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One of the highlights of my tenure as a career coach happened in a place I never expected - Oman.
I had been invited to speak to around 100 college students about finding a job after graduation. As I stood at the front of the room, I looked out at a sea of young men dressed in the traditional white robes and Omani turbans. It was such a striking sight that I was tempted to take a photograph. But I reminded myself that I wasn’t there as a tourist - I was there as their career coach.
To capture their attention, I began with a simple question.
“Who wants a really good, well-paid job when you graduate?”
Almost every hand shot into the air.
I pointed to one student.
“I know what your next job will be.”
The room fell silent.
“I know it will be full-time. I know it will be in sales and marketing, and I even know the product you’ll be selling.”
By now every student was watching. They were probably wondering if I was some kind of fortune teller.
After a dramatic pause, I smiled.
“The product you’ll be selling is … you.”
That simple illustration made an important point.
Whether you’re applying for your first job or your 15th, every job seeker is in sales and marketing. Your prospective employer is the customer who is looking to buy a “product”. You, with your knowledge, skills, qualifications and experience, are the product. Your CV is your advertising flyer. Your LinkedIn profile is your shop window. The interview is your sales presentation.
Many people think they are simply applying for jobs. They’re not. They are marketing themselves as a product - their skills, experience, qualifications and achievements. And your next job is to be the sales and marketing manager for that product.
Start with your advertising flyer - your CV. Its purpose is to secure an interview, not to tell your entire career history. Employers have different needs, so a one-size-fits-all CV rarely does the job. Tailor yours to highlight the skills, experience and achievements most relevant to each role.
Since that day in Oman, I’ve shared this lesson with thousands of job seekers. The faces and countries have changed, but the message has remained the same: you are selling a product and that product is you. An experienced coach can help you identify what product you are and develop your marketing plan in a way that clearly and effectively presents that product to the potential employer (buyer).
Investing in expert guidance can significantly shorten the time it takes to secure the right role. One company providing career coaching through Christian coaches is Sandpiper Coaching, a Premier Christianity partner. Click here for more information.
