Gary Will's WORKSEARCH:
Selling Yourself To An Employer
Chapter 14-Part One
[a] [b] [c] [d] [e] [f] [g] [h] [i]
Asking questions -- an essential and overlooked step
From the book How to Prepare for an Employment Interview.
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This book shows you how to sell yourself in an employment interview.
Last chance! -- What value do you offer the employer
that you haven't discussed yet?
The interviewer isn't psychic. Any skills, abilities, or knowledge you possess that could offer value to
the employer but that you leave unsaid in the interview can never do anything to help you get the
job. The interview's almost over. Speak now or forever hold your peace.
Many interviewers will end with a question like "Is there anything else you'd like to tell me?" but not
everyone will. You don't have to wait to be invited. If there's something else you think they need to
know to make an informed decision, you must tell them ... NOW. You're not doing them or yourself
any favours by remaining silent.
You have one more chance to bring out any of your key strengths that may differentiate you from
the competition. You can ask the employer a question relating to your value-adding strength, and
follow up with your evidence that you have something to offer.
For example, let's say you're interviewing for a position that requires working with customers, and
from your preparation you have some good examples ready of how you can resolve customer
complaints or requests for refunds. If you haven't been able to work this into the interview up until
that point, you could ask:
Since I'd be working closely with customers in this position, I imagine that I'd
occasionally deal with a customer who isn't entirely satisfied with the product or service they've
received from us. I have some good experience in that area, and I was wondering how you handle
these situations when they do come up.
Unless the interviewer says something like "No, that never happens" you'll be able to follow up with
the example(s) that you have ready of how you've successfully handled these circumstances before or
a thoughtful discussion of how you would handle them.
You can do this with any important aspect of the job that you've identified as one of your strengths
list that hasn't been addressed in the interview -- ask a question about it, and follow up with your
evidence that you possess that ability.
Don't ask questions to make the interviewer look bad
While tradition makes it acceptable for interviewers to ask questions that make you squirm, the
interviewer will not be pleased if you turn the tables on them.
It's pretty simple to come up with some deep, probing questions that the interviewer would
probably not be able to answer very well. Some people try to ask these kind of questions to impress
the interviewer with how bright and insightful they are.
It doesn't work. Instead of being awed by your brilliance, the interviewer will be left thinking you're
just another arrogant know-it-all. Of course, you want the employer to think you're bright and
insightful, but you don't communicate those traits by trying to speak over their heads. A
condescending attitude has never won a job offer.
Continued here: Should you ask about salary if it not been raised by
this point?
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