If you’re job searching, there’s no hiding from the fact that you have to sell yourself in an interview. You may not think of yourself as a salesperson, but if you want to land a new position, it’s crucial that you learn how to present yourself as someone who can benefit an employer and make their team stronger. This may seem like a lot of pressure, but with some preparation beforehand (and maybe even some practice), selling yourself on paper and in person isn’t such a bad thing.
Connect with the interviewer using commonalities
To connect with the interviewer, you’ll need to look for commonalities. If you can find a shared interest or experience, bring it up! That way, both of you will know what to talk about once the interview starts. Don’t force it, though—if there aren’t any obvious commonalities between you and the interviewer (like being from different cities), then don’t make up one just to fill dead air. You’ll just come off as fake instead.
Know your numbers
In order to be the best salesperson for your dream job, you need to know your numbers. You need to know what you have done in the past, what you can do in the future, and why you want this particular job.
- How many years of experience do I have?
- What have my responsibilities be?
- What was my biggest challenge or accomplishment?
Get ready for uncomfortable questions
Be ready to answer questions that you’re not sure about. It’s common for interviewers to ask difficult questions or ones that require thinking on your feet. If you don’t understand the question or need more time to formulate an answer, be honest and say so! Don’t get flustered by these moments; they’re all part of the game.
On a similar note, try not to react too strongly when your interviewer provokes an emotional response from you through a provocative statement or question (e.g., “So what kind of person do I have working for me if they can’t stand up for themselves?”).
Focus on what you can bring to the company and position, not on what you want from it personally
When it comes to selling yourself, it’s important to remember that the interview process is a two-way street. Your potential employer wants to know how you can benefit their business, not how much money or time off they’ll need to give you in exchange for your service.
To keep this in mind, we recommend focusing on what you can bring to the company and position during an interview rather than what you want from it personally. This means:
- Don’t talk about salary requirements or benefits packages unless specifically asked (and even then, make them say the numbers first!)
- Don’t discuss your personal life outside of work unless asked about your hobbies.
- It’s important to be able to explain how your skills will help the company in a way that’s both easy to understand and memorable. Use examples of when you have used those skills, and ensure your responses are detailed enough for the interviewer to want more details about them. If they’re not interested in hearing more, you should consider why this is the case (it could be because they’ve already heard enough information on the topic).
Use clear, simple language – don’t try to be too flowery or use clichés if it doesn’t fit with how you normally speak
Using a conversational tone is important for your interview. You can achieve this by using simple language that doesn’t require a lot of cognitive processing from the person you’re speaking to.
Don’t use jargon or acronyms – instead, describe what the acronym stands for. For example, if someone asks, “What do you mean by NIH?” instead of saying, “National Institutes of Health,” try giving them an explanation instead: “It’s the government agency that funds scientific research.”
Avoid buzzwords and clichés – buzzwords are words like ” tipping point” and “synergy” that have become overused in business conversations, so much so that they’ve lost their meaning entirely. If you find yourself using these words too often in your speech or writing, avoid them. Your interviewer will appreciate it.
Listen, listen, listen
Listening is key to good communication and building rapport with others, which are crucial parts of an interview. Listen for what the interviewer says and listen for what they don’t say. Try to understand what is asked in the question clearly, so you focus only on important things. Listen carefully to their tone of voice: does it sound like they’re interested in what you have to say? Do they ask questions or offer comments as you speak? These are all good signs that the interviewer receives your answers well, so keep going!
Selling yourself doesn’t have to be uncomfortable if you do a little preparation beforehand
Prepare for the interview by developing a clear idea of what you want from the job and why it’s important. Make sure that you know all about the company, its goals, and its products or services. If possible, practice answering questions about these topics so that you can speak confidently without referring to notes. Practice saying “I” statements instead of just listing your qualifications: “I’m good at multitasking,” as opposed to “My previous job required me to multitask…” This will give the impression that your strengths come from within rather than being granted by another company or person. Also, make sure that your answers are concise and well-organized; having all relevant information readily available will make it easier for people who are considering hiring you!
You may not like every question, but don’t let this throw off your game too much – after all, part of selling yourself is demonstrating resilience in difficult situations!
Getting ready for a job interview can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be if you’re prepared. By preparing and practicing some of these strategies, you’ll find yourself in much better shape when it comes time to sell yourself.
