How To Answer “Why Should We Hire You?”

How To Answer “Why Should We Hire You?”

Every time you interview, your main purpose is to convince the employer to hire you. The job search is a sales process. The hiring manager (your future boss) is the “customer,” and you are both the sales rep and the product. Why should they choose you over all the other “products” out there?

During the interview process, the hiring manager might ask you, “Why should we hire you?” Here are some tips for how you can effectively answer this tough interview question and stand out from other job candidates:

Focus On What You Can Do For The Employer

Job candidate explains why the employer should hire her in a job interview

This question is actually a fantastic opportunity for you to summarize why you’d be a great hire.

Always focus your answer on what benefits you bring, what problems you can solve, and what solutions you can provide. Never, ever say that they should hire you because you need the job or because you really want it—or anything remotely related to your reasons for wanting the job. This is your chance to connect the dots and help the employer see why you’re the best person for the job.

Think about things you know the hiring manager (interviewer) is looking for—skill sets, background, character traits, personal qualities, education, experience, or anything else that will make you successful in this role. Relate your answer to these things.

Give An Example

Job candidate answers "Why should we hire you?" in a job interview

Explain how you meet the employer’s needs and give an example to support your answer.

Your answer should be framed like this: “You should hire me because you’ve said you want someone with A, B, and C. I fit all of your requirements. I have A (say what that is), B (maybe give an example), and C (elaborate further).”

This will help you stand out from the other candidates and it gives the employer a reason to hire you.

Keep The Job Description (And Your Skills!) In Mind

Typically, this question will come toward the end of the interview, so you can refer to what you’ve already talked about, or mention something new that you know they’d be interested in. If it comes in the beginning, use the job description and your research to answer:

  • Will this job require long hours? Mention your work ethic.
  • Will this job need someone with great communication skills? Give an example of yours.
  • Will this job need someone who can learn on the fly? Tell them how you’re going to get up to speed quickly and how you’ve learned and adapted before.
  • Does this job need someone with a particular background? Mention yours.
  • Do you have the skill set they want? Talk about your skill set and how you have been successful with it.

Give them examples of what you have achieved in the past. If you haven’t done this job before, talk about similar things you’ve done or qualities you have that will make you successful in this new role.

It’s never easy to answer “Why should we hire you?” in a job interview. However, if you do these three things, you’ll be able to articulate your skills, experience, and qualifications with ease. And you’ll impress the hiring manager in the process!

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

How To Stay Calm And Confident In A Job Interview

How To Stay Calm And Confident In A Job Interview

As a career coach for 20 years, I’ve worked with people who are so nervous to go into job interviews that they literally sweat through their clothes. Thankfully, there are a few things that significantly helped them stay calm and confident in job interviews so they could make a great first impression and land the job they want.

Here are three tips I have taught all my clients who are going into job interviews to utilize in order to feel calmer and show more confidence. I think at least one of these will help you…

3 Tips To Stay Calm & Confident In An Interview

@j.t.odonnell

3 Job Interview Tips To Make You Calmer & More Confident 😀👍♥️ For years I’ve been coaching people that get so nervous in job interviews that they sweat through their clothes. as a result I’ve built a lot of tools and tips to help them succeed in job interviews. these three tips have been the most successful for people who need to be more common focused. the benefit is when you do these things you’ll also appear more confident. knowing how to reset yourself in a job interview is very important. you also need to know how to answer really difficult questions in a way that shows the person asking them that you are not afraid. I think you’ll find these three tips super helpful and if you like what I suggest you may want to check out my new tiktok series on the 18 hardest behavioral questions and how to answer them correctly. I think it’ll give you the confidence you need to truly succeed in your next job interview good luck and go get’em!

♬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

1. Wear/bring something that will be a cue to relax.

The first tip that will help you stay calm and confident in job interviews is to go into the interview with something that, when you notice it, will be a cue for you to take a breath and relax and put a smile on your face. For example, if you wear jewelry, put the ring on a different finger or the watch/bracelet on the other wrist. If you usually carry a pen, bring a different color pen.

