|
What Can I Do To Improve My Job-Interviewing Skills?
Whether you're a student job seeker or a polished and proven executive, the first thing you must come to terms with is, "Regardless of the position you seek, you are now in sales!" The product you are selling is YOU! The interview is your opportunity to differentiate yourself in the eyes of your customer [the interviewer] when compared to your competitors [other job applicants]. Successful companies today are focused on building what's known as, corporate "Unique Value-Add Propositions." Simply put, a unique value proposition is designed to differentiate companies / products and services, by making a decision to do business with you, an easy one. This is accomplished by means of removing the risk in customer's minds through obvious value-add. So before you go into an interview, ask yourself, "What is my unique Value-add for this company? What can I say, do, or show, that will separate me from all other candidates?" And, "How convincing am I?" There is no secret that in many cases today, the most qualified, are not always the ones hired. Sadly, many qualified individuals lose out on opportunities expressly due to their inability to distinguish themselves [in the interview] by showing unique value-add. You may then ask, "How does one construct a value-add interview?" The process is surprisingly simple. #1: As quickly as you can, write down all the words that describe your unique strengths that relate to the position to which you're applying. [Note: Five words are not enough. Try for at least fifteen / you may also ask others for their input]. #2: As quickly as you can, write down all the words that describe your potential weaknesses as they relate to the position to which you're applying. #3: Turn each word into a sentence or statement. It does not have to be complicated. For example, if one of your strength-words was, "experience" - you could simply say, "I am experienced." [Note: Do the same for your weaknesses list as well]. #4: Take each sentence / statement, and turn them into a question. "I am experienced" becomes, "Why am I experienced?" To answer the question, "Why am I experienced?" automatically brings to light your real Value-Add. From a selling point of view, 'being experienced' may be true, but it is only, however, a fact. "How specifically, am I experienced, and, How it will therefore benefit the new company," is the real Risk-Removing, Unique-Value-Add-Information needed to showcase your talents. Knowing the answers, ahead of time, to questions like, "Why is [this] a potential weakness for me - for this position?" is equally integral to the success of any interview. Remember that in business, The degree to which you cannot provide a unique Value-Add Proposition is in direct proportion to the degree you hurt yourself, your company and your industry. In any job interview, You are the company. The product you're selling is YOU! ......................................... For more detailed information on Interviewing Skills, visit [www.success150.com]. On the 'Speaker Profile' page, there is a hot-link to "The Art of the Interview" There you can order [$5 Admin-Fee] an E-Book that guarantees better interviewing results. It details the specific types of questions trained interviewers will ask and the reasons why they ask them. The do's and don'ts of a good résumé's as well as ways to better prepare mentally for an interview. All in a comprehensive easy to read format. *Just Released: The Art of the Interview on CD ROM [Narrated by Paul Shearstone] Please send $19.95 usd + $5 S&H to: Paul Shearstone c/o Success 150 Group Inc 7305 Woodbine Ave, Suite 458 Markham Ontario Canada L3R 3V7 About The Author Paul Shearstone aka The 'Pragmatic Persuasionist' is one of North America's foremost experts on Sales and Persuasion. An International Keynote Speaker, Author, Writer, Motivation, Corporate Ethics, / Time & Stress Management, Recruiting Specialist, Paul enlightens and challenges audiences as he informs, motivates and entertains. To comment on this article or to book the Pragmatic Persuasionist for your next successful event we invite to contact Paul Shearstone directly @ 416-728-5556 or 1-866-855-4590 www.success150.com or paul@success150.com.
MORE RESOURCES:
Jobs City of Rochester (.gov)
Careers Washington State University
Careers Gwinnett County Public Schools
JobFeed NSW Department of Education
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
7 Deadly Cover Writing Sins
Don't start off your job search with one (or more) strikesagainst you by committing any of these common cover letterblunders. Each is easy to avoid, but they can sink yourchances of an interview if you include them in your letter.
Tips To Survive A Layoff
The following eight tips will help make sure that recover from alayoff sooner than you think.#1 - DON'T PANIC: You may have lost your job but you have not lost everything.
