Tips for Job Interview Success – How to Energize Your Success Stories
As we near the end of spring 2010 it remains a very tough job market. In tight job markets, hiring companies hold the upper hand as there are more individuals seeking employment than there are jobs available. With more candidates after the same job, it takes more interviews to get an offer than it does in a normal job market. So the challenge is to learn how to set yourself apart from the competition. Remember, the most qualified person does not necessarily get the job. It is the candidate who best convinces the hiring manager of their capabilities to make an impact in the organization. Learning how to prepare for an interview is a critical skill in today’s job market.
One way to set yourself apart from the competition is to create and relate success stories in an impactful manner. The key is that your story must evoke emotion and interest from the hiring manager. A success story told without enthusiasm, using passive words will not register with the listener. Inject energy into your voice as you relate your successes using action oriented words.
Some examples:
Passive – My responsibilities include communication between marketing and sales.
Active – I re-energized communication between marketing and sales.
Passive – I received the employee of the month award.
Active – My superior performance earned me the employee of the month award.
Passive – I am the call center manager.
Active – As the manager, I orchestrate the activities of the call center.
The action oriented statements will catch the attention of the interviewer. You would then explain, again using words of action, how you re-energized communication, earned the employee of the month award, and orchestrated call center activities. This strategy ties your actions to the accomplishment, further building your credentials in the eye of the hiring manager. To get you started, here is a small list of action oriented words:
Solve(d)
Create(d)
Design(ed)
Led
Close(d)
Author(ed)
Resolve(d)
Implement(ed)
Brainstorm some of your own. You will be surprised how they make your success stories come alive. You will be perceived as a doer and someone who gets the job done. Most candidates talk in generalities about their previous job responsibilities and skills. You can set yourself apart by relating the specific results that you have achieved. If you do this effectively your job offers will come more frequently.
[...] understands that they don’t know everything. During your interview preparation you can create success stories that demonstrate your ability to think intelligently.3. Self-motivated – The boss doesn’t [...]