When you notice this one thing, don’t over-smile, but take a breath and remind yourself that you’re not there in an interrogation. You’re there potentially meeting a new colleague. And when you look at it that way, that you’re there to make a friend and get to know somebody, you will take that breath, you will smile, and you will relax. And the more you notice it, the more you’ll connect with who you are in that moment so that you’re giving off the right body language and facial expressions because that’s a big part of your communication in a job interview.

2. When you get asked a difficult question, begin your response with, “That’s a great question,” and remember to smile.

Whenever you get asked one of those difficult questions in a job interview, those questions that just make us anxious, condition yourself to say, “That’s a great question,” because, psychologically, in my experience, when you say that’s a good question and you say it with a smile on your face, you approach it like, “I’m going to answer this question the best that I can.”

Also, the hiring manager knows they’re asking you a hard question. That’s why they’re asking you. They want to see your reaction. So when your reaction is, “That’s a great question,” that tells them you’re not afraid of that question. You’re ready to answer that question—a sign of confidence.

3. Learn how to answer behavioral interview questions.

The last and most important tip that will help you stay calm and confident in a job interview is to learn how to effectively answer behavioral interview questions. This is an essential part of interview prep.

Behavioral interview questions are open-ended questions designed to get inside your head and help the hiring manager learn how you think. And by having to give more than a one-word answer, it reveals more about your personality in the workplace, your aptitude, whether or not you’re flexible, and your whole mentality and strategy. And this is really important because they’re trying to find the right person for the job. By learning how to effectively answer behavioral interview questions, you’ll be sure to show the hiring manager you are the right person for the job.

It’s completely normal to feel nervous before a job interview. I hope these three tips will help you stay calm and confident during your next one. Good luck, and go get ’em!

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How To Answer “Why Should We Hire You?”

4 Tips For Finding Your Dream Job

Not all of us are fortunate enough to land our dream job, aka the kind of job we dreamed about having when we were kids. For some, a dream job would be becoming a teacher, a fireman, a pilot, or any other job you would be thrilled to have. You should consider yourself lucky if you land your dream job at some point in your life.

Perhaps the most perplexing part of the hiring process is that many people end up in jobs that don’t line up with what they studied in college. For example, you may have studied law but could have ended up balancing ledgers in a commercial firm for a living. If you want to find out what careers you’d thrive in, take this FREE Career Decoder Quiz!

It’s one thing to pursue your dream job, but it takes time and dedication to actually land it.

If you’re chasing your dream career, follow these tips for your chance at success!

Realize That It’s Not Enough To Dream

First and foremost, it’s important to narrow down what exactly your dream job is. Anybody can dream, but it takes hard work to turn this dream into reality.

It’s important to know who you are, your strengths and weaknesses, and how you can effectively use those strengths and work on your weaknesses. A good approach to this is to be calm and positive, as well as objective.

Determining what your dream job is based on your strengths, competencies, and capabilities are all great first steps in realizing your career goals and dreams.

Put Yourself In Your Dream Employer’s Shoes

Woman on laptop thinks about what she's going to write

Both employers and employees need to benefit from one another in the hiring process.

From an employer’s perspective, it is in terms of finding solutions for their problems and contributing to the overall goals and objectives of the business.

As a candidate for your dream job, you need to think of how well you can add value to the company, and how you can use your skills to better the company as a whole. This type of thinking will set you apart from other candidates.

Effectively Sell Your Skills

Man talks to a coworker and shakes his hand

Companies operate in competitive environments, and because of that, it’s necessary that those in pursuit of their dream careers need to make some personal and organizational sacrifices. Effective skill selling means you take your qualifications, experiences, skill sets, and competencies and use them to attract and retain prospective employers.

While it is necessary to present your credentials in a fair light, it’s also important to substantiate facts and evidence through quantifying your experience. However, you shouldn’t sell yourself short, as doing so could hinder sustainable career growth and development.

