Page 186 - Marky Stein - Get a Great Job When You Don't Have a Job-McGraw-Hill (2009)

Fearless Interviewing

tional skills were very important is a position I had
with Ford Human Services in Richmond, Virginia. I
was responsible for a caseload of over 75 clients,
which meant that I had to keep careful notes and
records, and, of course, I had to review these notes
before each meeting with a client. I was commended
for the attention to detail in my reports, which I was
able to provide because I had kept such well-orga-
nized files on my clients. I am proud that because of
my organizational skills, I was able to handle such a
large client base. I’m confident I will give your
clients the same level of respect and detailed, in-
depth attention.

You can see a pattern emerging:

1. You mention three skills that you used in a prior job that
would also be of value in your next occupation. (We’ll
discover, in Chapter 8, how to assess which skills are
important to your interviewer.)
2. You pick one skill that you believe would be most important
for the particular job you’re applying for.
3. You tell a very short story about that particular skill. You
can elaborate on this story by providing specific num-
bers, percentages, feedback, rankings, and dollar
amounts. (We’re going to explore this technique more
fully in Chapter 3 on Q statements.)
4. You mention that you are proud of your achievement.
5. You link your past accomplishments or results with your
future performance at the company you’re applying for,
by saying, “And that’s exactly what I’d like to do for your
company.” (We’ll talk about why this is so important in
Chapter 5.)

General Skills Inventory
Now it’s time for you to take a look at the general skills you
possess:

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