strengths. Did you teach yourself to ride a bike when you were 10, to avoid the ridicule of having to ride around on a bike with training wheels? What did you do? How did you teach yourself? How long did it take? These things demonstrate your problem solving skills, your creativity, your strategic abilities, your perseverance, your determination. Your STRENGTHS.
- Identify at least 4 school, internship or work-related accomplishments, each of which should clearly illustrate a different strength. Readers and listeners don't remember unadorned statements; they DO remember STORIES, which is what your accomplishments are. These will appear on your resume, and you will be speaking about them on your interviews. KNOW THEM COLD...when, where, why, how, how much, who and what were involved and, most importantly, WHAT WAS THE RESULT?
In the job search, you're the salesperson who's selling YOU. Get ready now for the future search...because it's not a question of whether you'll someday be in the job search...it's a matter of how SOON it will be!!
Paula Cohen, Career Charisma
careercharisma@gmail.com
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