Consider What Your Daily Life Would Be Like In Your Dream Job

Woman thinks about her future and considers what life would be like if she got her dream job

There are lots of reasons to pursue dream jobs, including growth prospects and job satisfaction. These reasons need to be nurtured and satisfied in the dream job.

It’s also important to consider that your concept of a dream job may change over time, and what may have been considered a dream job before may not be the case anymore.

You need to identify if your skills and competencies are in sync with market realities before making the final call on a dream job. You should create focused plans and strategies aimed at helping you land a job you’ll love.

Remember, when looking for your dream job, you should consider a blend of rewards and growth opportunities, as well as map out a plan to meet your goals head-on.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

How To Answer “Why Should We Hire You?”

3 Signs Your Interview Isn’t Going In The Right Direction

Interviewing is nerve-wracking even in the best of circumstances. If you feel like you’re under a microscope, it’s because you are! Employers want to make sure that you can do the job. But, just as importantly, they want to determine if you can fit in with their team.

Likability is an intangible component of your interview, so how do you ensure that you come across as likable as well as competent? What do you do when your interview isn’t going in the right direction?

The fact is that there is no magic formula. Your best bet is to prepare for the interview as well as you can. If the interview doesn’t seem to be going well, you can try to pivot a little, but sometimes there is nothing you can do. If the interviewer has already made up their mind to go with another candidate and they’re just going through the motions by interviewing you, that isn’t on you.

These things do happen, though, perhaps more than we know. You need to be aware of what is going on during your interview so that you can try to adjust to the extent that you can.

Here are three signs your job interview isn’t going well:

They Didn’t Have A Good Reaction To Your Success Stories

Job candidate talks to hiring managers and realizes the interview isn't going well

You may have a story of a success that in the past has gotten nods of approval or smiles from your interviewer(s). If you tell the same story with the same zest and you don’t get the same or similar reaction, it may mean that they aren’t listening, didn’t get the point of the story, or missed the importance of the success.

It could also be a sign that you have failed to connect with the interviewer from the start, and they aren’t as attentive as you need them to be to get why you are the most qualified candidate.

They Seemed Bored And Distracted

Job candidate thinks the hiring managers/interviewers seem bored and distracted during his job interview

If the interviewer keeps looking at their phone or computer screen, they may be displaying a lack of interest in what you have to say, or they may just be distracted by something that is going on that is taking precedence over your interview. Perhaps they are monitoring an emergency situation, but they can’t or don’t share that with you. Or maybe they have just decided that they aren’t going to hire you, so nothing you say will make a difference. Again, they are just going through the motions.

Without being rude yourself, there is little you can do to get them to pay attention to you unless you manage to get their attention with a witty remark or a humorous story. Everyone usually responds to humor if it is well-delivered and natural. Not everyone can pull that off, however, and it is especially challenging if you are nervous.

They Didn’t Tell You About Next Steps Or Ask If You Have Questions For Them

If the interview has gone badly, interviewers won’t ask if you have any questions for them and they won’t offer what the next steps will be. If you ask and they seem vague or reluctant to tell you when they expect to fill the job, that is another sign that you probably aren’t going to be considered as one of the finalists.

Sometimes circumstances are just out of your control, and there is nothing you can do to save an interview that isn’t going well. As a post-interview exercise, you should consider—from hello to goodbye—how you believe you performed and what the reactions of your interviewer(s) were.

  • Did you fail to prepare properly?
  • Did you practice well enough beforehand that you were able to contain your nerves?
  • Were you prepared with the right kind of answers to the questions you were asked?
  • Were you concise in your responses or did you ramble?
  • Did you keep to the issue of your ability to do the job or did you veer off into the personal and wind up sharing too much?

If the interview has obviously gone bad and you are pretty sure you aren’t going to receive an offer, chalk it up to good experience and move on. Learn from the experience. Avoid blaming the entire situation on the interviewer. Perhaps you could have done something to engage their interest and change their minds about you during the interview.

