Rachel Levy: Social Media & Marketing

Last week was my brush with fame. I am a member of a networking group called the Boston Salty Legs Career Club, which was started by Susan Kang Nam as part of Tory Johnson’s Good Morning America Job Club.  A couple of weeks ago, Susan called me and asked if I’d be willing to be on a GMA segment about being unemployed.  Um… yes, of course I would!  She then sent me a few questions I had to fill out for GMA, all of which were about being unemployed:  the challenges I faced, what have I been doing to find a job, etc.  After I completed the form, a couple of days later I got a call and an email from the producer asking me to come last Monday for the taping.  Wow, I couldn’t believe I might be on Good Morning America!!

I showed up on Monday ready for the taping, and was excited!  It was supposed to be a 5-10 minute interview 1:1 with Tory!  I was brought into the room, and was told I would be taped as soon as I walked through the door.  Instead of seeing two chairs next to each other like in morning news shows, it was more of a job interview setup…. Tory on one side of the table and me on the other.  We introduced ourselves, and she asked the standard interview question, “Tell me about yourself”.  I started with “I’m unemployed, and am looking for…” As soon as I started, I thought to myself, “why did I start with the fact that I was unemployed??”. I never start with that.  But, she let me continue, and then asked exactly what I was thinking: Why did I start with that?  At the time, I didn’t really know, but looking back, I think it’s because every piece of information I got about this taping was that it was going to be about being unemployed, so I had it on my mind.

She then told me the secret… the segment was not about being unemployed, but rather, “First Impressions”.  Oh boy, clearly I failed the test!  I started thinking, “Great, if I get on GMA, I’m just going to be the example of ‘what NOT to do’!”  Her message is, you should lead with the positive (i.e. your experience) and put the fact that you’re unemployed (or better said as “looking for a new opportunity”) at the end.  She asked how I would revise my statement and I said “I am a marketing professional with experience in consumer products and non-profits, with strengths in strategy, consumer promotions and social media.”

Anyway, I felt really set up (which of course, they had to do, in order to get a true “first impression”.  I would never normally answer the way I did, except for that I felt this segment was going to be on the topic of unemployment, so I had it on my mind.  But, the next day, in talking to a fellow salty-legger Robert Padgett, he encouraged me to look at the learning here.  Even if it was supposed to be about unemployment, no matter what, I should start with the positive. Great point, and I think I did learn something here.  I need to stay positive, although I might not always feel that inside.

This actually came up again for me when I was out last night.  The question I got was even more direct… “Where do you work?”  I couldn’t help but laugh, given my GMA experience.  I told her why I was laughing, but then that I also realized I need to give some thought as to how to answer that direct question, especially when it’s in an informal setting (my revised answer above is just too formal).  I think what I would say is “I am actually doing some marketing consulting right now.  My background is in Marketing, and I have worked in consumer products and non-profit.  I am looking for a new position now.”

Anyway, I didn’t get my 10 minutes of fame on the final GMA segment, but I did learn a valuable lesson about first impressions… no matter what situation you’re in, don’t start with the negative!

What do you think?  How do you answer the question “Tell me about yourself”?  How about in an informal environment?  Please let me know your thoughts in a comment below!