Down Range: A Transitioning Veteran's Career Guide to Life's Next Phase

Chapter 8

Selling the Most Important Commodity: You!

A company's sales force is not the only group of people selling something; everyone is selling something. The cashier at your local grocery store is selling a shopping experience and representing the brand of that particular store. If that cashier checks you through the line expeditiously, asks you for your coupons, inquires if you are a member of the store's loyalty program, smiles and wishes you a good day, then he is probably doing a pretty good job of selling the store's services to you. The store wants you to see value in your shopping experience and come back time and again.

When you wear your uniform in a public place, greet civilians with respect, and respond graciously when they thank you for your service, you are selling the military. You are representing your particular brand, your branch of service. Your behavior encourages others to serve and lets taxpayers know that their government invests their money wisely.

Did you ever defend a position to anyone? Then, you were selling. Sometimes we are successful by selling from an emotional point of view; other occasions call for a rational perspective. If we are expert at selling, we persuade from both perspectives. Regardless, when you argue for an idea, you are attempting to sell it.

You need to view the rest of your career from a sales perspective. You should adopt the perspective that you are, from here forward, selling yourself as a value to a potential employer. And ...