Take responsibility for your performance and try to figure out how you can improve moving forward. Learn from your mistakes, adjust your approach if necessary, and move on. Perhaps that job wasn’t the best one for you anyway. Maybe not getting that job is a good thing. It frees you up for a better opportunity which may be just around the corner.

Interviews are a necessary part of every job search. Learn how to prepare. Learn how to handle your nerves. Practice with a friend or a coach until you hone the answers to the questions you are sure to be asked and can deliver them with confidence. Nothing replaces appropriate preparation, so if you do the work, you’ll always see results. Your hard work will pay off, we promise!

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

How To Make Your Resume More Impressive To Recruiters

How To Make Your Resume More Impressive To Recruiters

Standing out from other job candidates in the hiring process often comes down to having a great resume. If you want to make your resume legitimately more impressive to recruiters, then I’m going to teach you a technique that will help you do just that.

Quantify Your Work Experience!

@j.t.odonnell How To Make Your Resume More Impressive To Recruiters 👍👍👍👍👍😀 there’s one technique I’ve been teaching as a career coach for over 20 years to help people make their resumes more impressive to recruiters. and that is to quantify their results and use numbers. numbers are the easiest thing to read and absorb on a resume and when you put your numbers on there you can help a recruiter better understand the depth of your experience. in this video I walk you through examples of how you should Circle every now and every verb on your resume and use that as your guideline for quantifying. if you’re not sure what the numbers are conservatively guesstimate. just make sure you go lower than what you think they were so that you can back it up. the reality is recruiters are looking to understand if you’re a match for the job and when they have numbers to back it up it’s easier for them to go to the hiring manager to prove you are the candidate that should be considered. in short you can make yourself more impressive with this very simple technique. and thanks to tiktok I now have been able to put together the 25 most common resume and Linkedin questions I get asked as a career coach and all the answers are right here in one place for you to access them. I hope this helps you set up your resume and Linkedin profile so you can stand out and get the interviews you deserve! #resume #resumetips #resumeadvice #resumehelp #linkedin #jobsearch #careercoachontiktok #careerhelp #careeradvice #howtofindajob #linkedinprofile #linkedintips ♬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

When you think about your resume, you will hear recruiters talk about how they want you to quantify your experience. That simply means you should add numbers to your experience to help them quickly understand the depth of your expertise.

Here’s an example…

Let’s say you worked in digital marketing and you have a bullet point in your resume that says, “Worked on digital marketing projects that resulted in an increase in revenues.” That doesn’t tell recruiters any valuable information. But if you were to say, “Worked on 20+ digital marketing projects that resulted in a 250% increase in revenues,” instead, the depth is there.

It’s also important to note that numbers are the easiest thing to read on a resume. And recruiters are skimmers. They’re going to skim through your resume quickly, but the numbers can stop them dead in their tracks.

Having trouble quantifying your work experience? Follow these tips:

  • Circle every noun and every verb on your resume.
  • For each noun and verb, ask yourself:
    • How many?
    • How much?
    • How often?
    • What percentage?
  • Focus on profit/revenue increases, cost savings, time savings, etc.

By following these tips, you will quickly find that you can quantify your experience and add numbers to any bullet point on your resume. I challenge you to try this in your job search for an impressive resume. I’ve had so many people come to me and say, “There’s nothing that you can quantify about me or my experience,” and I’ve been able to quantify them every single time.

Here’s another example…

A receptionist came to me and said, “Yeah, I just work the phones really well.” So I asked her, “How big is your company? How big is the phone line system? How many phone calls do you field a day?”

This was her response: “I work at a 300-person company where I field over 200 phone calls a day on a 12-line phone system.”

That is exactly what recruiters want to see when they say you should quantify your experience.

We all have numbers. Even if you don’t know the exact numbers, you can make a conservative guess so that you feel confident you’re giving accurate information.

