Job interview tips: how to sell your examples in a behavioural interview.

by K B , updated on November 3, 2020

One of the biggest questions I hear from my clients is “how do I sell myself in interview?”

One of the biggest mistakes people make in interview is to think that selling themselves requires chest beating.

Behavioural interviews have been popular for years. Mastering how to present your examples in a behavioural interview will do half the sales job for you – without you actually having to tell the interviewer how terrific you are.

Here’s what I mean.

In a behavioural interview, you need to give a specific example – for example, a person, time, project, task or thing you did. You structure your answer with the situation/task, the action, and the result.

A good behavioural interview starts with self-awareness: that is you understand what you said or did that made you successful in the example you choose to present.

Many people fall down here because they just tell the interviewer what they did. However there is no point just launching into an example or just providing detail about what you did. You also need to tell the interviewer why this particular task was meaningful for you and the challenge associated with the task.

Think about:

–  why you are presenting that example?

–  what was at stake, in the project or completing the task?

–  why did you personally find the task challenging?

–  what did you feel like when you were confronted with that situation?

To sell your examples you need to pick examples that are vivid for you, and tell the interviewer why this situation was challenging for you.

If you give that context to the interviewer they are more likely to think every action you took after that was “amazing”.

Also important is that you present examples where you were really proud of what you did.

This makes it easy to remember the convincing detail. There is a huge difference in your body language if you talk through something you were proud of achieving, rather than just going through the motions or trying to second guess what you think the interviewer wants to hear.

Give the interviewer all the detail around the challenge you faced, combined with your face lighting up when you talk through your example and they’ll start to be sold on you.

No fake superlatives needed!

Need to get ahead of the pack for your next interview?

Get our free e-book The 7 Deadly Sins to Avoid at Job Interview!

Deborah Barit wrote this book. She is one of Australia’s leading interview coaches.

To get your free e-book and some of our best interview tips direct to your inbox, simply click on this link.

Here’s what happy readers said about the e-book and interview tips:

“Deborah Barit is a very smart lady…She is good at figuring out what an employer is looking for. It’s like she has ESP — with her help in preparing, I found no surprises in a recent interview and I was prepared for every question….” Cathy, Leichhardt, NSW

“Because I read so many of your posts, I feel as if you were my personal employment coach. I start my new position in two weeks. I had so many obstacles to overcome and each day you posted a solution to my dilemma and how to improve my search. Thank you so much for your input and PLEASE continue to do what you do!”

Click here to get access to the e-book.

{ 5 comments }

Cover letter tips: selling what matters today

by K B , updated on November 3, 2020

The worst part of any job search is being unemployed. The second worst part is writing a cover letter. Writing about ourselves is an uncomfortable process. We don’t talk ourselves up in ordinary conversation, so having to write about how great we are can be a challenge.

Though cover letters can be difficult to craft, they are an important part of any job application. You have to gauge your audience, determine your selling points, and use appropriate language. Follow these tips for writing a cover letter that will be successful today.

Do Your Research

To “sell yourself”, you have to know who that potential employer is and what they do. Do your research. With the internet at everyone’s fingertips, there is no reason a job hopeful should be uneducated about the job or company they are applying to. Figure out what the position you are applying for is exactly and inform yourself about the company. Demonstrate that you know who you are addressing and that you are truly interested in the goals, mission, and objective of that company within your cover letter. Try to display that you have done your research in your cover letter. This will establish that you are truly interested in the values of the company. This will display to the employer that you are proactive, motivated, and capable of self-initiative – three very important qualities in a successful employee.

Be Concise

A cover letter is very much like an advertisement. Any successful commercial gets its pitch out there in less than thirty seconds. Keep this in mind when you are crafting your cover letter. Be brief and to the point. There is no need for fluff. You want to explain to the employer who you are and why you are the person for the job quickly. In many ways, our tech dominated lives have helped us to craft things in a way that is clear and to the point. With text messaging and Twitter, we have grown accustomed to expressing ourselves in limited spaces. Use this knowledge to your advantage. I’m not saying that your cover letter should sound like a long list of Tweets from your Friday night. However, use your ability to write short and concise thoughts in your cover letter.

Sell What Matters

When writing a cover letter many people try to list every job advantage they have to offer. While it is important to inform your potential employer what your abilities are, you should let much of this happen within your resume. In your cover letter, only discuss the qualities you have that really set you apart from your competition.

