When you vie for a desired position, it’s critical to emphasize the importance of the role you will play in solving a company’s problems and helping them meet their business-critical goals and objectives. It’s about finding their pain points and making them go away – and communicating the return they will realize on the investment they’ll make by hiring you.
Show Your Value in Your Interview
Your interview is your sales pitch – and you are the product. Demonstrate to a potential employer how you will help them address their main challenges via:
- Your elevator pitch: This is a 15-to 30-second introduction and tagline, highlighting your key skills, passions and goals as they relate to the job. Research and rehearse this ahead of time. Explain the intrinsic value you bring to the table. Whet the interviewers’ appetites so they want to continue the conversation. Your pitch utilizes the same concept as TV commercials: Anything longer than 30 seconds makes your viewer want to switch channels or tune out.
- Examples of past achievements: Experience is everything! It speaks volumes. Share examples of your past successes in relevant situations. Employers want to know that you’ve tackled similar problems and situations with successful outcomes.
- Your attitude: Be serious, yet positive. Treat every interview as if it were your one and only chance to sell yourself. Be upbeat. A smile and a friendly demeanor go a long way. Most interviewers won’t even give a second thought to candidates with a negative outlook or those who seem like they almost need to be talked into a job.
- The questions you ask. Have them prepared in advance. This emphasizes your interest and organizational skills. A few examples might be “What do you consider to be the ideal background for this position? What are the most significant challenges?” And, “What concerns, if any, do I need to clear up in order to be your top candidate?”.
- The story you tell. Instead of simply firing off routine answers, turn your responses to questions into stories or anecdotes about yourself. People remember people who are interesting. Prove your value by tailoring your stories to interviewers’ concerns. It all boils down to what you can do for them.
Other Opportunities
In addition to your interviews, use these opportunities to sell your value and convince prospective employers that you are the right person for the job:
- Your resume: Use PAR (Problem/action/results) statements to illustrate situations and problems you were up against, steps you took to address them, and the positive results you achieved. Communicate exactly what you’re capable of by demonstrating what you’ve accomplished in the past.
- Networking: Whether you’re networking in person or online, focus on your unique expertise and whatever incites your passion. Your enthusiasm will be contagious. Use your own professional website or blog to share your expertise with others. Write about what you know best, and what most interests you. Do it in a way that helps others who share your interests.
As you prepare to take your career to the next level, consider working with a professional recruiter from Talent Bridge. We offer the contacts, resources and market intelligence to help you find and land the job you’ve been waiting for. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.