By quantifying your experience, you’ll create a resume that is more impressive to recruiters, and you’ll be sure to stand out from the other job candidates in the hiring process.

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3 Surprising Phone Interview Tips

3 Surprising Phone Interview Tips

Phone interviews are becoming more and more important in the job search. They are your gateway to get to the face-to-face interview. Employers try to screen candidates out with phone interviews because they need to narrow down their list of applicants to bring on site.

So, in your job search, you need to do everything you can to give yourself the edge and ace that phone interview so you can move forward in the job search process.

However, phone interviews can present some unique challenges. It can feel unnerving to not be able to see the interviewer’s face or have them see yours.

So, what can you do?

Beyond knowing great answers to phone interview questions, keeping cheat sheets in front of you, and asking questions of your own, here are three surprising tips that may help you ace your phone interview…

Look At A Picture Of Your Interviewer

Looking at a picture of the person interviewing you can help you feel more comfortable and relaxed as you answer their questions. It may even help you establish better rapport.

You can get their picture from their LinkedIn profile, which you should be looking at anyway as part of your pre-interview research. As a bonus, having their picture in front of you means that you will see them smiling at you, which may help you feel more confident too.

Look In The Mirror (Or Stay Away From One)

Happy man on laptop smiles during his phone interview

Some people say that looking in a mirror while you’re interviewing on the phone helps you remember to smile. Since smiling while you talk makes you sound more relaxed and confident, that could be great advice.

However, others say that looking in the mirror makes them feel incredibly self-conscious and unable to focus. I say that you should try doing both in another conversation (especially in a mock interview) and see if looking in the mirror works for you or not.

Stand Up

Woman smiles during a phone interview

When you stand up rather than sit, your voice is stronger and you sound more enthusiastic and energetic. Those are both great qualities to convey to a hiring manager.

One thing to watch out for: you may be tempted to walk around while you talk, but be careful that you don’t move around too fast and get winded. That won’t communicate positive qualities for you.

Phone interviews do present some challenges, but they also provide you with some benefits because the interviewer can’t see you. Take advantage of the situation and give yourself a performance boost.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.


How To Avoid Getting Ghosted By A Recruiter

How To Avoid Getting Ghosted By A Recruiter

After your phone screen with a recruiter, they tell you you’re great. They want you to meet with the manager the next day. You enthusiastically say “yes.” And then you get ghosted.

This happens a lot, but I’m going to give you a tip so you can (hopefully) avoid getting ghosted by a recruiter after your next job interview…

Ask Them 2 Key Questions

@j.t.odonnell Replying to @clv970 How To Avoid Getting GHOSTED By A Recruiter #recruiter #ghosted #HowTo #notgetghosted #gotghosted #jobsearch #interviewtips #interviews ♬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

This won’t work every time, but you’ve got nothing to lose with this strategy.

The next time you’re in this situation, say:

“Yes, I definitely can meet with the manager tomorrow. But I have two quick questions for you. How many phone screens do you have left to do today? And out of all your candidates, how many slots will there be tomorrow for a meeting with the manager?”

This is going to help you understand their process. It’s going to manage your expectations better when you hear that they’re doing 20 phone screens and only three people are getting a meeting with the manager tomorrow. It’s also going to remind that recruiter that you understand the process because when they articulate the hiring process to you, it will stick in their mind.

Then, no matter how they answer those two questions above, you’re going to follow up with…

“Great, I totally get it. I know not everyone is going to get a slot tomorrow, but is there anything else I can provide you to increase the chances that I get a slot? Because I’d really love to get a crack at this job.”

Or something to that effect.

What this is going to do is, again, give them a chance to tell you anything else you need, but remind them you really want this job, and you understand the recruiting process and you’re super respectful about it.

This is the most important part, though: it’s also going to give you peace of mind because you’re at least going to understand the process, and then you won’t feel ghosted.

So, remember to ask the two questions above after your next phone screen so you don’t get ghosted in the interview process. Good luck, and go get ’em!

