How to sell yourself: Three simple steps to make yourself sellable

This post has been co- authored by a friend and senior Ramanuj Mukherjee, NUJS Alumni and some one who has mastered the art of winning over people (read selling himself).

What do you do? Is there someone who puts enough premium on you? If you stop doing what you are doing, will they miss you? If you are going to be in the service business, like a lawyer or a consultant, you need to learn to sell yourself - because people need to believe and trust in you. When the buy your service, they don’t just buy that service, but they buys into the brand you are, the visions you project, and the assurance that comes along with you. Do you have that sort of effect on your clients?

What do you have to offer?

Be specific and objective about what you have to offer. Do you have great communication skills to sway an audience or convince a client. Do you know almost every second person of importance because of your great networking skills? Or do you have good managerial skills to get the work done or you have a knack towards a field of study and you might do wonders in it someday.

How to let others know about you and make your presence felt?

Make your presence felt in your area of interest. A hidden treasure is as good as non- existent till you don’t find it. Your knowledge is of no use if people don’t know about it. You cannot put that knowledge to work if people who can offer you work don’t know about it. Ensure that people know about your forte.

Offer help, if you have some help to offer, don’t hesitate in offering it, you will not lose anything by it. People to whom you offered your help/ service may have good things to tell about you to their acquaintances.

How to differentiate yourself from others, what you have to offer which others do not have?

There has to be something that differentiates you from others. Ensure that you are a step or two advanced in the field in which you want to create a niche.

Appeal to people, if you are selling yourself to a law firm, let them know how keen you are to get hired via your knowledge, have a good idea about their current business. Be confident about what you have to offer, think of yourself critically first before you bask in your own glory.

Make your need felt. Be efficient. You need to make your buyer feel that they need you, instead of other way round.