the Interview Expert 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Newsletter
Greetings!
 
Welcome to your latest issue of the Interview Expert newsletter.

Every issue explores the key elements of a successful job interview and strategic job search techniques - so you can master your skills and land the job you really want!
 
In this issue we outline the common traps professionals often fall into when they are networking and interviewing for jobs, promotions and new careers.

Top 5 Networking And Interviewing Traps Professionals Fall Into-And How to Avoid Them
 
Most top professionals find it difficult to market and sell themselves when looking for promotions, jobs and new careers. That's because these skilled professionals are extremely task driven and tend to let their results speak for them.
 
When we search for a job, we often forget the need to clearly and powerfully communicate those results. Ironically, professionals who are naturally good at marketing and selling their talents tend to be the ones who aren't particularly skilled at doing the work. They've become practiced marketers in order to survive and move up in their jobs.
 
So, here are the top five mistakes many top professionals make - and some ways to avoid falling into these traps.
 
1.  Let the interviewer figure out who you are 

The Trap: Talk about a broad range of your achievements and results - from getting teams to work better, to improving specific processes and managing clients, etc. - and forget to tie it all together by focusing on which of your achievements would resonate most with the hiring organization.

The Solution: Market yourself. It's all about positioning yourself strategically as a certain type of expert, and then explaining how you can solve particular problems. Create a personal branding statement that shows interviewers exactly how you help organizations solve their problems. Then, back up your claims with solid proof in the form of "interviewer stories". That way, you build credibility and people remember you. Marketing is about packaging yourself.  It's having a business card and a resum� that sells you before you walk in the door.
 
2. Talk in generalities

The Trap: Talk in generalities, saying things like: Teams work better when a leader works on a collaborative basis. It's good to get the team together right at the start of a project so they buy into the objectives.

The Solution: To the listener, this sounds like you know what you should do but leaves them wondering if you've actually done it. Instead, give examples, in the form of carefully crafted interview stories, to support your claims of how you can help the hiring organization fix its problems. 
 
3. Loose focus
 
The Trap: Talk about your own great features - strong people-person, team player, results-focused, etc. - and forget to focus on the hiring organization's point of view.

The Solution: Somehow, you need to turn everything about you, into everything about them. To turn your thinking around a full 360 degrees, take the time to research and identify your targeted hiring organizations' current challenges. Write them down in table format. In the column next to each challenge, write down exactly how you can use your expertise to help them solve their issues. In the third column, include an example of what you've done in the past that supports your claim. This is a good way to start re-focusing yourself on the hiring organization - not on you. 
 
4.  Check your ego at the door
 
The Trap: Everything is a team effort these days. So, when responding to interview questions, we tend to say things like: We achieved a 15 percent increase in sales and we worked together to get it done.

The Solution: Say exactly what you did to contribute to the team's results. By all means, include the "we", but don't forget the "I" when talking about your achievements. In the example above, it's better to say: I helped the team to achieve a 15 percent increase in sales by doing [such and such ...].
 
5. Wait for someone to tell you you've lost your perspective
 
The Trap: Believe that you don't sound like every other job candidate.
 
The Solution: It's hard to look from the inside out without getting a distorted view. But, you need to become aware of how you're perceived by the hiring organization. Otherwise, you won't be able to shift your perspective and talk to prospective employers about how you can meet their needs and challenges with your unique skills and experience. This is very difficult to do yourself unless you've done over and over again. To gain that perspective, you can practice on low-risk contacts such as family members, friends or former colleagues who "listen" to your pitch and provide feedback. But, never be afraid to seek professional guidance from a career specialist - you'll achieve your goals faster - and with less pain.
 

Consciously recognizing and avoiding each of these traps in your job search process will help you quickly resonate with key people so you can land the job you really want!  
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Questions?  Comments?  Topics for future newsletters?
Feel free to e-mail us anytime at the Interview Expert newsletter.
 
 
And don't forget to check the Interview Expert blog for more free resources including information on how to answer standard interview questions. 
Can't get past the first interview?
Are you always a close second in the final round?
It could be your interview skills.
 
We help you master the language of results, solutions and outcomes 
by providing you personalized, professional, one-on-one coaching
so you can land the job you really want!
 
Sincerely,
 
Heather
 
Heather McNab
the Interview Expert 
 
416-239-4406
[email protected]      
 
Helping top professionals who give their best,
get their best:  Promotions. Jobs. Careers. 
Learn to Sell Yourself as the Solution so you can land the job you really want!
Personal Branding
Heather
How do you stand out
from the crowd of other job candidates?
 
It's critical to create a solid, market-focused personal branding statement that takes everything about you and makes it everything about them.  
 
This step is so important that I've  designed a special package to help you create one -- fast.  
It's called Make Me Memorable.  We work with you to create your own unique brand so you stand out from the crowd. 
 
And you don't have to wait for your next interview --
do it now, use it now. Dramatically increase
the power of your networking.  
Just click Make Me Memorable to get the details.
 
 
Newsletter Archive
 
See all our past issues in the Newsletter Archive
Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List 
Interview Skills Assessment
How do your interview skills really stack up?
Find out before your next interview.
 
You can get an objective evaluation of your current interview skills by requesting a professional assessment.   
  • During a 30-minute phone interview, we'll ask you questions that help us assess your current skill level and your preparedness for upcoming interviews.
  • Within 24-hours, you'll receive a detailed personal report that tells you exactly how you can polish your skills.
The Interview Skills Assessment is available for a discounted fee of $97 plus GST (regular value - $300). Just call 416-239-4406 now to schedule your assessment.