Why should someone hire you? That might appear to be a simple question, but hiring authorities are tired of asking this question and continually hearing the same answers. If you do not clearly explain why someone should hire you vs. another candidate with similar experience, the hiring manager is not going to figure it out. As a result, you will be eliminated from consideration.
Rather than only focusing on your thirty-second pitch, lets discuss your personal brand. The primary differentiator between you and your competition is your brand. Your brand is your track record of success. Another candidate may have similar experience and education, but they will not have your exact track record.
Your resume or CV is either a ticket to an interview or it could be sabotaging your job search. Most companies utilize technology to conduct the initial screening of resumes or CVs submitted. If you do not have a keyword rich Career Summary, you will more than likely be screened out by a computer, not a person.
Think of the words that would be used in a job board ad or website posting for the type of position you are seeking. Those are the keywords which must appear in the top one-third of the first page of your resume or CV.
If the person who had the job before you has a resume or CV that reads the same as yours, then your resume or CV is not doing what it needs to do to help you find a new opportunity. It should not read like a job description, detailing every task and area of responsibility. Instead, under each job write two or three sentences that give a general overview of your job.
Follow the overview for each job with three to five bullets that list your accomplishments and the impact they had on past employers. If you saved your company money or time, or increased sales or profits, those are the best accomplishments to list. When a future employer reads your accomplishments and the impact they had on a past employer, they assume you will provide the same results for them.
Employers want to hire high achievers who have a track record of success. Take time to research the priorities of each employer you are targeting. Then customize your career summary as well as your accomplishments for each employer. Set up Google Alerts for the companies and individuals you are targeting. This helps you stay informed of everything posted online.
If you prepare more than other candidates, you will stand out and this will help advance your career.
If you discover one of your targeted companies puts a high premium on technology, list where you have helped integrate new systems or suggested technology that improved efficiency. If you list accomplishments that are not relevant to a future employer, this will not enhance your chances of being interviewed and hired.
Many candidates are screened out when they are unprepared to explain why they should be hired. In addition to the accomplishments and impact listed on the resume or CV, it is also important to express a high level of confidence and interest. Prepare to provide specific details of why you are interested in a specific job or company. This will show your prospective employer that you conducted research, and that is also a differentiator. In addition to Google Alerts, read the Press and Media on their website and connect with current or past employees on LinkedIn.
My grandson was recently interviewed for five hours to be accepted into a Physical Therapy Doctorate Program. When asked the question why he selected their University, he went into detail about the specialty areas of each professor in the program. He then explained how he could learn something different from each of them when selecting his area of specialization. This was not a job interview, but an excellent example of how research and preparation help you stand out. He was accepted into this extremely competitive program. If you prepare more than other candidates, you will stand out and this will help advance your career.
This is a question that must be addressed numerous times throughout your job search. Never assume that the initial interviewer shared extensive details with the person conducting the second interview. A common mistake made by executive level candidates is they do not sell themselves as hard, as the interviewing process progresses. Every interview is a first interview with that person, even the final interview. Share your track record of success, differentiate yourself by your accomplishments and the impact they had on past employers, conduct better research and it will become apparent why a company should hire you!
