Showing off your selling points

Selling points are key examples from your career experiences that can help show the employer you are suitable for the job.

Summarising your skills, knowledge and experience as selling points will help you with all aspects of applying for a job, including:

• what to write in a covering letter, application form or CV
• what to say during an interview.

They will also help keep your self-esteem strong during your job search and help you when you need to assess job offers.

Making selling points work

Step 1: Identify what the job involves

What are the tasks, skills, qualities, knowledge and experience the employer is looking for? You will find clues from a range of sources including:

• the advertised vacancy
• the job description
• researching the organisation
• researching the occupation and industry.

Step 2: Identify your selling points that prove you can do the job

Match examples from your career so far to what the employer is looking for. Your selling points are based on your:

• past performance (proven track record)
• experience
• knowledge
• skills
• personality.

Your experiences may come from:

• employment
• voluntary Work
• education and training
• life experiences.

Step 3: Specify timeframes

A timeframe helps prove your selling point. Ask yourself:

• How long did I demonstrate this (weeks, years, etc)?
• How often did I perform this (daily, weekly, monthly, annually)?
• When did I perform this (last job, previous job)?
• How long did it take me (hours, days, weeks, etc)?

Step 4: Provide proof

What proof do you have that you were good at it? Give the employer a clear picture of what you achieved. Use:

• numbers (for example, handled 250 calls a day)
• percent (for example, 30% increase in revenue)
• ratios (for example, four out of every five calls resulted in a sale)
• examples (for example, key people's opinion, positive outcomes, education).

Make sure your selling point is believable. If it sounds too far-fetched, the employer might think you are lying, exaggerating, or taking credit for something you didn't do. You could also consider developing a portfolio of evidence to show some examples of your achievements.