How To Sell Yourself Like a Product at a Job Interview

Interviewing for a job is in many ways comparable to a
sales person making a sale. If you were a sales person and
were about to sell a product to a customer you would do
some homework or research so that you could convince your
customers that your product was the best product on the
market to fill their needs.

If you think of this scenario and apply it to the job
interview process you will find that it is a powerful tool
to use for your interview preparation. What do you have to
offer (as a product), to the customer (the employer)? What
do you have that will fill their needs (the requirements of
the job)? What can you bring that is unique or added value
to the position/company? (that sets you apart from the
pack)?

Let’s begin with “what you have to offer.” Think of ways to
present your key qualities throughout the interview. An
example of this technique is when interviewing for a
position that requires “strong organizational skills.” You
will want to let the interviewer know you are not only
organized, but that your organizational skills have made a
significant difference in your performance. If you can give
an example of a particular event that you organized and how
your organizational skills made a difference in a past job
you will make an even stronger sell. Anyone can say that
they have “strong organizational skills,” but not everyone
can give specific examples of a time when they had a
success using those skills. Don’t tell them – sell them -
with proof of a past experience or success.

Next, begin to think about what the employer’s needs are
and how your product can fill those needs. You can
accomplish this by studying the job description or posting.
Read through the posting or job description once for
content. Then, read it a second time for specific words
that are emphasized. There will be specific words used
according to the job or industry that you are applying for.
Make a list of these words to use as “key factors” needed.
Now, return to the job posting and read it once more. This
time read “between the lines.” What would it take to do
this job? If for instance, there is a statement such as,
“Position will require frequent collaboration and
interaction on all levels of staff and management,” you can
gather that “strong interpersonal” and “communication”
skills will be needed to do this job. By making a list of
“key requirements” you can match them against what you have
to offer.

The last factor to prepare for your sale is to let the
employer know that you have the ability to “fit in.” and be
a “team player.” The interviewer will not only be looking
to see if you can do the job, but they will also be
checking to see if you will be a good addition to the team.
Don’t dismiss your personal traits in your sales “pitch”
preparation. Identify skills that make you unique such as
“interpersonal skills,” “attitude,” and “willingness to do
whatever it takes to get the job done.” These skills could
make the difference between yourself and an equally
qualified candidate getting the job offer.

When you take the time to prepare for the sale of the
product – YOU – you will have a better chance of convincing
the customer or buyer that you are just what they are
looking for. By the time you leave the interview the
interviewer should have a strong sense of what you have to
offer and why they should hire you – why you are the best
person for the job to fill their needs.

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Carole Martin, America’s #1 Interview Expert and Coach, can
give you interviewing tips like no one else can. Get a copy
of her FREE 9-part “Interview Success Tips” report by
visiting Carole on the web at http://www.interviewcoach.com