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.
|
|
|
How You Can Find Opportunities For Foreign Language Proof Reading Work
For those who are fluent in another language, foreign language (ie non-English) proof reading can be a great source of income. It is a...(related: Employment)
Three Myths About Resume Writing
Your perspective on resumes ? what they are and how they function ? will doubtless influence how well you can write your own. To create an outstanding resume, begin by questioning and replacing some of the commonly held assumptions about resume writing.ASSUMPTION: "A resume is a personal history, and p...(related: Employment)
How To Give Job-winning Answers At Interviews
Human Resources personnel, professional recruiters and various other career experts all agree: one of the best ways to prepare yourself for a job interview is to anticipate questions, develop your answers, and practice, practice, practice.There are plenty of websites that offer lists of popular job interview questions, and knowing the types of questions to expect can be very useful. But knowing how to answer those questions can mean the difference between getting the job and getting the "reject letter."HOW TO ANSWER QUESTIONSFirst, know these important facts:1. There is no way to predict every question you will be asked during a job interview. In other words, expect unexpected questions--they'll come up no matter how much preparation you do.2. Treat any sample answers you find, such ...(related: Employment)
When Your Job Goes Away: Seven Tips
Q. "What do I do after a job goes away?"A. Many people believe that job losses are like earthquakes and computer meltdowns. It's not "if" the Big One is coming. It's when.Sometimes you decide it's time for a change. At other times, you're surprised by events. ...(related: Employment)
Image And Style Count
When I was a child, there was a pool nearby and every year my parents bought us season tickets. My brother and I swam there everyday. One day we were swimming the length of the pool underwater. As I came up at the edge of the pool gasping for air, the lifeguard was there to meet me. He asked if my brother and I would join the swim team. We were so excited; we talked about it for days.The next few weeks we prepared for competition. That day arrived and our first meet took us to a pool across town. We all piled out o...(related: Employment)
How To Stay Calm In Tryng Times
That's not you? Great! Bad habits are hard to break once the addiction gets hold of us. Been there. Gave up "smokes" long years ago but it took lots of willpower to kick the habit.FIRST THING IN THE MORNINGShould the question be asked? Is this YOUR best time of day or is ''night' your choice? Everyone has a different clock. Some of us like to sleep longer. Stay up later.Does it matter? You do whatever has to be done. Adjustments have to be made according to our work schedule. Kids going to school. Some of the little on...(related: Employment)
Can Nurses Be Entrepreneurs?
Yes, Nurses can be entrepreneurs. In today's market place nursing has a unique service to offer not only to hospitals but nursing homes, private care and doctor offices. We as nurses have...(related: Employment)
Book Summary: How To Work With Just About Anyone
This article is based on the following book:How to Work with Just About Anyone"A Three-step Solution For Getting Difficult People To Change"By Lucy GillPublished by Fireside/ Simon and Schuster 1999ISBN 0-684-85527-5206 pages"I just can't seem to get along with this person!"Every office has that one difficult person to work with, who affects productivity due to a terrible attitude, chronic tardiness, or simply drives everyone else up the wall. Here is the answer to common problems in conflict management.Dealing with negative behavior, whether at work or at home, can be solved with three steps:<...(related: Employment)
Leaders Meet Challenge Heads-up With Confidence --
Maybe "buck" is better referred to as the Boss' Challenge. Business owners are faced with making lots of decisions - some quickly made - others take more time with greater consequences.Time Vs Wages --A few years ago (maybe 30!) a top secretarial job paid $75. a week or less. You can compare it to the $700 weekly paycheck today. Has about the same buying power. Inflation is real. Salaries increase every year mainly to stay even with inflation, sometimes with less buying power.
Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Successful Petite Model?
Want to break into the petite modeling industry but wondering if you have what it takes to succeed? There are lots of magazine and commercial modeling opportunities for good modeling jobs. Take this quiz to find out if you qualify to be the next top face in the petite modeling industry. Answer honestly. These 15 questions ...(related: Employment)
site-map - Copyright © 2007 | Contact Webmaster | All Rights Reserved | Free Articles and Information | Employment