| Almost every article - or career coach - will tell you | | | | your "brand." |
| that in order to do well in an interview - and to | | | | Preparation |
| ultimately get the job offer, you must "Be Prepared." | | | | By doing some basic preparation, you can determine |
| But what if you don't know how to prepare? | | | | your uniqueness and where you should focus your |
| - "What does prepared look like?" | | | | attention. You can discover your "brand." |
| - "How do I know what they are going to ask?" | | | | The first step in this process is to identify the points |
| - "How can I make them I hire me?" | | | | you have to offer - the combination that makes you |
| - "What if I'm not REALLY qualified or able to do this | | | | Unique. |
| job?" | | | | This should be a combination of your education, |
| These are common concerns and questions - but | | | | experience and any special training or certifications you |
| where do you find the answers? | | | | may have, as well as your area of expertise, your |
| Tough Job Market | | | | strengths, and your personal traits. |
| You are more than aware that you are in a tough job | | | | You can put your statement together by listing all of |
| market and that you will have to do something to | | | | these qualities and then summarizing them into a |
| make yourself stand out from the rest of the crowd. | | | | concise statement to present to the employer when |
| You realize that you are competing against the odds. | | | | any of the standard questions come up. |
| The question is, "How can you make yourself stand | | | | - "Tell me about yourself." |
| out when there are so many other candidates looking | | | | - "What makes you unique?" |
| at the same job?" | | | | - "What can you bring to this position that the other |
| The answer is: "BRAND YOURSELF." | | | | candidates can or can't? |
| Branding | | | | - "What are you strengths?" |
| This is what companies do when they want to sell | | | | - "Tell me something about you that will make me |
| something - they use whatever methods necessary to | | | | remember you after you leave the interview." |
| tell the customers who they are, what they do and | | | | You can develop the answers to these questions by |
| how they do it - they "brand" the product. | | | | using "5 points" to use during the interview. If you use |
| "How do I brand myself? I'm not a product?" | | | | your five fingers to keep focused you can jog your |
| This is one of the main secrets of successful | | | | memory if you forget what you were going to say |
| preparation. Begin to think of yourself as a product. | | | | due to being nervous. |
| What this means is that you have to discover What | | | | Point #1 - Your education and years of experience. |
| Makes You Unique - and to begin thinking of yourself | | | | (More experienced persons will talk mainly about |
| like a product. | | | | experience and not education.) |
| Effective branding used in the interview is the same as | | | | Point #2 - Your area of expertise - or what you know |
| in business. It is telling the customer (in this case the | | | | a lot about. (For less experienced people you will have |
| interviewer) who you are; what you can do and have | | | | to rely on classes or courses you've taken). |
| done in he past (your unique qualities); and why they | | | | Point #3 - Your strength - this is usually a trait that you |
| should buy (hire you). | | | | can use in any job. In other words, a general trait. |
| Call For An Interview | | | | (Communication, Relating to Others, Analytical Problem |
| Let's assume that you have an outstanding resume | | | | Solving, Determination, Adaptability). |
| and that you make it to the top of the stack of | | | | Point #4 - Your work ethic or work style (This is what |
| resumes of people to be called for an interview. | | | | coworkers would say to describe you). |
| First of all, Congratulations on getting this far. | | | | Point #5 - Something interesting about you (A hobby, |
| The problem is that You - and maybe nine or ten | | | | something that you volunteer to do, a sport or arts |
| other equally qualified people for the position will | | | | interest. If you can think of something that relates to |
| receive that same call. | | | | the job you are applying for that would be a plus). |
| Because companies have so many candidates to | | | | By summarizing what you have to offer in a |
| choose from they are interviewing more people so | | | | methodical way, you will be less apt to wander or |
| that they can select the "best." Are you the best? You | | | | forget what you intended to say. |
| had better be prepared to prove that you are the best | | | | Regardless of the method you use - you should be |
| by letting the interviewer know what makes you | | | | prepared. It will make a difference in the way that you |
| unique and what you can do for them, what you will | | | | present yourself and in your being able to talk openly - |
| bring to the position. | | | | without being modest about what you have to offer. |
| When you are lucky enough to be invited to an | | | | You will be able to tell the interviewer why they should |
| interview it is essential that you be ready to sell | | | | hire YOU - and what makes you unique. |
| yourself - to let the interviewer know what makes you | | | | In fact, preparation will help you in ALL your interactions |
| unique - what makes you a "remember-able" person? | | | | - social, business, and your day-to-day life. The more |
| What added value you can bring to the position? | | | | you know yourself and are will to talk openly about |
| In other words, why YOU are the best person for the | | | | yourself the more comfortable you will be in talking |
| job? | | | | about yourself - to anybody. |
| Your goal is to leave behind an impression of you and | | | | |