It’s that easy. So why is it so darn difficult for you to effectively persuade someone in a job interview that you are their best hiring choice? You know in your heart that you would be perfect for the job; why can’t you explain that to them?
Before you go for the interview,
• Do your research. Be creative in seeking sources. Research them, their market conditions, advertising and public image. Know about their competitors. If you were buying the company or its stock, what would you want to know? It’s past, present and, most importantly, future.
• Reverse your mindset. Look at the job opportunity from THEIR perspective, THEIR needs and goals. Who are they? What would you accomplish in their first week? Month? Year? The more you find out about a job, its people and a company, the more facile you become in putting yourself in their shoes. So, really think about it. Visualize it.
• Act “as if” you own the challenges of the job. What will add to their bottom line profitability? Consider floating an idea by them as if you were already part of their team. You looked at the competition and you wondered based on the growing market for…. Have they considered….? Maybe they have; maybe they haven’t; but you are thinking as if you already worked there! I always notice when someone says “we” referring to a prior or current employer. The interviewer wants that buy-in and loyalty too.
During the interview maintain flexibility. Stay in the moment. No matter how much you may want to show off your research and ideas or tell them about yourself. Job descriptions change and unless you asked for the most recent one (always a good idea -ask HR), they still may be going in a different direction. So LISTEN to them, what they say and what they don’t say. Maybe what you thought they need is not what they think they need.
Remember, they are doing the hiring; follow their agenda, not your own. Confirm and explore what they need and want. If you know yourself and your strengths well enough, you can customize your story to clearly demonstrate that you meet their needs.To learn more tips and techniques for better communication results, please contact Making Conversation at www.makingconversation.com. Peggy Wallace, Making Conversation LLC. (www.makingconversation.com) can improve your communication skills and enhance your interview preparation.
Present your best self by being authentic and enthusiastically showing your own unique personality; open doors by winning with words.
Contact Peggy for private sessions at Tel # (760) 803-2641 or e-mail Peggy at peggy@makingconversation.com
Be authentically yourself. Establish rapport. Making Conversation can assist you to develop responses which are thought out ahead of time, not the "automatic” or “right" response, but your personal best answer. If you communicate effectively with confidence and ease, your answers will persuade the interviewer to become your advocate.
Author Bio: Peggy Wallace's Making Conversation offers group and private conversational skills sessions as well as private interview preparation, with videotaped interview practice. Interview prep for college, jobs and scholarships assists you in developing clear, concise, persuasive and relevant personal stories which exhibit your individual strengths. Peggy is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania/Wharton School and Boston University School of Law. Peggy was a regional alumna volunteer interviewer for undergraduate admissions to Penn/Wharton for over 25 years. Peggy's business experience includes corporate attorney, fundraiser and financial services sales consultant.
