Interview Success

Whether we are in a position that we love or are managing a transition, in order to secure a new opportunity one thing that cannot be avoided –the interview.  Think of the interview as a time to showcase your knowledge, skills and experience.  In order to maximize your time with the hiring manager always go into the interview with a strategy to distinguish yourself.  Make the hiring manager see you doing the job.  Make yourself standout from the crowd with a few simple suggestions.

First, really paint a picture in your mind of why you want the position.  Don’t go in with an “I’ll take anything” attitude.  Rather, see yourself as the company’s newest sales professional and visualize your personality and contacts being a help to you in your first 90 days.  See yourself working in a part of town you like or finally getting exposure to the latest software package.  Before any and all interviews see yourself as a success on the job.

Next, prepare by doing some research on the company you wish to become a part of.  A simple Google search is a great way to begin.  If the company does not have a web presence, check with people in your network or find out about businesses in the same space as the company you are looking to join.

The third think to keep in mind during the interview is to answer all questions fully and completely-even the “yes” or “no” questions.  Be specific and if appropriate use relevant technical terms.  While answering interview questions never pretend that you know the answer to a question if you do not.  Keep the interview conversational and interactive by asking questions during the interview as well as t the end of it.

Lastly, as the interview draws to a close, clarify your position as a candidate with the decision maker.  Make a statement such as “I’ve really enjoyed our interview.  I feel like this position really dovetails with my current experience.  Is there anything that would keep you from recommending me for the position?”  Then ask “when might I hear about the status of my candidacy?”  Plan your follow up strategy according to what they have told you is their schedule. 

By planning, articulating and clarifying, interviews can be much less scary.   Try it.

Cover Letters

Whether you are in a transition or trying to locate a better position, a cover letter is part of the application process.  Lots of people worry about what to include in a cover letter in order to make it most effective.  Why not write yourself a cover letter template that you can customize for each opportunity you are interesting in applying. 

The opening should set a cheerful tone with an upbeat greeting noting how you came to know about the opportunity.  Try something like “I am pleased to submit my resume as application for the administrative assistant position advertised on Careerbuilder.com” 

The next part of a cover letter should include a few sentences about why you are the right candidate for the position.  Look over the position specifications and find ways to illustrate your value.  Try something like “At Acme Products, I  was responsible for the entire marketing plan for the cabinet manufacturing division” Include roughly three examples of this sort that make clear why you should be interviewed for this position. 

After illustrating your value simply craft a respectful closing.  Write something like “Thank you for reviewing my credentials.  I look forward to entering into a mutually beneficial dialogue”. 

The object of the cover letter is not to persuade the reader to make a hire.  Rather it is to convince the hiring authority that time would be well spent interviewing you.  So open with a positive greeting, illustrate your value as a candidate, customize your cover letter for each position and close each with respectful anticipation of an interview.  Making your template and customizing it for each opportunity takes the work and worry out of cover letter submission.  Try it. 

Make a Plan

Whether you are looking to grow a career or are in transition, your success depends upon your plan.  Making a plan and working that plan are key to everything we do.  This means setting a goal that we want to achieve in a specific time frame and identifying the action steps to get us there.  The goal could be a promotion within the quarter, an industry change within the year or a new position as soon as possible.  Perhaps we need to take a class or expand our network to get us to the next level.  Maybe our resume needs a re-write or we need to refine our search strategies. Once we are sure of the steps that need to be taken we have the beginnings of a plan. Breaking the word PLAN down as a mnemonic device makes clear some things that we need to do as we prepare for our own success no matter what we are engaged in. 

P is for participate.  Participate in industry conferences, classes, committees at work.  Raise your profile and get new ideas by participating in events that interest you and add to your value as an employee.

L is for learn.  Learn about industry trends so that you can talk about them in an interview.  Learn what is causing your company to spend money unnecessarily so that you can be part of solving the problem.

A is for articulate.  Articulate your goals and your needs to those around you.  Tell people where you see yourself in a year from now and make them a part of your strategy to get there.

N is for network.  Build a network that you can rely upon.  Create a support system around yourself that can help you answer questions, solve problems and alert you to openings that fit your skill set.  Offer people in your network support when they need it.

Creating a plan that supports your vision for your career is so important.  When you put it into practice and see results it is so satisfying.  Try it.

When looking for a position or to grow a career the advice that people get often centers on networking.  And it sounds like good advice.  Meet new people in your field, get introduced to decision makers and land a new position.  People diligently try to put that advice into practice.  They go to industry and networking events looking to meet those connections.  They keep their ears open and engage in countless conversations hoping to make an impression on someone. 

Weeks or even months go by, sometimes without much to show for it.  Maybe a stack of new business cards and some new connections on LinkedIn.  But in the search for a position not much further along.  Why is that? 

It is because networking is in fact an act of giving and not receiving, and most networkers view it as the opposite.  The majority of people are at networking events looking to get rather than to receive. 

Turning this thinking around opens us to so many more possibilities.  From now on try this:  Tell yourself that you are going to help someone at the next event that you attend.  Listen to what people are saying, think about how you can help, and make offering that assistance your impetus for follow up.

Call a new contact with follow up information, or an offer to connect him/her to someone in your existing network.  Instead of looking to increase your contacts, seek to share your contacts with someone else. 

By sharing with and advising others your network expands in a solid and sustainable way.  You make a lasting, tangible impression on the new people in your universe.  Those new people and others will be motivated to share with you.  Try it.