In response to Molly's comment about Natual Talenthttp://georgiannelblog.blogspot.com/

When did you realize that what you want to do with your college degree is something you are naturally talented at?

Molly,

Unlike you, who are the beginning of your career, I have had many different careers since I started working full time in 1976.  It took a long time and working in several different fields to find a job that I was naturally talented at. 

 I found that I work well with people. I can communicate with clients and build a relationship with them in a short period of time. I love helping people and I take great pride in managing the relationship.  I like knowing that I have met my commitments and that I have followed through and made sure their requests were handled in a timely manner.

As you can see my education is being completed at the end of my career.  Until the early 90’s I really didn’t have a desire to get a college degree, but once my husband and I had put our children through college I realized I did really want a college degree. So I went to college at night and worked during the day. It took me years to earn my associates degree and now I am on my way to completing my Bachelors Degree.

My goal is to complete my degree and use my degree to work with people in some kind of small business or non-profit setting.  

 Do you feel that everyone feels that they have one special natural talent or is it that we learn what we are talented at over time?

If I were a Product how would I market Myself?

If I were a product how would I market myself?

I would market myself in several different ways.

I would research the position, the company and look at their website to find as much about the company as I could.  I would want to know as much about the company and what specifics they were looking for in a new hire before I begin to market me.

Once I had the knowledge I needed, I would craft my resume in such a way as to appeal to the “features” they were looking for. I would try and promote the “qualities” they admire and would create a product that they want /need.   Employers, just like every other consumer’s, are looking for specific qualities, features and styles when they are looking for a new hire.

I would promote my strengths, my job skills, training, knowledge and experience in a “personal selling” way. My first promotional activity would be to send a cover letter with my resume that conveyed my sincere wish to work for them, but that would also provide some qualities, features and packaging they were looking for.

Of course I would use my resume to promote me, keeping it factual and honest, but geared as much as possible to meet their needs/wants.

Of course my best opportunity to sell me as a product would come when I went on the interview. I could package myself in a way that showed the qualities, features and style that they were looking for. I could promote my past experiences and advertise my accomplishments in such way that would make them want to hire me.

I believe that today, with so many people unemployed and looking for a job, it is necessary for everyone to craft themselves in such a way as to make them more promotable for a job. 

Is it necessary to craft your resume for each job you apply for, highlighting specific areas instead of others, or will just one resume be sufficient for all the jobs you apply for?