ShareThisDear Mr. Walberg:
In many of your Getting Hired columns, you compare job seeking to sales. I am not a salesperson; never have been; never will be; and don't even like to think about it! I never liked having to recite anything in front of my class in school, and am very withdrawn with people I don't know. If I'll never be a good salesperson, how can I find success in the job market? What can people like me do?
E-mail from C.W., location unknown
Dear C.W.:
When I was fresh out of college, I was required by my employer to take a Dale Carnegie course. I hated it at first, then my shell cracked and I ended up president of my class. I strongly recommend you look into opportunities in your area.
In the meantime, please think back to when you were trying to convince your parents or grandparents to buy you something you really wanted, like a bike, skates, a certain doll, or maybe a computerized game. You stayed in their face didn't you? You knew all about that item you wanted -- needed, in your mind. You could recite dozens of reasons that it would improve your life and even your parent's lives. That new bike would even help your grades in school jump up from C's to A's -- well, maybe! The bottom line is you developed thorough product knowledge, believed in it, made your pitch, then followed up and followed through at every opportunity. You simply would not give up, and you probably ended up winning, didn't you?
Selling anything, from yourself to a lawn mower to an intangible like life insurance or a credit application, starts with thorough product knowledge. Learn everything about your product or service, how it will address the needs of the user, and how it will be immediately effective.
Then, you believe it. If you don't know it, understand its uses, and believe in it, you won't be able to sell it.
When you really believe that you're the best thing out there for the employers you have selected, start selling and never give up. With every "no" you get, you get closer to the "yes" you want and need. Be focused, be knowledgeable, and be persistent. You will make your sale!
'Marvin Walberg is a job search coach. Contact him at mwalberg(at)bellsouth.net, marvinwalberg.blogspot.com, or PO Box 43056, Birmingham, AL 35243.)
GETTING HIRED
