Page 20 - Oscar Adler - Sell Yourself in Any Interview_ Use Proven Sales Techniques to Land Your Dream Job (2008)

SELL YOURSELF IN ANY INTERVIEW

I’ll return to this concept of features and benefits through-
out this book. You will see how using feature/benefit skills
effectively can lead to success in your job search, as well as
improve your communications skills in every area of your life.

SELLING IS TELLING

Features and benefits are key concepts in sales. Selling is noth-
ing more than telling with a purpose. I know that for most peo-
ple the idea of sales is a scary thought. I can hear you saying:
“But I’m a teacher, not a salesperson. I don’t want to be in
sales.” Don’t panic over the word. The fact is that we are all in
sales. We all sell every day. For example, if you are a teacher,
you sell ideas, facts, theories, methods, and strategies to your
students all the time. You may not think of it as selling, but it
really is. You are telling your students the facts (or features) of a
given topic, but you are showing them the benefits of learning
about that topic. You are making it relevant to them. Success-
ful teachers are great salespeople. So are successful lawyers,
graphic designers, computer programmers, and tour guides.
Our world becomes more competitive by the day, and ele-
ments of sales have crept into every industry. Successful peo-
ple use sales techniques to seek out and retain clients, to
convince a boss to make an investment, or simply to maintain
a competitive edge. In nonprofit and fund-raising organiza-
tions, staff members often have to sell ideas to their board
members, supporters, or politicians. Even in organizations
that seem far removed from the world of sales, you still need
to be able to sell yourself during an annual review or when
asking for a raise.
Certainly we can agree that the act of finding a new job
involves sales. You are the product, and the hiring manager

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