While many cover letter articles may suggest you leave this information out, I highly recommend advertising your technological experience within your cover letter. More and more, employers in every area of the professional world are seeking job candidates that can keep up with new technologies and are competent with computers and social media. Use this to your advantage. Take the time to pitch your social media, internet, and computer skills in your cover letter, so that you communicate that you are active in modern technologies. This will demonstrate not only that you are capable of learning new things, but also that you are confident and aware of current social interests.

While cover letter writing can be challenging, it does not have to be impossible. Take the time to craft an effective and precise cover letter that will display all of your best qualities relating to that specific position. Your cover letter is your first introduction to your potential employer. And, though it is a horridly tired phrase, first impressions are important. Use the technology available today to sell yourself on the job market and within your cover letter.

Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online degrees. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031 @gmail.com.

{ 2 comments }

Something better than a holiday?

by K B , updated on November 3, 2020

Is there really anything better than a sun soaked island retreat holiday? Well as the saying goes, a change is as good as a holiday!

What does this really mean though? Sometimes change can be scary, daunting, unnerving and totally exhausting. Last time I checked, holidays were relaxing, fun, adventurous, peaceful and restful. So it led me to ask the question, why is it that someone can come up with this quote and yet most of us find that there is always a reason for not making a change? Why do we find it hard to actually stick to change even when we know that it’s probably the right thing for us to do?

If you are reading this and thinking, yeah, that’s me, then ask yourself one simple question, ‘What is most important to me?’

This will be the first important step for you to determine whether what you are doing or attempting to do in this case, is in fact aligned to your values. Your values are critical to your success in ensuring that when you decide to make a change which you know will enhance your success, fitness, happiness etc, you will stick to it and succeed with results beyond your wildest imagination. This is where the famous quote comes into its own.

We only ever decide to change because something in our lives is not working for us, therefore it does make sense that if we make a change then it will lead to a more fulfilled life. The issue is that some people change, for more money, for a thinner body or for better relationships!. These are general goals and can be to non specific to truly align to our values.

Let me give you a good example of this. For years I struggled with losing 5-10 kilos, I had never been a truly large person but I always seemed to be on a diet,  starting at the gym and generally finding it hard to make a solid commitment to lose the weight and be satisfied. Now, I could argue that if I had been truly happy with myself that I would not have this issue in the first place. I would reply that the two are definitely linked, being happy with self and looking after self go hand in hand. However, I also realised that my goals were not based on my values.

I was not fat, so the motivation was not necessarily going to be there for me day after day, month after month based purely on having a flat stomach and a thin waist. Having said that I was always extremely thrilled to lose a couple of muffin top friends during my dieting regimes. When I looked deep within, what motivated me was actually based on the type of foods I was eating and the moral issues associated with this as well. I became a vegetarian and stopped eating processed foods altogether. I find it much easier to stick to a weight I am comfortable and exercise regularly as my body is healthy and I lots of energy.

It is essential to work out what your true motivation is behind every change you decide to make to give yourself an easier road with sticking to the change. When you have worked out what’s important to you and what you want to change, then look at why you want to change. This will give you your motivation. One thing that I always stress to clients, is that change should never be based on what others want or need from you. Change must be based on values that are your own. It’s not enough want to stop drinking for example, for family members.

Take ownership for the changes that you agree to as well. If you want results, you need to take the time to work out what will work for and what just doesn’t cut it for you. If you keep attracting the same partners for example and can see that under the definition of insanity, you would possible need a straight jacket, then sit up and take notice. If you choose not to change, then you will continue to attract the same partners. However, if you acknowledge that what you have been doing is not serving you, and that you are going to continue getting the same outcomes, change will come a lot more naturally. The desire to change must be owned first. The steps of how to change and what do will come next. You don’t need to be perfect, just try something else.

When you are putting a change in place which is based on your values and it sits well with you, the change will ultimately be better than a holiday because you will be living your life true to yourself. There is nothing more motivating and appealing than that, even if it is daunting and scary and there is not a palm tree or cocktail to be seen, you will end up far happier!

Emma Driscoll

Emma is Owner and Founder of Coaching Combinations, a HR and career development consultancy. Visitwww.coachingcombinations.com.au for more information.

 

{ 0 comments }

Let’s not get too precious about rejecting LinkedIn “tarts”

by K B , updated on November 3, 2020

How to reject a connection on LinkedIn.

Do you ever have someone question what you fundamentally believe is right, and because you fundamentally believe it’s right, you find yourself lost for moment for a way to answer them?

The other day I was talking to someone about LinkedIn.

