Page 146 - Oscar Adler - Sell Yourself in Any Interview_ Use Proven Sales Techniques to Land Your Dream Job (2008)

SELL YOURSELF IN ANY INTERVIEW

If the interviewer has emphasized the importance of
teamwork, you might say: “I worked digging ditches with a
lot of different kinds of people. I learned that our safety and
ability to accomplish the job depended on how well we
worked together as a team. That’s the attitude I bring to all
my work—that teamwork is a key ingredient to success.”
Let’s say that the interviewer has told you that some pro-
jects require long hours and occasional weekends: “Digging
ditches required us to work different shifts—early mornings,
late into the night, and on weekends—in all kinds of weather.
I know the value of being flexible, and I am dedicated to
getting the job done.”
In each example, you have used your experience from an
unrelated job to present a benefit that is valuable to the job
at hand. Take some time now to review your own back-
ground, looking for similar benefits in your past that you
never thought of mentioning during an interview. Take a
fresh look at
❏ Volunteer activities

❏ Internships and part-time jobs outside your field

❏ Sports and hobbies

❏ Relevant household management skills (budgeting, time
management, etc.)

HOW TO HANDLE GROUP INTERVIEWS

Instead of or in addition to consecutive interviews, it is pos-
sible that you may be interviewed by several people at one
time, each looking for different and specific benefits in a can-
didate. This can be tricky. You have to address the needs of

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