把自已当做一个产品来推销！

 　　The job search process is not just about your résumé and the way you answer interview questions. There are many more details about you that weigh into an employer's decision to show you the money or show you the door. In fact, whether it is conscious or subconscious¹, a potential employer begins sizing you up(开始评价你) at your very first point of contact, be it via e-mail, telephone or in person. That's why you need to pay attention to the entire job search process and remember you are selling a very important product: You.

　　A job search is just like a sales process. You need to convince an employer that you have a product that is better than the others, worth the money and will pay off in the long run. That's why it is crucial to market yourself every step of the way. For a job seeker, this means that everything about you plays a role in building your professional image, from your first contact to the final handshake sealing the deal.

　　Here are six rules to ensure you are marketing² yourself as effectively as possible:

　　1. Make your first contact count.

　　You've likely heard it a thousand times, but take heed³ when job hunting – you never get a second chance to make a first impression. This means that the casual e-mail you are sending to ask for more information is not really casual at all. It's actually the start of your audition(试听；试唱；试演). Think you don't have to double check your spelling in your e-mail or formally acknowledge the recipient⁴? Think again. Every contact you make with the company, including e-mail and voice mail, is a chance to let your professionalism shine.

　　2. Make sure you are always "on."

　　When you are out of a job, it can be easy to fall into a rut where you stay in your sweats all day and watch TV. Whether you are reading the morning paper, running errands(为了一些杂务在奔波), grocery shopping or at a PTA (Parent Teacher Association 家长教师联谊会) meeting, you never know when you will be presented with a "you" marketing opportunity. Will you sound like an enthusiastic, motivated professional when you get a phone call from a prospective⁵ employer early in the morning? Will you make a good impression if you run into an influential⁶ person at the coffee shop? Don't run the risk of marring your reputation by turning off your professionalism.

　　3. Packaging is important.

　　If you want to sell yourself as the best choice for the job, you must dress like it. Just think about how you make purchasing decisions as a consumer. When you are comparing products, which are you more likely to choose: the product with tattered⁷ or outdated⁸ packaging, or the product that looks brand new, state-of-the-art and visually appealing? When you are selling product "you," your appearance is just as important. Dress in your best conservative suit, shine your shoes and leave other flashy details – like bulky jewelry⁹ and exotic nail polish – at home. In the professional world, many people do judge a book by its cover.

　　4. Work the room.

　　The answers you give to interview questions are important, but the other subtle things you do in an interview also help craft your image. Take the initiative when you walk into a room and introduce yourself with a smile and a firm handshake. Make eye contact when you are in the interview, and demonstrate you are paying attention to your interviewee. You can also go far by picking up on clues in the other person's office about his or her likes, dislikes and interests, and acting¹⁰ accordingly. Does he or she have a college memento¹¹ on the desk? If so, try to strike up a conversation about the school. You can have all the right answers, but they will go nowhere without a little charm and personality.

　　5. Treat everyone like they're CEO.

　　Remember that all contact with a company is important. Are you working hard to impress the CEO, but snubbing his or her assistant? If you want to effectively market yourself, pay attention to the contact you have with everyone.

　　6. Keep yourself top of mind.

　　If you were marketing a new brand of cola, you would do everything you could to keep the brand in front of consumers. Repetition works, so make sure your name comes up repeatedly. Write thank-you letters. Call to follow up. Attend networking functions. Your job isn't done just because the interview is over. In fact, sometimes the marketing you do away from the interview can make all the difference.

1 subconscious   

n./adj.潜意识(的)，下意识(的)

参考例句：

• Nail biting is often a subconscious reaction to tension.咬指甲通常是紧张时的下意识反映。
• My answer seemed to come from the subconscious.我的回答似乎出自下意识。

2 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

3 heed   

v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心

参考例句：

• You must take heed of what he has told.你要注意他所告诉的事。
• For the first time he had to pay heed to his appearance.这是他第一次非得注意自己的外表不可了。

4 recipient   

a.接受的,感受性强的 n.接受者,感受者,容器

参考例句：

• Please check that you have a valid email certificate for each recipient. 请检查是否对每个接收者都有有效的电子邮件证书。
• Colombia is the biggest U . S aid recipient in Latin America. 哥伦比亚是美国在拉丁美洲最大的援助对象。

5 prospective   

adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的

参考例句：

• The story should act as a warning to other prospective buyers.这篇报道应该对其他潜在的购买者起到警示作用。
• They have all these great activities for prospective freshmen.这会举办各种各样的活动来招待未来的新人。

6 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

7 tattered   

adj.破旧的，衣衫破的

参考例句：

• Her tattered clothes in no way detracted from her beauty.她的破衣烂衫丝毫没有影响她的美貌。
• Their tattered clothing and broken furniture indicated their poverty.他们褴褛的衣服和破烂的家具显出他们的贫穷。

8 outdated   

adj.旧式的，落伍的，过时的；v.使过时

参考例句：

• That list of addresses is outdated,many have changed.那个通讯录已经没用了，许多地址已经改了。
• Many of us conform to the outdated customs laid down by our forebears.我们许多人都遵循祖先立下的过时习俗。

9 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

10 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

11 memento   

n.纪念品，令人回忆的东西

参考例句：

• The photos will be a permanent memento of your wedding.这些照片会成为你婚礼的永久纪念。
• My friend gave me his picture as a memento before going away.我的朋友在离别前给我一张照片留作纪念品。