Sell YOURSELF!

I recently attended a workshop hosted by Scottsdale Job Network in which the presenter assured us that whether we wanted to be in sales or not, we were ALL in the business of selling ourselves. After much consideration, I am convinced that we have all become so fearful of "tooting our own horn" that we tense up when asked to converse with others. My advice is that we move beyond intimidation, and find what makes us unique. A 15 second elevator speech is highly recommended and typically sounds something like this......

Hi, my name is Aja Ware. My skills are in Marketing, Communications and Event Planning. I have a degree in Communication. In my most recent role as Marketing Coordinator, I planned trade shows, wrote RFP's and assisted the sales department with incoming calls (3-5 job responsibilities that allowed you to shine). I am looking for a part-time position (specific type of position?) working for a company that is ecologically friendly with 30-50 employees (outline size of company). I could write the book on uneventful careers (or whatever your story is), however there are few people who have the tenacity, drive, or passion that I have (personalize what makes you DIFFERENT!).

Gain Closure

Losing a job often times deteriorates professional relationships, as our emotions run wild and we act in ways that are down right embarrassing! Whether you are like me and blubber every time they cut the cord, or get hostile, I would strongly encourage that you put your pride aside and wave the flag of truce. The benefits you will get from closing a half opened door will far out way the negatives.

When deciding whether or not to seek closure, here are a few question to ask yourself (based on my experiences)...

1). Was the business relationship strictly business, or did it have a human component?

2). Did you manager get to see your best work? Could they vouch for your contribution to their organization?

3). Would you consider working for this person in the future?

4). Was your job eliminated to cut back expenses?

5). Were you miserable at work and destined for bigger and better things?

If you answered "yes" to any of the 5 questions above, I would strongly suggest that you take initiative and seek out contact with that individual. Apologize for what you did wrong (if anything) and leave the relationship on good terms.

Example: I have left things unresolved in the past, and although it would have been uncomfortable to wave the flag of truce, the damage done was irrevocable.

Think Outside Your Cubicle

In today's economy, everyone has the opportunity to re-invent themselves and a new job may be just what you need to propel yourself in a new direction. We often get so stuck in our own limited thinking about our backgrounds and appropriate careers, however the truth in the matter is that we are not one dimensional drones, rather we are multi-faceted individuals who have the capacity to re-invent ourselves constantly. With the average worker between the age of 18 and 38 changing careers over 10 times, there is no time like the present to consider what path to take next.

Example: Move beyond thinking that you can ONLY be an Accountant as that is what you have thus far, and start considering ALL valuable options. You may be an Accountant 40 hours a week, however consider what you love to do once 5 o'clock hits and you flee that cubicle? Are you into planning parties for family/friends? Have you always wanted to learn more about design?

Daily Practice: STOP! telling yourself and everyone around you about the lack of jobs currently available. Dust off your pride and do whatever it takes to survive.

Surround Yourself Around Positive People

Lets face it, we all have people in our lives that would rather see the glass half empty vs. half full, however I would encourage you to look at your own support circle and contemplate whether the people around you are going to lift you up or bring you down?

Being unemployed or uninspired is hard enough as it is! Save the drama for a rainy day & focus on finding individuals who believe in you and think your ideas are golden! You are so much more than the circumstances that are happening in your life:)

Know Your Worth

I was talking with a friend of mine this afternoon about work environments and the interesting people that you share work spaces with, and it became crystal clear in that moment that unless you see the value that you personally bring to an organization, no one else can or will. Even if you are working as a bagger, maid, porta-potty cleaner or some other position that is often times minimized, you have VALUE and its your job to be the best at what you do!! After all, think of all the countless people who would be inconvenienced, lonely or lost without your services!

On a more serious note, are you the type of person who is beat down or diminished daily but is thankful to have a job? Several friends and family members of mine have worked for manipulators that belittle them constantly and then try and convince them that they are lucky to have a job in today's economic conditions? Are you really lucky to have THAT job, or would you rather take a cut in pay and save on years of expensive therapy :)

Explore Your Passions

Moving beyond the specific attributes that you are looking for in a work environment (i.e. style of boss, flexibility, earning potential, etc) I encourage you to take one step further and figure out what makes YOU tick. I know several people are in a field that simply pays the bills, however my wish is that we will all someday have the courage/commitment to figure out what we love to do, and get paid doing it.

If you are anything like me, and have ignored what makes you thrilled, I encourage you to consider the following questions outlined in a brilliant article titled "How to Discover Your Passion"....

1). What do you do in your free time? Does this activity make you want to jump out of bed in the morning?

2). What stimuli around you makes you happy?

*Books, TV Shows, Newspaper Articles, Conversations, Animals, etc. We all react to stimulus different, and its important to understand what makes YOU tick.

3). What are you really good at?

4). What specific qualities do you posses that others may not?

5). Who do you admire & why?

6). Do you know anyone that is doing what you would LOVE to be doing?

*If so, see if you can set up an informational interview!

7). What is it that keeps you from doing what you love?

*Do you have a fear of failure, an unsuccessful past, comments from those around you? Whatever it is, try and move beyond those fears and live the authentic life you deserve!

8). How could YOU make this world a better place?

9). What items do you have in your home that make you happy?

*Do you love your garden, photographs or specific nick-knacks?

Once you have identified your passions, contemplate if there is a way for you to explore what you love in a career or internship? Consider looking at job postings or summaries to get an idea for what you will be doing prior to applying. The more research you can do prior to considering ANY career, whether temporary or long-term the better off you will be.

Example: In school I absolutely loved marketing, however if I had the chance to explore the job responsibilities the way I did first hand, I probably would have run for the hills :) We have a tendency to glamorize "careers" however when we physically get in the trenches, we quickly change our minds and become unhappy.

Get Clarity

When people ask me what I want to do, I often shrug my shoulders, however the truth of the matter is that I do know what I want to do, I just don't know what form it will take (and to be frank with you, that's none of my BUSINESS as a very wise woman once taught me). At this time, these are my top 5 needs for a work environment:

• A socially conscious company - Are we making a difference?


• A environment that supports my belief that PEOPLE are more important than TASKS


• Laughter, Laughter and more Laughter (my mother once told me that I need to have joy in my career, otherwise I will look like 100 at the age of 50 from a scowling face)


• Creativity is the mother of all inventions. Work without creativity is stale.


• Flexibility

Even if YOU don't know what you want to do, what do you know about yourself for sure? Are you able to articulate your perfect environment?

If not, try completing the "Clarity Through Contrast" worksheet developed by Michael Losier in the book titled "The Law of Attraction." For those that are new to The Law of Attraction, click here for a tutorial of the Clarity Through Contract worksheet.