Career Corner - So, would you hire yourself?

The best career choices are based on an honest appraisal of who you really are. This includes what you know, what you do well, the things you want from life and how you can best match all of this to the current and future needs of an employer.

If you have taken a basic marketing course, you already know that to be a good salesperson that you must understand the four Ps of marketing: Product, Place, Promotion and Price. These marketing basics are just as applicable to marketing yourself as they are to marketing a new product or service.

We all know that before an employer calls you for an interview they want to know what you (the product) will have over anyone else and can do for them. What are your features?What can you do well and how will hiring you be money wisely spent? And similarly, what are some things that you can't do?

Finding the place you want to work also requires some thought. Where do you intend to market yourself? Where will your buyers be? Is there any where you are unwilling to go? How will you promote yourself?

How will you get people interested in knowing what benefits there are to hiring you? How will you introduce yourself to your markets? The first two promotional methods that come to my mind would be your resume and cover letter. There is also your professional portfolio and the networking that you can do. And finally, the most important promotion is the interview.

And then there is price. Do you have an idea what jobs are paying in your field? Have you evaluated what starting salary you will need to ensure you can live comfortably, meet your debt obligations and provide you with some money at the end of the day or month?

Understanding some basic self-marketing techniques and conducting a self-inventory will not only help you to navigate through the employment market but also help you to validate your career choices. Keep in mind that all employers want good matches between jobs and applicants so make sure that your covering letter and resume clearly identify your unique combination of skills and abilities and always relate them to the position you are applying for. You should be able to describe your skills under a number of headings including related education/training, related work experience, related accomplishments and related praise or recognition received.

I often tell my students to imagine that they are the hiring manager of the company they want to work for and that they have to hire a new employee from the same program they are graduating from. What would they look for in that employee? What type of person would they want to hire?What will that person need to be able to know and do? As the hiring manager, you need to start by making a list of the requirements, skills and personality characteristics you believe are needed in that candidate. Then, finally, after describing that ideal employee, can you honestly say that you would hire yourself?

Need assistance with your job search or writing a resume and covering letter? Drop by the Career Services office in D1063. The Career Services staff are available to assist you on an individual basis. Visit the office in D1063 to arrange an appointment with the consultant responsible for your program or call 519 452- 4294. To access job listings for Fanshawe students and graduates, visit www.fanshaweonline.ca or www.fanshawec.ca/careerservices. Follow us on Facebook facebook.com/FanshaweCS, Twitter @FanshaweCS and Pinterest pinterest.com/FanshaweCS.