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Topic: Sell Yourself or Your Soul?
| Author | Message |
| lovebugg | Posted – 4/1/2008 2:43:33 PM | show profile Does anyone have a clue as to how a potential applicant for an entry-level position in magazine publishing or any other media outlet can crack the code to ?selling? themselves in an interview? Most recently, I had an exploratory interview with a prominent editor at a national women?s publication and she told me that it?s all about ?selling? yourself. When she asked me the typical question, ?why to you want to work here?? I replied with glowing knowledge of the company and its growth and how I would like to become apart of this organization. She made it seem as if I rehearsed a script. And if that?s not horrific enough, she asked me ?what area are you really interested in?? Since I have a diverse background in writing health, beauty, entertainment, home, travel and fashion, I replied that ?I am diverse in all areas.? She wanted a specific area and I stated travel when the position(s) available were for a totally different area. In closing, I reiterated that I was very interested in working for the magazine and that travel was not my main interest as I am equipped to write and excel in other areas as well. She then goes on to state that the position(s) were open for so long, their not sure if they have the budget for it! I was doubly upset as I have been out of college for three years now and finally have an ?in? within the company as a part-time freelancer but I want to stay ?in? and I have taken so many steps to make this happen. Here are the steps: 1.I worked relentlessly when I was an intern (at age 25) for a national women?s magazine. In total, I had five magazine internships under my belt. 2.Then, I networked until everyone knew I existed and if I left, would be missed so I was hired as a freelancer which will end next month. 3.I emailed human resources and did an informational interview, which the HR rep was impressed and forward my resume for an open EA position (they hired already in-house). After the informational interview, I followed up with a ?thank you? and then I sent an interoffice envelop with a job application already filled out for full-time employment, along with my resume (just to have on file incase something is open). 4.I also let everyone in the department know that I am looking for a JOB and I did this since the beginning of my internship. This led me to a referral to the top editor at another magazine owned by the same company. As it turns out, I need to ?sell? myself and I am at a loss. Can anyone give me advice in reference to ?selling? yourself? It seems that professionals could careless what?s on paper and more of what can you bring to the table verbally? I am upbeat, positively aggressive and an extremely hard worker; the proverbial ?go-getter? in every sense of the word. So do I need to be a conniving, relentless, salesman to get the job? What about being genuine? Or is everyone media driven? I?m this close to giving up this career all together, but I am so adjacent to my objective that it would hurt my pride to just walk way. I appreciate any positive feedback. ------ "Writing relaxes my mind, stimulates my brain, and gets the juices going" |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 4/1/2008 3:05:10 PM | show profile We're all salesmen of ourselves. That's part of life. But a good salesmen doesn't have to be fake or conniving. Ideally, sales is showing the customer how what you are offering helps solve a problem they have. I sell myself all the time. None of us were at the interview, so it's hard to say if you did anything particularly wrong. But as you've described it, it sounds like you did a good job selling yourself. |
| Decorama | Posted – 4/1/2008 3:13:57 PM | show profile I'm a little confused Um, you were interviewing for a position WITHIN the company you're currently freelancing for, right? And the freelance position is more of a part-time thing, so you're on site doing it, or at home? You know, it seems as if you have gotten some good experience at the company. Maybe things are tight there right now . . . who knows. In any case, I can understand that you might well be hurt that there doesn't seem to be a full-time position there for you right now. BUT, that's not saying that your experience there & the work you've done wouldn't impress ANOTHER company. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. |
| linjohn | Posted – 4/1/2008 3:28:03 PM | show profile I agree with Dribble in that it sounds like you did a good job at selling yourself. The only thing I can think of is that perhaps this person wishes you had been more specific about your talents and what specifically you could bring to/do for this publication. i.e. why they NEED to hire you, rather than make your case as to why you want to work for them. But I would think, at entry-level, it would make more sense for you to give a well thought out answer as to why you really would want to work for them rather than overinflate what you think you might bring to the magazine as an EA. In short, I don't have an answer, but it sounds like you have been doing a lot of things right and maybe this editor was just trying to challenge you. On that note, since she is a prominent editor and was talking more generally about the business, and not specifically for a position, she forgets how it is at entry level. As you move up the ladder, sure, you want to promote your specialized talents, but again, at entry level, I would think they would welcome a broad range of skills. Since you have some good contacts already, perhaps you can pose this question to them and ask how they "sell" themselves. |
| lovebugg | Posted – 4/1/2008 6:07:13 PM | show profile Thank you to everyone for the insightful feedback. I will take a step back and utilize this information. To answer the question, I freelance three days a week at the publication. While I'm there, I am applying for other jobs to become full-time within the corporation. I will continue to touch base with my contacts and ask them how to "sell" yourself when interviewing. Thanks again! ------ "Writing relaxes my mind, stimulates my brain, and gets the juices going" |
| foodlit | Posted – 4/1/2008 7:21:19 PM | show profile Lovebugg, I'm in hr, and work as a headhunter, so am going to be very direct with you. What she means by 'selling yourself', is how you present yourself. You are a product, and you need to market yourself by pointing out what needs you can satisfy if she buys you. In other words, what makes you different? How will you add value? What are you passionate about that is in line with what they do? It sounds like she gave you some feedback when you said, "She made it sound like I rehearsed a script" Yeah, that's the problem. When they ask 'why do you want to work here?', don't regurgitate stuff they already know..they know how successful they are. Tell them why YOU want to work there, and how THEY can benefit. Make it personal not like a canned speech where you are demonstrating your research skills, and she wonders if you say the same version everywhere you go. Make it real, by saying something like "This is one of my favorite publications, to get the chance to work here would make it a dream job, writing (or editing, whatever you do) at a magazine I love where I can build a career." Even better, if you get more specific "I've been reading this mag since xxx" Anything that makes it specific to you. And I can tell you honestly that you blew it a little when she asked you "what area are your really interested in?" and you said, "I am diverse in all areas." Ugh....have you heard the expression, Jack of all Trades, master of none? This was your chance...to let her know what you are passionate about...what you should have done is your homework to see which areas were hiring, and then mention the one that was most appealing....not wait until she pushes and is already irritated and then answer with an area that isn't hiring. :) It sounds like you were trying too hard, and didn't let her get a sense of what you are really able to do or what really interests you...and how that can benefit them. Selling yourself means being to articulate why they should hire you, tooting your own horn a little about what your strengths are and showing how they can benefit from them. Also being really and genuinely enthusiastic about something, showing that you are sharp and driven. Listen well, let them drive the conversation and watch for the 'glazing eyes', if you are going on about something and they seem distracted, cut it short and stay focused. I have a word doc of tips that might be helpful, am happy to email it to you if you shoot me an email. pamclaughton@comcast.net Bottom line is to be yourself...just kicked up a notch! Don't be overly rehearsed. Hope that helps...it's hard to know for sure, without being there, but my advice is general, and based on what I've seen over many years. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 4/1/2008 7:50:46 PM | show profile The above advice is good. You shouldn't really think of a job interview as a performance with a prepared script. You need to be aware of the other people and treat it more like a conversation. One of the first rules of sales is to focus on what the other person wants. That doesn't mean you need to sell out, connive, or pretend to be someone you're not. But you need to be aware and toot your horn about the stuff they care about. |
| Decorama | Posted – 4/1/2008 8:15:47 PM | show profile One other thing Have you written a thank you note yet to this editor? I think it would be a great chance to restate your strengths and to thank her for her candor, etc, etc. |