Certification for Freelancers and Home-Based Business Owners
When we think of technical certification, most of us think of the seemingly endless jumble of letters that follow the names of information technology experts-MCSE, MCSA, A+, CCNA, etc. These certifications serve as standardized, objective validations that the person holding them possesses a certain set of skills and a certain level of professional competency.
Build Your Career Decision By Decision
Do you dislike making decisions and avoid the challenge whenever you can?Take heart. Look around and you will find you have plenty of company.
The Fallibility of Psychological Testing
Psychological Testing has become rampant across industries, more so inthe case of Information Technology, BPOs and ITES companies. Thesetests are used to 'throw up' personality profiles and competencydescriptions that would help companies recruit the 'right' candidate.
Stripper--Turned--Waitress Cant Leave Former Job Behind
She stretches in the break room for 30 minutes before each shift. She glides around the dining room like silk wafting on the breeze.
Cracking the Connection Code: Networking for the Introverted
We've all heard it before: "Just get out there and network!" If it was that easy, we would already be doing it. So why is it so hard? Well, you're an introvert, aren't you? Enough said.
When The Going Gets Tough -- The Tough Keep Going
If you've been in a job search for more than a few weeks you may be experiencing the feelings of defeat and despair, not to mention the urge to give up. It's been a tough year, and then some, for those who have lost jobs for whatever reason.
I Quit!
More and more people are calling it quits to successful careers to create some personal leisure time or to pursue another career. This trend is becoming more popular and common.
How to Make Your Career Change Easier
Despite what your grandmother told you, life is not supposed to be a struggle. The same is true for making a career change.
7 Tips for Writing Winning Resume Cover Letters
Writing a good resume cover letter is something you should seriously consider when preparing to send off your resume to potential employers.Here are seven important cover letter writing tips:Address the individual by name.
The Big Mo : Momentum and the Hiring Process
Momentum as defined by Webster's is: strength or force gained by motion or through the development of events. For our purposes, the interview process is a "development of events".
Conduct An Informational Interview
Informational interviews are designed to get as much information as you can about the industry and career you're seeking a job in from people who are already in that career.Many job seekers don't conduct informational interviews because the purpose of this type of interview is NOT to ask for a job.
Benefits of Maintaining a Career Portfolio
Have you ever tried to contact a past employer only to discover they are no longer in existence or your former manager has moved on and been replaced by someone else? Of course, if you are an avid networker this shouldn't be much of a problem when it comes time to provide proof of your experience, education and accomplishments. A portfolio of your career should be developed and maintained using all documentation of your career history in order to overcome any problems that could arise in proving any aspects of your career.
From Cleaning Lady to Entrepreneur: How Your Cleaning Business can Benefit from the Images
Many people never consider entering the cleaning business because of the images it has."Be a janitor (or cleaning lady or maid)? Me? That's too demeaning!" is a common reaction.
Finding Your Ideal Career
In the current climate, many people are looking away from the traditional job market towards working for themselves. The massive redundancies and job-insecurity has caused many people to radically rethink their career plans.
60 Hour Work Weeks - Can You and Your Career Survive Them
In the 80s while I was an account executive for AT&T most people in my organization worked normal (for then) business hours. By that I mean they arrived close to 8 or 8:30AM and left between 5 and 5:30PM.
Are You a Nice Person? What Companies are Looking for in Recruiting and Retaining Great People
Hal Rosenbluth, author of The Customer Comes Second, states; "In our selection process, kindness, caring, compassion, and unselfishness carry more weight than years on the job, an impressive salary history, and stacks of degrees."Does your company hire these types? Are you one of them? Take the following quiz to see if you are:Agree Disagree1.
How To Start Your Own House Cleaning Business
If you are thinking about starting your own house cleaning business, begin by evaluating your present circumstances. There are no right or wrong answers to these questions, but how you reply will affect what you do.
Look in the Mirror
Take a moment to step outside yourself. Now, be honest with me here? If you could be your own boss, how would you rate your own performance in the last three months? Would you get a raise, a day off as a treat, or would a big and brawny security guy kindly escort you to the parking lot?In order to be an effective marketer and a progressive human being for that matter, you have to take a breather and look in the mirror.
|