One of the toughest concepts for high school students to understand is the art of marketing yourself for colleges, scholarships, internships, elected positions, jobs, and the list goes on. Many students feel as if they are bragging or maybe kissing up to win a position. Ok, maybe that is what is feels like, but marketing (a better way of looking at it) is the skill that earns many people access to opportunities that the folks who refuse to market themselves end up being jealous of.
It doesn't have to be that way, anyone one can market themselves. The first step to this art is learning to believe in the worthiness of the product you are marketing. Namely, you need to believe that you are just what the award, scholarship, admissions committee is looking for. (Underclassmen, you will be better able to do that later on if you are filling up your resume now with meaningful activities.) The next step is to tell the committee about the features you come equipped with, and that is where many students feel as if they are bragging. As legendary Dizzy Dean put it, "It ain't bragging if you can do it." Get comfortable with talking about yourself in a way that is inviting and humble, but full of confidence. Do your research and find out what is important to the committee who will evaluate you and then be prepared to show them why you are a great fit.
The more you practice it, the better you will become at this life-long skill that is going to be effective in helping you make your way in life. Relationships are a vital commodity in any career field. The better you can become at making relationships with others, the more you will find friends on the other side of the door you are trying to go through.
Here is an electronic way to market yourself if you are interested in a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathemtaics career field. STEMPremier.com is a free way for students to market themselves to potential schools, scholarships and internships and will be a tool that can be used for years to come. This free service will help students to build a portfolio, focus their activities and MARKET themselves. To access this free service, follow the steps below:
1) go to stempremier.com
2) subscribe as a student
3) select "upgrade" and enter the promo code: STEMCONF82
4) complete your profile to display your talents, compete for your ranking, connect with colleges and businesses.
If you are not a STEM student, there are other ways to market yourself, a general resume is a great start. Good luck as you move forward with practicing and perfecting the art of marketing yourself.
