Talk your way into your dream job

Your cover letter and resume is enough to help you land the job interview, but it is going to take more than that to clinch the job.  There is a huge difference between the written aspect of a job application and the oral interview. Your resume can help you sell your skills and qualifications to the company, but it is your interview that would help you sell your personality.

It is therefore important that you learn how to sell yourself by what you say and how you act during the interview. The following suggestions will help you talk your way into the job of your dreams.

• Be prepared – interviews are never predictable, you can never tell how it will go. Even if you somehow have a list of questions the recruiter will ask; there is no guarantee that they will stick to the script. You have to cover all your bases about your job experiences, qualifications and every other aspect of the job you feel will come up. Find out all you can about the job, the organization and the industry so that you can confidently answer any question thrown at you.

 

• Make yourself stand out – you are not the only person applying for the opening. There are probably lots of similar or even more qualified applicants vying for the same position. You need something that would make you stand out (in a good way). Your body language, handshake, dressing and even the way you walk should show that you have your act together. Talking your way into your dream job starts from the reception desk.

 

• Try not to say no – there will be several times in the course of the interview when you are asked if you have a particular skill or experience, or if you will be willing to perform certain tasks. Try as much as you can to avoid saying “No”. Saying no takes away the opportunity for you to sell yourself and immediately converts you from a potential positive into a potential strike off the list. Even if you don’t gave the qualification or skills to perform the task in question, there are others ways you can reply while still maintaining your chances of getting g the job. A good suggestion is to point out that you have never performed that particular task before but with the right instructions and a bit of time, you will get it just right. This shows that you are willing to learn.

 

• Put your people skills to work – before the interview, gather information about the interviewers, your future colleagues and the organization you applied to. Some of this information can be gotten on LinkedIn. Your research will give you insight into the people you will be meeting and will help you get answers that would impress the interviewers.

It is always a good idea to send a short appreciation note a few days after your interview. Use this medium to thank the interviewers for their time and give a gentle reminder why you remain the best person for the position.