Preparing for a job interview tends to be an exhausting and stressful activity; even if you typically perform well when interviewing. Think about it…you have one shot at making a positive first impression. In this regard, it is a lot like going on a first date. There are no do-overs. And that’s just to make it to the second round of interviews. Many job seekers make the classic mistake of not focusing solely on the needs of the employer. Rather, they get too caught-up and focused on delivering crisp bullet points from their past accomplishments and experience. Candidates also have a tendency to prepare scripted answers to particular questions that favor their candidacy. The problem with this approach is you have no idea what questions you will field or the format in which they will be asked. I have a great answer for how I define success, but almost nobody ever asks the question! What’s more, not all interviewers are trained to conduct effective interviews. The trick is to bridge the gap between the employer’s needs and your talent, qualifications and proven track record. So, how do you do this?
Well, the easiest way to accomplish this is to treat the interview like a sales call. As a business development professional, I refer to this as consultative selling. Except you are the product; you are selling your services. The good news is that nobody knows more about you than you. When you prepare for the interview, your focus should begin with the position description. The hiring company has done you the favor of telling you exactly what they want in a job candidate along with the qualifications they seek. It is your job to deliver it to them on a silver platter with all of the trimmings. For example, if the company is looking for a Financial Manager with 5+ years experience, then it is up to you to communicate that you have the aforementioned experience and that you have produced the following positive results, whereby you provide real, concrete examples. All of your responses should relate your direct experience, including examples that produced positive results, back to the question of the interviewer.
If and when the interviewer inquires about your top skillsets, do NOT simply tick them off. Provide real examples of how you put these skills to work and produced positive results for your past employers. By consistently reiterating your proven track record and ability to generate positive results in past (but similar) roles that directly relate to the questions asked, not only will this impress the interviewer, but this will catapult you well ahead of your competition. Very few job candidates put in the extra effort to prepare for an interview by focusing on the needs of the employer. During an interview, remember that every candidate is selling. The approach I have described above will improve your odds of the employer buying from you. In my next post, I will share my all-time favorite best practice for interviewing. What are some of your go-to favorites?
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