Why Hire Jennifer?: How to Use Branding and Uncommon Sense to Get Your First Job, Last Job, and Every Job in Between

m not interested in making you just look interesting. My goal is simply to present who you actually are, what differentiates you from your competition, enabling you to communicate what makes you unique. This is not magic. This is simply smart marketing.

When I became a Scottish dancer I just thought I liked dancing. I didn't know yet I was also attracted to the concentration, competition, and achievement it required. Of course I've matured since I was 13, so when I get this job I will develop the additional skills necessary to be personally successful but importantly, quickly contribute to the firm's success, too. I will be successful here.”

For instance, “I would gather the facts as best I could; determine if there were any precedents to guide me; speak to a superior who isn't my boss (if my boss is somehow involved); and then come to a conclusion, quickly, but not hastily.”

What would you do if....?

Why did you study (particular major)?
As you know all too well, everyone you know didn't study pre-med; plan to get an MBA; or study computer science. But you have nothing to apologize for - really! - for studying French, the Classics, Philosophy, Psychology, and all the liberal arts and humanities majors available. Why? College is a time to explore and to learn how to learn (that phrase is a winner). Don't allow your Philosophy degree to let others mock you for “wanting to be a philosopher.” Rather, philosophy and other fields enabled you to understand complex problems, interpret peoples’ motivations, and be sensitive to different cultures. These and other skills will make you successful at work, too.

Sometimes the first letter or call just doesn't get through the clutter. Send or call again. Feel free to acknowledge you've been trying. My personal favorite line is: “Since life is a frequency medium I'm writing again.” You're welcome to use it.

Mark Twain famously wrote, and I famously remember:
“Sorry I didn't have time to write a short letter; so I wrote a long one instead.”

Let's look at those four easy steps:

1. This is an opening sentence and support that declares what your Brand or specialness or secret sauce is.
2. These are the two or three sentences that demonstrate your understanding of the person/job/company you're writing about.
3. These are the two or three sentences explaining why you would fit in at that organization.
4.This is the pro-active next step to distinguish yourself from the passive turtles that cross their little paws waiting to hear if they are good enough to be contacted for an interview.

Message: Whenever I need to be reminded of the power of personality, I listen to the Lloyd Price recording of the song called “Personality.” He sings: “Because you've got personality, walk, talk, style, charm, plus you've got a great big heart.” I think it's the great big heart that's the key to all the other stuff.