Tech & Finance Recruiting

By Ringside Talent

October 19, 2016

Job interviews tend to stress out most job seekers. While it’s easy (and free) to find common interview questions, it’s not the questions that are the problem – it’s the answers. The key is to frame your responses in a way that allows you to sell yourself. Find out exactly what the employers is looking for in someone for this role. Your answer to “Why should I hire you?” should match the requirements listed in the job posting.

There are a few areas in particular that you want to focus on:

1. The Right Skills

Hopefully, you have some or all of the skills needed for the job. It is unusual for any candidate to be a complete match for every aspect of any job, so don’t worry if you’re missing a skill or two. If you have experience in the industry, you are likely familiar with the specific job requirements already. If you don’t have experience or if you are a recent graduate, then find out what skills are required for the job by studying the job post and asking around.

2. The Right Experience

If you are looking for something more than an entry-level job, you must have experience. Employers will pay a premium for people who have been through the “school of hard knocks” and can bring their experience with them to a new job. If you have relevant experience, you will quickly become productive without an extended training period. Furthermore, you are less likely to make rookie mistakes that could cost the employer money, production time, and customers.

3. The Right Attitude

Employers look for individuals who can work well with others. Business is a team sport. Every enterprise succeeds based on the ability of everyone in the organization to work together and achieve as a team. Thus, bringing the right attitude to the game is key to a successful job search.

4. Tell Your Success Stories

As you describe your qualifications, you want to tie them to your successes and achievements. You can do that by keeping the following points in mind:

  • Highlight specific achievements. What exactly did you do that lead to success in some situation?
  • Include quantifiable results whenever possible.
  • Identify moments when you gained increased responsibility.
  • Mention special work-related skills that add value to the specific job you are interviewing for.
  • Identify educational coursework you have completed that was related to the hiring company’s needs.
  • Mention your awards and honors.

 

If you are a recent graduate, you may not have as many work-related success stories to share. In that event, you should try to match your educational background to the job. It is important to cite all the relevant training and certifications you have received. Emphasize the education that is most important to the job you are interviewing for.

Finally, you need to remember that as important as the “Why should I hire you” question is, it is not everything. Think of this question as your best opportunity to sell yourself – but don’t let it distract you from all the other elements of the interview.

 

Source: Recruiter.com written by Robert Moment

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