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7 Motivational Career Change Quotes

7 Motivational Career Change Quotes

Making a career change can be a long process filled with small victories and setbacks. If you’re currently going through a career change, chances are you’ll need a pick-me-up or two along the way.

Here are seven quotes to keep you going and inspire you in your career change journey…

For Those Contemplating A Career Change

Amelia Earhart quote

1. “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.”

—Amelia Earhart

This quote from the famous American aviation pioneer will really hit home if you’re early in the career change process. Perhaps you have been on the fence about making a career change for a long time and just making the decision to go through with the change was a stressful process in itself. Sometimes people know in their hearts that it’s time for a career change but they’re scared for various reasons.

Overcoming those fears and committing to change is a victory! If you’re strong enough to make that tough decision, you’re also strong enough to go through the career change process and be victorious.

2. “Our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.”

—M. Scott Peck

This quote from the psychiatrist and best-selling author is all about getting out of your comfort zone, and that’s what leaving behind one career and trying another is all about. You’ll have moments of self-doubt and you’ll be challenged. Embrace those moments because you’ll learn about yourself and push yourself to new limits. It’s the best way to grow!

Inspiration For Those In The Middle Of The Career Change Process

Steve Jobs quote

3. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.”

—Steve Jobs

The job search process can be long and frustrating but it’s important to remember that good things take time. You don’t want to settle for any job, you want the RIGHT job—the job that will be professionally and personally rewarding. Don’t stop until you find that job! Jobs, the founder of Apple, never settled and he did pretty well.

4. “You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.”

—Wayne Gretzky

This a very simple quote from one of the greatest hockey players of all time but it carries so much weight. There may be times where you’re hesitant to apply for a job because of a lack of experience or you don’t feel that you’re good enough. If you don’t try, you’ve already failed.

Do the research, prepare accordingly, and apply for the job. Even if you don’t get it, you may learn something from the process that will make you a better candidate moving forward.

5. “The future rewards those who press on. I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. I don’t have time to complain. I’m going to press on.”

—Barack Obama

You will undoubtedly face some setbacks along the way in your efforts to change careers. Don’t dwell too long on those setbacks. Learn from them and move forward. As the 44th president of the United States alludes to, feeling sorry for yourself will only slow you down.

As You Near Your Career Change Goal

Seth Godin quote

6. “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”

—Colin Powell

If you were successful in your career change transition, chances are you can relate to the former U.S. secretary of state’s quote. It took hard work, preparation, and a little failure to accomplish your goal. You’ll find that this is the recipe for the most successful ventures in life.

7. “How dare you settle for less when the world has made it so easy for you to be remarkable?”

—Seth Godin

The sky’s the limit! Never stop trying to improve and grow in your career. If you don’t, you’re only selling yourself short. If you ever stop growing in your career, it may be time to make another change. As the American author says in his quote, you have every opportunity to be remarkable—you just need to take it.

Stay motivated during the career change process and avoid these mistakes.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.


How To Change Industries As A Manager

How To Change Industries As A Manager

You might be wondering if it’s possible to change industries as a manager. Of course it is. But is it easy? Well, not to people who don’t know how to do it.

Here’s the good news: you already have management experience. It’s actually harder, in my opinion, to go from an independent contributor role to a manager role when you’re switching companies, and it’s even harder when you’re changing industries.

But when you’re changing industries as a manager, you already have management experience. And that’s the most important thing employers are looking for.

Show Employers You Have The Management Experience And Can Learn The Rest.

@j.t.odonnell Replying to @nicflemrn How to switch industries as a manager. #jobsearch #manager #switchjobs #switchcareer #careerswitch #careerhelp #careeradvice #careerchange ♬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

You have management experience. Now you have to connect the dots for the hiring managers in that industry. You have to show them that, in spite of not having their exact industry experience, your management experience is so important and you can learn the rest.

So how do you do that?

