Gary Will's WORKSEARCH:
Selling Yourself To An Employer
Chapter 8: (continued)
THE POSITION: How will you make a contribution?
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.
[Chapter 8: continued from here
] ...Management consultants have been saying for years that the whole concept of a job description is outdated and even harmful in a business environment requiring greater flexibility. Many organizations still have formal job descriptions, but once you're in the position, what you actually end up doing will usually depend a lot on what you as an individual have to offer.
If you're responding to an advertised opening, the employer already has some idea of the scope of the position, what they're looking to get from the person they hire, and the skills and experience they think are necessary. But you will likely bring other valuable skills and abilities to the organization beyond the ones listed in the ad.
These other skills can help you stand out from the competition-and give you the opportunity to influence the decision criteria.
Help the employer see the value in your unique abilities
The essence of selling against competition is to differentiate yourself and to help the buyer feel the value that those differences can bring.
When you're responding to an advertised opening, there's a good chance that everyone selected for an interview will possess the core abilities required to perform the job. If you focus solely on these areas in the interview, you'll just be saying "me too!" to the employer.
To distinguish yourself from the others, you should look at the full bundle of abilities and potential value you would bring to the organization. Help the employer to get a full picture of what they will get when they hire you. Get them excited by the other skills you'd bring to the organization-other problems you can help to solve, other opportunities you can help them take advantage of.
If you successfully tap into their aspirations, you will leave them with a...[continued here]
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