She said she didn’t like it. She thought it was a waste of time from a networking point of view. Her main concern was, however, that she was in an industry that made most people unhappy. So rejecting a connection on LinkedIn would just make that worse.

I said “hmmm, let me get back to you on that last point” and promised I would give her some ways to manage rejecting the the many connection requests she anticipated.

But, first, because I cannot help myself, here are some benefits about being a bit of a LinkedIn tart. [click to continue…]

{ 5 comments }

What’s your Googleganger been up to lately?

by K B , updated on November 3, 2020

I love the Macquarie Dictionary’s word of the year, Googleganger:   “a person with the same name as oneself, whose online references are mixed with one’s own among search results for one’s name.”

Apparently I am a gnome rescuer.  One of my rescue operations made headlines in the Penrith Press.

Seriously though, it is worthwhile Google stalking your googleganger every so often. Just in case someone more sinister pops up. One way to do that is by setting a Google alert with your name in it.

With people posting, re-tweeting, and sharing all over the place, you can’t have complete control over how you appear on Google. You actually never have had really, but sharing on social media puts a whole new spin on it.

If your online namesake has some unsavoury habits here’s what I would do for a really quick fix.

LinkedIn has a high Google ranking. So your profile reference should appear in a Google search. Hop into LinkedIn and look at your headline, then make sure that it appears in searches. Include a line about what you do and what makes you unique. If you’re stuck, take a look at this post by LinkHumans on creative LinkedIn headlines.

LinkedIn lets you customize what you want to appear in search engines. If you go to settings and edit your public profile, you can work out what you want to appear.

This is how mine appears. It’s obvious that I have no known gnome affiliations by the way I have described myself.

There are many things to be mindful of on Facebook, Twitter and Quora, and other ways you can populate your Google profile. I’ll touch on these when I finish reading the speech my Googleganger girlfriend made at annual dinner of the Blue Mountains Rotary Club in 2008.

It’s a cracker 😉

 

 

{ 3 comments }

World domination starts with two little words. Do you know what they are?

by K B , updated on November 3, 2020

Interesting subject Karalyn, and I note it has been curiously left alone for a few days. Perhaps it is because on face value, initial thoughts conjured up images of unsavoury type characters throughout world history with egos the size of galaxies and legions of weapon wielding maniacs who invariably succumb to welcomed and often violent deaths…?!

Conversely our thoughts turn to fictional characters that have entertained us from books and comic strips to images projected to us from the safe bunker of our lounge chairs and theatre seats. Name any super hero and he/she has a Nemesis perverse on world dominance and blowing Earth to smithereens, woe to be thwarted at the 11th hour by our hero (thank goodness!)

Other thwarters of pseudo dominators include James Bond (choose a villain, any villain), and on a lighter side; Maxwell Smart (KAOS) and Austin Powers (Dr. Evil). When we get into Science Fiction the threat to our existence is almost endless (and resistance is futile!)  but, we somehow manage to survive, till at least the next episode.

On the cartoon front, Stewi Griffin (Family Guy) and my all time favourite as a kid, The Brain (Pinky & The Brain) who spent every episode planning and conniving to take over the world with results ranging from mildly funny to hilarious (well, for a kid anyway).

Art mimics life they say, but I suspect if would-be world dictators were football skulled two year olds or pink eyed lab mice, they may be a little easier to control…

However, DOMINATION doesn’t have to be suppression, dictatorship, or anything negative at all. By inserting an invisible YOUR, twixt the words ACHIEVE and WORLD in the above subject title puts this question into the appropriate context. The want to take charge of your destiny is the point and I will take exactly five hundred words leaving suggestions to your readers on how to achieve this.

There are hundreds, possibly thousands of self help books that will guide you to dreams and thoughts as a way to manifest success and dominance of your world. Crap!

Sure there is an element of visualising, but if you plan to spend an extended time sitting on a grassy knoll staring into space thinking of grandeur, you will end up spending your life sitting on a grassy knoll staring into space thinking of grandeur.

Action is the key. Positive action, passionate action, persistent action. Action that is true to your beliefs, directed at your goal and aligned with the greater good. You will be amazed to find that if you couple your own personal goals with what you can uniquely give back to the world, people will take notice, listen and follow.

Set an example, be a little different, rise above the crowd…

For good or for bad (and I strongly recommend the former) all throughout living history and even more so now, the desire to achieve World Domination doesn’t need 500-700 words – it can be achieved in just two! “Follow Me”

(And on that note you can now follow Craig on Twitter @CraigBeechey)

{ 0 comments }

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →