While many of us think highly of our backgrounds and what we can bring to a potential employer, at the end of the day, would you really hire yourself if the decision was in your hands?
To answer that question honestly, it is important for job seekers to take a few moments and reassess what exactly they can offer a potential employer.
Among the things to look at include:
- What sets you apart from the competition and how would you convey that message during an interview?
- Am I ready to take on this job in the event I am hired or am I just sending out resumes blindly, not really prepared for this job should I get the call?
- From past job interviews, what can I do better this time around to enhance the chances I get the job I want?
The above-mentioned are just three areas to look at as you search for another job while employed or are out of the job market altogether and looking to get back in.
Can You Sell Yourself?
There is little doubt that being able to sell yourself is key to increasing the odds of obtaining any job, be it a part-time gig or a potential full-time dream job. If you go into the interview process with some nervousness, that is fine; going in with doubts about yourself and your abilities can be the kiss of death.
As part of the pre-interview process, look at the following from an employer’s point of view:
- What would you be seeking from this candidate?
- Would the candidate’s education and work history play equal roles or would one overshadow the other?
- How much stock would you put in what the candidate does outside their work responsibilities? If a candidate told you they were a couch potato outside of the job, would that lessen your interest in them coming to work for you?
- Would how a job candidate dresses, talks, etc. be important to you or are results the only thing guiding you in your decision?
As part of the post-interview process, look at the following from a candidate’s point of view:
- What did you want to accomplish in this interview and were your goals met?
- If there is one thing you would have liked to be able to do over again from the interview, what would it be?
- What did you learn from this interview that will influence you on your next one?
- Was I more substance or more flash?
Consider Interviewing a Learning Process
Each interview you go on is different from the previous one and will not be the same as the next one.
Keep in mind that employers doing the interviewing have different ways about how they conduct such meetings. Some are aggressive and to the point, while others are more laid back.
What you want from an interview is the ability to sell yourself, plain and simple.
If you go into the interview, make your points on why you’re the best candidate for the job and why a company is wise to select you. If you’ve done that, you’ve done your job.
In the event you don’t get the job, you have wasted nothing. Look at each interview as a learning experience, one that will assist you today, tomorrow, the next day and so on.
Most importantly, remember, finding a job is a full-time job in and of itself.
RELATED LINKS
Stand Out in a Rough Job Market: Part II - Interviewing
5 Things You Should Say in Every Job Interview
Interviewing Tips: What Hiring Managers Really Want From You
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