Ask the WIND Wizards!

12/03/2007   Why would someone want to hire you?

Greg asked the following question on the WIND list:

Dear Wind members,

I am taking a couple of courses this semester, one of which is Introduction to
Marketing.

One of the questions for the final is this. Based on what I think "Why would
someone want to hire you?"

I need to give five reasons and explain each of them. Basicly it is marketing
yourself. Although I have my own ideas and notes from past Wind meetings etc.I
wanted to get more information, especially any intriguing answers andor
explanations, so I can really give a excellent response.

Greg

I liked this question a lot and thought I'd add my perspective to the
discussion.

I think this is the perfect question for the final exam of a marketing class.
I'm pleased to see that they have chosen a question that requires both
personal insight and marketing expertise. Time spent preparing to answer this
question is also ideal for interview (job or informational/networking)
practice or preparing for a performance review at work.

If you can't market yourself successfully, and show that you can to others, no
one will hire you to market anything (or even work) for them. So preparing
your response to this question is a great exercise for anyone who is in job
search transition.

You can look at this as an ideal opportunity to demonstrate a few key points
and then tell an appropriate accomplishment story for each. You asked for
five points, so I'll do my best to stick to that number in my answer. This
will help to frame the answer in the way that you would if asked this exact
question in a real interview.

You can think of five areas to explore (and you may think of others, of
course) in your answer. 1. Start with something that shows personal and
career self knowledge, such as how you picked your current or planned field of
work, why you're good at it, where you see it going in the future and/or what
you like most about it. 2. Continue with something that shows you've done
your job/career homework through networking and research, such as current
business, financial and technical insights and knowledge and trend watching
about a specific company or field. 3. Then consider something that shows how
you deal with and work with others, especially as it relates to the specific
knowledge and skills that would be needed in a specific job or field. 4.
Then pick something that shows how you deal with frustrations and challenges,
especially serious set backs and perhaps failures. 5. Finally, show
something that shows how you keep learning and growing and setting goals
throughout your life, such as why you are taking this course and what you
expect to gain from it.

These are just some of my thoughts and I'm sure I'll have more. Hope this
helps.

Sincerely,

Neil


Neil Wilson Career Counseling and Coaching Services: For when it’s time to
plan for the career of a lifetime.  Plus sponsorship of the MA/ME/NH Seacoast
area’s best networking group for people in career transition, WIND Seacoast. 
We meet on some Monday mornings from nine to noon at Franklin Pierce College,
73 Corporate Drive, Pease International Tradeport, Portsmouth, NH.  All are
welcome.  For more information and schedule, see www.windnetworking.net.


Mail: PO Box 793, Newburyport, MA 01950

Office: Forrester Professional Building,
37 1/2 Forrester Street
(by appointment ONLY)

978-465-1468 (phone)
978-764-6996 (mobile)
978-477-0072 (fax)

neil@neilwilson.com or www.neilwilson.com

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