Land the job – Make them *WANT* to want you
Finding a job you actually want to apply for is one thing. Landing it is another. Especially in this day and age when unemployment runs rampant and competition is thick.
So when you finally score the interview for a job that excites you, taking a cookie cutter approach to the interview is not going to cut it. Sure, you need to have your resume polished, your suit pressed and the answers to the expected scenario questions down pat. We also know enough to have questions prepared to ask the employer, send a thank-you note and walk into the room confidently. But beyond the basic job interview coaching, have you ever sat down to really strategize your key messages in a way that genuinely reflects your passion for wanting the job?
One of my most recent clients called me for an interviewing prep session just after scheduling a job interview with one of Charleston’s largest employers. With the basics down, it was a matter of pulling it all together so that his entire message truly reflected him, his work ethic and why he wanted the job. While working with him, there was one piece of advice that really hit home. While my interview preparation consultations are tailored from client to client, one piece of advice always remains true:
Employers want to know exactly why you want them as much as they would want you; it’s a two way street. They’re passionate about finding the perfect fit for the job … so show them the passion that drove you to apply for it. They WANT to find someone. Show them not only why they want you but why you want them.
Employers want to know what you’re bringing to the table. How past incidences, situations and work environments have all contributed to who you are now and what role you’ll take on at their company if they choose to hire you. Being able to not only provide succinct examples but provide the added touch of why it all ties into what makes the job appealing to you can take your interview to the next level.
Having perfectly practiced answers may sound good, but taking those answers to the next level is what gets you the job. What really made the difference for this particular client was helping him pinpoint the top five reasons he wanted this job and then showing him how to weave these throughout his interview.
His results? Read on:
“Shauna helped me come up with a strategy to weave my strengths and abilities and into my “example” stories. She coached me on how to make those attributes a common theme throughout the interview while tying in my reasoning for applying to the job. By the time of the interview, I was not only prepared, but relaxed.
I was told I was the second best candidate for the job out of more than 400 people. Although I didn’t get the job I interviewed for, the interview went so well that all three interviewers were convinced that I should be part of their team. They have already spread my name to other managers within the company.”
***UPDATE — Client ended up getting the job he applied for!***
Need help landing the job? Call us to set up your interview preparation consultation!
-Shauna
Charleston, SC
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