Selling Yourself As A Valuable Employee

The job market has become overrun with applicants due to the effects of the recession and the possibility of a "double-dip"

. It's currently more important than ever to sell yourself as a valuable employee who can bring skills, expertise and personality to the role you've applied for.

It's not just first-time job seekers and recent school leavers that have difficulty selling themselves to potential employers. Recent surveys by InterExec have revealed that even senior executives have problems selling themselves on paper. But you don't just need to sell yourself on CV, where you have time to plan and tailor your writing, you also have to demonstrate and discuss your employability at interview - where the questions come thick and fast will little time to consider your answers.

As humans, we find it difficult to talk to others about ourselves in a purely positive manner, this is most likely due to the fear of coming across arrogant or self-involved. So when we're asked to sell ourselves at an interview we're immediately removed from our comfort zone whilst we seek the perfect balance between informing the interviewer of our positive aspects and blowing our own trumpets'.

If you're uncomfortable talking about yourself yet want to ensure your potential employer hears about your qualities here are a few tips on how to sell yourself.

False claims never make you look good

Alarm bells ring in employers' minds at statements such as "I am/was the best at" followed by a nearly impossible claim. Remember Stuart Baggs from the Apprentice series 6? He made outrageous statements about himself being the best at practically everything to Sir Alan Sugar and ended up in hot water when he couldn't back them up. Not only does this arrogant attitude irritate employers (it's highly unlikely that you were "the best salesman in the country") but it also makes your potential employer's expectations of you immediately incredibly high. If you say you're the best salesman in the country they expect to see results that reflect that and when they don't prevail you could end up with a letter of dismissal in your hand.

Employers believe previous employers more than you

Always have documentation to support your qualifications, achievements and skills. Documentation of this sense isn't limited to academic certificates, if you previously worked in customer service role and have a reference from a previous employer which evaluates your skills at the time and areas for improvement, it shows your potential employer that you're legitimate with no further research. Always keep references however old they may be, this immediately shows your employer your career history from previous employers' perspectives, adding authenticity to your claims.

Accept that you CAN improve

Share your thoughts on where you can improve. A true self-critic will evaluate both sides of their skill sets - highlighting areas for improvement. Employers know that no one is perfect and will often respect those who are willing to accept criticism. You could always use your weaknesses to your advantage during interview, by saying "I really want to work for this organisation as I know you can help me develop my skills in areas where I need to improve". Not only does this show you're evaluating yourself realistically, it also compliments the employer as you have chosen them to help you improve on your career.

When talking about yourself at interview, you don't have to brag and boast, telling your interviewer your areas of interest and aspects of the job role that you'd like to gain experience in shows genuine interest and honesty.

by: Stephanie Staszko

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