Would You Buy You?

There's nothing quite like the pressure of interviewing for your dream job. You know you can do the job; it's just a matter of helping the interviewers understand your skills and passion. Selling yourself is the best way to get the job you want but, unfortunately, that sales approach is often lacking when even the best candidate sits in the interview chair. Sometimes nerves get in the way; sometimes a lack of preparation can be the culprit; and sometimes the deal-breaker is a simple lack of focus due to stress. Whatever the issue, it can spell disaster if the interviewer isn't sold on you and your abilities by the end of the discussion.

Selling yourself isn't about talking about yourself; it involves clearly explaining who you are and what you bring to the company. Employers want to determine whether you will be an asset or a liability, whether you'll fit into the corporate culture, and how you'll contribute to the organization's goals. As you prepare for your next dream-job interview, consider these five tips.

• Do your homework. Thoroughly research the company and the job position before you arrive, and prepare questions that focus on what you will bring to the position. Know about the company's competitive issues, recent financial results and even how and when the company was founded if you want to make a lasting impression as a detail-oriented candidate.
• Talk about what you've accomplished. Focus on the results you were responsible for and interviewers will pay attention. If you talk only about things you did, you're not showing a bottom-line contribution to the organization.
• Answer questions with examples. Show how your skills and accomplishments meet the requirements of the company and the job. If you can show a direct correlation between your skills and the company's needs, you'll be a step ahead of the competition.
• Be prepared for tough questions. You know interviewers will ask about your weaknesses, your worst boss, your salary expectations and other potentially touchy items. Rehearse answers to these items until they sound perfectly natural and focus clearly on your benefit to the company. Above all, be truthful. If you're really not that great at public speaking, say so. But be sure you can turn that negative into a positive by showing how you've taken steps to combat that weakness.
• Ask smart questions. Although it might be tempting to say you have no questions at the end of an interview, you'll show more knowledge and interest in the company if you can ask at least a few questions when given the opportunity. For example, ask about the organization's strategic business plan, its vision or its recent profitability numbers.

Don't be afraid to ask a friend or family member to practice interviewing with you, either. Selling yourself might not be easy the first time you try it, but with practice you can become skilled at it.

A skilled staffing firm can be the first step to getting the right interview with the right company. Contact Sheri Breitstein at The Connors Group at 201-537-0030 or sheri@theconnorsgroup.com.