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The Power of Selling, 2010a

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Does this company deal in B2B or B2C services?<br />

How long has the company been in business? Have they recently merged or been acquired?<br />

Is the company expanding globally?<br />

Does the company have any new products or services?<br />

Have the CEO or others in the company been recognized for any achievements or publications<br />

recently? [2]<br />

<strong>The</strong>n go beyond Web site research; after all, your interviewer knows what’s on his company’s Web site, so<br />

don’t just repeat back the information you find there; show him your motivation and pr<strong>of</strong>essionalism by<br />

coming prepared with your own research. Use the company’s product or service and talk to other people<br />

who use the product or service. Go online and read what customers have to say about the company. Go<br />

through the company’s purchasing process so you can understand the workings <strong>of</strong> the company from a<br />

customer’s point <strong>of</strong> view. [3] Read any recent press releases or press coverage about the company.<br />

Don’t forget to research your interviewer. Chances are, he has a pr<strong>of</strong>ile on LinkedIn so you can get some<br />

insight about him and even see what he looks like. Also do a Google search as you may learn about his<br />

personal hobbies and other pertinent information.<br />

Step 4: Rehearse Your “Elevator Pitch”<br />

Don’t be surprised if one <strong>of</strong> the first questions your interviewer asks is something along the lines <strong>of</strong> “tell<br />

me about yourself.” This is a common opening question, designed to put job candidates at ease, but it can<br />

be one <strong>of</strong> the hardest questions to answer. “As part <strong>of</strong> your job-search arsenal, having a good elevator<br />

speech is a critical tool,” says Alysin Foster, consultant and managing partner at the Centre for Strategic<br />

Management. “Sometimes all you get is 30 seconds to make a good impression.” [4]<br />

Review the <strong>Selling</strong> U section in to be sure your elevator pitch is your strongest starting point. <strong>The</strong>n,<br />

rehearse, rehearse, rehearse so it sounds and feels natural as a response to that dreaded first question,<br />

“Tell me about yourself.”<br />

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