Selling You. It's Not As Hard As You Think.

What’s the common link between McDonald's, Wendy’s, Staples, you and me?  We are all products!

We all know what those other places are, and we are clear on what they sell.  But what about you as the product?  How would you sell you to others?  

Many of us have been in a sales position at one time or another, selling clothing, shoes, toys or even food.  We've all had the chance to sell something.  But when was the last time you thought of you as the actual product?  

To sell anything, would you agree that you need to know the product?  It would be pretty hard to sell something you knew nothing or very little about, wouldn't it?  My next question is how well do you know yourself? What you excel in and more importantly what you have to offer another company.

When in an interview, when asked tell me about yourself, most people come up with, “I'm hard working, honest, reliable and dependable.”  But let’s face it. If you were all of those things, a company would pay you not to leave.  Let’s break it down and get real in your preparation of selling you.

Three steps to get you started

1. Be prepared!  Once you put together your pitch or commercial rehearse it!  It should be about 15 seconds and should accurately state what skills and talents you bring to the table.  Your goal is to grab the interviewer's attention so that they want to hear more about you and what you can do. Rehearse it so that the words flow from your lips and are engaging and appealing to the person you are talking to.

2. Know your skills, accomplishments and talents. Don’t over exaggerate what you can do or have done in past jobs.  Be honest and look the interviewer in the eye.

3. Remember when you’re speaking, slow down.  This commercial is to sell you  - and to do this effectively, you need to speak slowly so you will be understood, speak clearly so you can be heard, and be confident in your ability to project you accurately.

The funny thing about personal commercials, is that you can have multiple ones for various occasions.  You can have one for interviews and another if you’re trying to meet someone to build a relationship and even one when you’re meeting your kids teachers.

Your commercial and its contents may change, but the product is the same.  It’s YOU!

Knowing how to package your product and sell it, can make all the difference in the world.