Well, you start with informational interviews. Find five managers who are managing in that industry. Ask them to coffee or to lunch or a virtual meeting and say, “Look, I’m not asking you for help getting a job. What I’m trying to understand is where my gaps are and what I’m going to need to do to close those gaps so that I could get a management job in this industry.”

People are happy to help you like that. They’re happy to sit down, talk it through, and give you advice and tips. That’s going to help you. But you’re also networking in the industry so that when their company has a management position open up, you can message them and say:

“Hey, I just applied to the open position on your company’s site. I’m so grateful I had that conversation with you because it really helped me prepare. And I’ve done a few things since. And, hopefully, the hiring manager might take a look at me for the position.”

What’s going to happen?

Well, first of all, this person is going to love that. You said they were helpful. Second of all, since they got to know you, they might walk down the hall or message the hiring manager and tell them they should pull your resume from the pile because you’re actually worth looking at as an applicant.

Only 25% of applicants are usually qualified for the role. Not everybody has the experience. But what employers need most is people who have the right personality and some of the key skills (like management experience) more so than industry experience.

So, if you do the informational interviewing, you’re going to build a network. You’re going to find out where your gaps are so that you can close them. And then you’ll stand out to employers as a great job candidate despite not having the exact industry experience.

This is how you change industries as a manager. It all comes down to that management experience.

You can do this, my friend. Go get ’em!

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How To Answer “Why Should We Hire You?”

How To Avoid Appearing Overconfident During Interviews

When you’re really nervous for a job interview, it can work against you. You might not realize it, but your nervousness can actually make you overcompensate and appear arrogant, which can hurt your first impression.

Instead of risking looking overconfident during interviews, apply these tips:

Talk About Your Mentors

If you’re worried you’ll sound like you’re bragging during an interview, take some of the focus off you by talking about your mentors. Show them that you’re open to new perspectives and respect the expertise of others. This will take some of the pressure off you and highlight that you’re willing to learn from others (aka you’re probably not a know-it-all).

Ask Great Questions

Job candidate talks and doesn't appear overconfident in an interview

One sign of looking arrogant is talking too much about yourself. Yes, you’re expected to talk about yourself during interviews, but the best interviews are two-way conversations between the interviewee and the interviewer. When you do this, you appear more interested and genuinely excited about what they have to say. So, pepper in some insightful questions about the role, company, or interviewer.

Find Your Self-Confidence

Hiring manager shakes hands with a job candidate that didn't appear overconfident in a job interview

The truth is, if you’re overcompensating, you’re trying to make up for that lack of self-confidence. And that lack of confidence contributes to that overwhelming nervousness and anxiety you’re feeling. So, find ways to increase your self-confidence. Whether it’s showcasing your strengths or passion for the industry, find a way to boost your self-confidence.

Don’t let “accidental arrogance” kill an opportunity. Use the tips above to nail that first impression and avoid appearing overconfident in your next job interview!

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

How To Answer “Why Should We Hire You?”

4 Phrases You Should Never Have On Your Resume

Sometimes the reason your resume gets dismissed by employers has nothing to do with your experience and skills. It simply could come down to having phrases that turn employers off.

On top of avoiding overused buzzwords on your resume like “creative,” “innovative,” “visionary,” “team player,” “motivated,” “highly skilled,” “hard worker,” “passionate,” and “driven”—that are really blank statements that don’t demonstrate anything—you want to also avoid certain phrases on your resume at all costs.

Here are some of the top phrases to avoid on your resume:

“Job Duties”

“Job duties” essentially says to the employer that these are my responsibilities on the job. Well, that’s fine if the only one you need to impress is the applicant tracking system (ATS) looking for matches in the job description.

The problem with including this phrase on your resume is it doesn’t inform the hiring manager how well you perform on the job—and they ultimately have the final say as to whether your resume is a keeper or not.

A more effective phrase to use is “accomplishments” to describe your work experience. You want to inform the employer of what you did on the job and prove that what you did produced valuable results. You always need to quantify your accomplishments on your resume. The first step in quantifying your accomplishments on your resume is getting rid of the phrase “job duties.”

