TIP #4 – Focus on Their Needs. This is the name of the game. They wouldn’t be hiring someone if they didn’t have a problem to solve. Dig deeper than the roles and responsibilities of the job. Find out why the role is important. Find out what they need from the person in that role. When you understand their needs then you can frame yourself as the solution to their problem. Even if you feel desperate and are willing to take any job, be sure you are asking questions to understand their needs better. If they feel that you are focusing solely on selling yourself to them without speaking to their needs, they will move on.
TIP #5 – Tell Them Why You Are Their Solution. Competition is fierce so you can rely on them to connect the dots between your skills and experience and their needs. Once you understand their needs and interests, then you can speak to your ability to solve their problems. Without attending their other interviews, you really don’t know how you stack up to your competition so bloated statements like, “Hire me because I am the best one for this position,” just leave interviewers turned off. Focus on how you can solve their problems and the explain the benefits that they will experience by hiring you. Wrap it up by offering references for verification.
TIP #6 – Be Confident. You have a lot to offer. Be confident in your value because if you aren’t, nobody else will either. If you find a job you know you can do well but don’t meet all of their requested or required qualifications, take time to evaluate what you have to offer and create an action plan to address the qualifications you are missing. Unless it is a something like a required credential or license, employers often put together qualification requirements based on what they think will make someone successful in that role and within their company. Confidently talking about your qualifications and addressing the qualification gaps will help them to see past the gaps and focus on your ability to do the job.
TIP #7 – Anticipate and Prepare for Their Concerns. We all have histories and situations that concern employers. As military spouses, some of us look like ‘job jumpers’, have paid work gaps, or experience discrimination because of our short employment expectancy due to impending PCS moves. Some of us have all three! The challenges we battle are varied and employers are going to be concerned. So, you know that they are going to ask you certain questions regarding your history and situation so prepare your responses ahead of time. There are the occasional unexpected stunners but we are usually aware of the dreaded questions headed our way. Prepare, prepare, prepare.
