“I want to focus my answers during interviews on the question behind the question. What are they really looking to learn in an interview?”
We’re playing chess, not checkers with this question from an ExecuNet member. I like it!
Job search today is a marketing and sales process with one winner – and the others.
You don’t want to be one of those “others.”
Our research tells us that to be seriously considered for a job you must capture a resume/LinkedIn profile reader’s attention in 10 seconds or less. That’s all the time you have to capture attention. To capture a resume/profile screener’s attention requires a short, impactful value proposition, plus a few other things.
Most job candidates are unclear about what makes them unique and therefore don’t know what they should count on for success when they do get into an interview situation.
You need to know how you will stand out from the competition and what you will bring to the job that others can’t. Most candidates end up talking about the same tired old characteristics of leadership as all the other candidates. That doesn’t differentiate you! When ExecuNet Career Strategists work with our executives, they find that defining their client’s value proposition is the most common need.
In an interview, hiring managers are looking to see if you fit with them. Your value proposition is how you communicate to them that you are a good fit – so you need to have your value proposition clearly defined in your own mind and ready to communicate.
Your value proposition needs to be more about you than your previous jobs, as that information is already on your resume.
You need to be able to clearly define your value proposition. Your value goes beyond X number of years working for Y company. It’s who you are, what you’ll bring, and what makes you unique as an individual as well.
If you don’t know and can’t articulate your unique value proposition, how can you possibly write an effective resume, network, interview, and hope to land the job?