“Transferable Skills”

Employer tossing resume with the phrase "transferable skills"

While professional resume writers speak of highlighting “transferable skills” on your resume when you’re looking to make a career change or when you don’t have the exact work experience the employer may be looking for, the specific term should be avoided on the resume.

When hiring managers and recruiters see “transferable skills” on a resume, it basically sends the message “I don’t have the exact experience or hard skills you’re looking for, but…”

A more effective phrase to use is “skills” or “skill set” or even “experience summary” (see below). It doesn’t bring attention to the fact that you aren’t a direct match with what they are looking for, but goes straight to the point of what you can offer that is of value to them.

“Objective Statement”

A hiring manager holds a resume with an objective statement

Traditionally, the objective statement takes a prime spot at the top of the resume detailing what you, the job seeker, are looking for—but that’s no way to compete in today’s job market. The opening of your resume needs to make a bold statement informing the employer what you can do for them.

Replace an objective statement with an experience summary, which is a list of 6-8 hard or transferable skills needed for the specific job you’re applying for. It’ll help you stand out to employers within seconds of them reviewing your resume.

“References Available Upon Request”

A hiring manager goes through job applications with outdated phrases you should never include on resumes

You can assume all employers will go through a reference check before they hire you. Including this phrase on your resume is simply a waste of space and makes your resume come across as outdated since it was common practice to include it at the end of the resume years ago before ATS changed the landscape of the job search process.

Today’s job seekers need a well-polished resume to compete. Avoiding overused buzzwords and phrases that say nothing or that may imply something negative will help keep you in the running.

We know today’s hiring managers get more applicants than needed for each job opening, so don’t let bad phrases be the cause for them turning away your resume!

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Don’t Use “Unemployed” To Describe Yourself. Here’s Why…

Don’t Use “Unemployed” To Describe Yourself. Here’s Why…

I want to take a minute to talk about the word “unemployed.” If you’re one of the millions of Americans who are unemployed right now, I want you to listen up because I want you to stop using that word in your vocabulary from this day forward.

It is a negative word. It is a defeatist word. It sounds definitive and it drags you down and it impacts your job search.

Trust me, I know this to be true.

What I want you to do is to replace it with the term “between positions” or “between jobs” because that’s really what you are. In my book Awakening Your Inner Workplace Renegade, one of the new career rules for success is understanding that EVERY job is temporary.

In this day and age, people can have as many as nine careers in their lifetime with an average of three jobs in each one. Having gaps in employment is the new normal!

We Don’t Stay In One Career Our Entire Lives (Never Mind One Job Or Company!)

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It is natural, normal, and common for people nowadays to have parts in their lives where they will be between jobs. It’s just a fact! This means we shouldn’t feel bad about it. It is what it is. And that’s why I’d like to banish the word “unemployed” from your vocabulary.

Let’s never say that word again. If someone asks you what’s up with your career, simply say you are between jobs.

But saying you’re “between jobs” won’t make your employment problems disappear.

Many People Who Are Between Jobs Are Not Approaching The Job Search The Right Way

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Did you know the average job search in the U.S. is five months? And that’s in a good economy. Why does it take so long? Because most job seekers don’t understand the new rules for career success and how they impact their job search.

If you want your time between jobs to be as short as possible, you need to educate yourself on the best way to ensure your skills are in demand. If you want to learn how to do that, check out my book or become a Work It DAILY member, where you’ll receive affordable, on-demand career coaching that will finally help you find career satisfaction.

No More Saying That Ugly “U” Word 

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We won’t even mention it from this point forward. You are between jobs and busy learning what you need to do to speed up your job search. You can do this. Don’t let your circumstances impact your mindset.

P.S. If you are between jobs, be sure to check out my YouTube video below on the 3 words never to use in your profile headline as it relates to this same topic!

STOP Using These 3 Words On Your LinkedIn Profile

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.