5 ways to sell yourself effectively

23rd July 2012

By Bev James.

Whether you are looking for a new career opportunity, a promotion or trying to break into a new industry, your personal attitude and actions will be vital in creating a good impression.

In the case of interviews for a job, when times are competitive, you need to remain consistently alluring to employees and know how to impress. Here are 5 tips that can help you sell yourself effectively without stumbling over commonly-made mistakes.

1. Know your worth.

Being able to evaluate your own strengths and weaknesses objectively can be a tough job but you need to be realistic to successfully sell yourself.

Let’s say you are shopping for a new washing machine and you head to an electrics store to make a purchase. If the shop assistant can’t give you a detailed summary of the machine’s capabilities and features, then how can you know which model is best for you? It’s exactly the same in a hiring situation. If you can’t voice accurately what your best features and skills are, you will lose your chance at securing the job.

2. Practice common questions.

Doing your research reflects well on your first impressions. It ensures you are able to talk confidently about the market.

For example, one particularly common question is ‘why do you think you’d be a good candidate for the position?’ – It’s easy to list your skills and leave it at that, but if you’ve done adequate research, you can be more specific. Perhaps you will know which areas in their company they are looking to develop. Is this an area your expertise fits in? Maybe you have read new data regarding this market and have some suggestions from experience on changing working methods.

By doing your homework, you are far better equipped to answer questions in a way that shows off both your skills and interest in the role.

3. Always be yourself.

It is never a good idea to lie on our CV, no matter how tempting it might be. You will always be caught out.

If you manage to cheat your way through an interview thanks to a falsified CV, chances are you will forever have to be on your toes to cover up a lie, and it’s not worth the hassle.

Employers know their industry inside and out and will know when you aren’t being sincere. If you feel like you haven’t got as much experience or qualifications as you think they are expecting, play on your other strengths and give an example of how you are able to better yourself instead. What they want is an adaptable employee, not a liar.

4. Market yourself.

In sales, products are marketed to enhance their visibility and increase units sold. Think of yourself as a product in the same way. Make efforts to ensure others will see you in a positive way and consider you for jobs. This could be on social media or through a networking event. Your CV will be the first thing a potential employee will know about you, but point them in the direction where they can find out more, and you will stand out amongst the crowd, particularly if you are already engaging in their industry.

5. Sell yourself through questions

In an interview situation, there will be opportunities to ask questions. Never neglect this opportunity. By asking questions, you automatically show your enthusiasm for the role and company.

If you don’t have any questions regarding job details, why not get more information about the company? They will be flattered that you’ve asked and you can show that you see a future at the business if you’ve asked questions about long term plans.

No questions can easily translate into ‘no interest’, so plan ahead, and pick some questions.

Bev James is MD of The Coaching Academy, a life coaching training school based in the UK.

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