Today's Hottest Product? You!

找工作可不光是投簡歷和面試。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 subconscious, a potential employer begins sizing you up(開始評價你) at your very first point of contact, be it via e-mail, telephone or in person. 這就是為什么你要對找工作的整個過程都要小心謹慎的原因。Remember you are selling a very important product: You.

找工作在某種程度上和推銷差不多。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.

下面是六條確保你能最好地推銷自己的行為法則：

1. Make your first contact count.
第一印象只有一次。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(試聽；試唱；試演). 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."
你永遠不會知道什么時候你就會有推銷自己的機會，買報紙、逛雜貨店的時候都有可能。Will you sound like an enthusiastic, motivated professional when you get a phone call from a prospective employer early in the morning? Will you make a good impression if you run into an influential person at the coffee shop? Don't run the risk of marring your reputation by turning off your professionalism.

3. Packaging is important.
好的產品如果包裝看上去很破爛，也不可能賣出個好價錢。If you want to sell yourself as the best choice for the job, you must dress like it. 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 jewelry and exotic nail polish - at home. In the professional world, many people do judge a book by its cover.

4. Work the room.
面試時對問題的回答固然很重要，但是其它細小的問題也會影響你的整體形象。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 acting accordingly. 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.
提醒招聘人員注意到你。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.

（來源：英文薈萃網 英語點津Annabel編輯）