You Have to be Able to Sell Yourself

When you are on the hunt for a job, it is important to sell yourself to a potential employer. You can't get anywhere without making yourself sound like a good catch for the company you are applying to. Following a few simple tips enables you to capture their attention, make a great first impression and separate yourself from the other candidates.

Selling yourself to a potential employer can be done in numerous ways. It is best that you don't come off as pretentious but as self-assured, enthusiastic and confident with your talent, skill sets, knowledge and experience. Your first impression needs to be one that lets you truly shine. Perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of selling yourself is being able to differentiate who you really are and what you are really capable of rather than who you aspire to be. It is never in your best interest to lie, so make sure that you are completely honest with your experience and education and sell yourself based on your true skills and capabilities.

Assure that you are as specific as possible. For example, you might have gone to college and earned a degree, but if you passed with flying colors, make sure you make mention of how great your grades were. If you made the Dean's List or have earned any specific certificates or awards, bring this to the hiring manager's attention.

Stress how you feel you would be a great fit for the company and what skills sets you would bring to the position. Make it known that you are fully capable of handling the position, and give examples from your past experiences of areas where you have excelled.

Make sure that you are prepared to talk about your resume. That is the go-to for all employers when they conduct an interview. Read your resume many times so that you are very familiar with it and can answer any questions the hiring manager may have.

Prior to your interview, connect with others that may work for the potential employer. Make connections and ask questions, but always conduct yourself in a professional manner. This allows you to gain an upper hand and is a great way of selling yourself, as others at the job already like you.

Remain positive during the interview, and try not to stumble over your words. Be clear, direct, and optimistic, and dress professionally. The more confident you feel coming into the interview, the more likely you are to ace the interview and the more successful you are at selling yourself.

Being on top of your game and prepared for selling yourself at the interview is one of the sure-fire ways to get hired. Coming into any interview unsure and ill-prepared isn't wise for anyone. The only way to assure a job position is by selling yourself.

Photo courtesy of Chris Clogg at Flickr.com