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You’ve probably heard hundreds of times that
Your Resume Does Not Highlight Skills Specific to the Job
If You Are Not Familiar with the Company, You Will Not Get the Job
It might be the perfect job for you. Your skills match, there is a good fit in terms of corporate culture and you think that you hit it off with your potential future manager. But when you are asked “what attracts you to XYZ Corp?” you cannot answer the question. This lack of a basic understanding of the company will probably cost you the job. Employers not only want the right person for the job, but they also want someone who selected the company for specific reasons. You must do your research on the company before you interview. This will allow you to be proactive in the interview process.
You've got the interview, but the real work is now convincing the interviewers that, not only are you the right person for the job, but you are so much better than anyone else they may have in mind.Click To TweetCan you tell me why you are the perfect person for this job (in 30 seconds)?
While you might not get asked this specific question, you do need to have your “quick pitch” (better know as your elevator speech) ready to go before the job interview. In fact, your elevator speech could be crucial in helping you get an interview. Whatever the need, it is well worth the time to prepare and memorize your 30-second elevator speech.
Are You Prepared for the Interview?
Although it may not seem so, getting to the interview is the easy part. We all know how few and far between we get a real live interview (so it may not seem like the easy part to you), but this part of the process (getting there) is the “passive” part of the process. The real work is now convincing the interviewers that, not only are you the right person for the job, but you are so much better than anyone else they may have in mind. interview preparation is not just about being able to answer a set of “strange” or standard questions. It is about ensuring the hiring manager knows you are the right person for the job. Some of this can be leveraged from your work on your elevator speech, but the rest must come from being prepared in several different ways.
- Know who you will be talking to – Once you get a list of who will be interviewing you, look them up on sites like LinkedIn to learn something about them before you meet (but don’t attempt to connect with them before you get the job!). Ace that Job Interview: 4 Tips for Standing Out and Landing the Job
- Research – Back to the point mentioned earlier, expand your research on the company to include the area of the company where you are interviewing.
- Who’s your daddy? – Metaphorically speaking of course. Who do you know that works at this company or who maybe you know someone who knows someone? It can only help. Ace that Job Interview: 4 Tips for Standing Out and Landing the Job
Have You Lined Up Your References
Having good references is more than just having a list of names. Your references must know (and agree) that you are using their names and that they may be contacted. Most importantly (and hopefully I’m pointing out the obvious), these must be references that you know will present you in the best light. Just because you think they thought highly of you will not cut it, you must speak with them and ensure they agree to act as references. Chances are that if they are not comfortable speaking about you then they will decline to participate. So, how do you get the right references?
