How to Market Yourself to Your Potential Employers
My friend Joanne wrote this great article that I loved so much that I asked her if I could share it with you. I hope you enjoy it!
Ramon
Marketing yourself in an interview is basically convincing your potential employer that you would be a valuable addition to the company, and successfully doing so means more now than ever before. Job interview statistics show that less than 15% of people who submit their applications for a position are ever contacted for an interview, and only 1 out of every 4 to 6 people who are interviewed will get the job. Now, with the pandemic causing the temporary or permanent demise of 100,000 businesses, and more businesses laying off employees in the coming months, the number of unemployed in the country has reached 23.1 million. With so many people vying for a limited amount of jobs, it’s important to make yourself as attractive a candidate as possible during your interview. And here are a few ways you can stand out from the competition:
Make a good first impression
First impressions can make or break your chances of getting accepted. A good first impression makes your interviewer more interested in you as it “helps set the tone for what you can do and what you represent." This should make your interviewer want to know more about you and what you can offer to the company. Making a good first impression is more than just arriving on time and dressing appropriately. It also involves being attentive when the interviewer is talking and being confident but not arrogant in the way you deliver your answers. Simple things like knowing about the company, not crossing your arms, and making eye contact also make for a good first impression.
Market yourself like a product
Successful marketing businesses know how to leverage everything from social media posts and networking groups to referrals and word-of-mouth to get their products across, and this is something you should also be doing for your own personal brand, or “product”. In an interview, you only have a few minutes to convince the interviewer that you’re the perfect fit for the job they’re offering. Create engaging content that you can reference during your interview, and have real-world experiences that you can fall back on, such as joining associations related to the field you want to pursue. This gives your potential employer a better idea of how committed you are to the field and the role you are applying for.
Show, don’t tell
Simply telling the interviewer your traits will sound empty, and might give off the feeling that you are only saying whatever comes to mind. Anyone can say they’re collaborative and have initiative and leadership skills, but it’s better to accompany that with examples of your real life experiences. 81% of people lie at some point in a job interview, so listing real world examples proves that you really do have the traits you claim to have. Sharing your experiences also gives the interviewer a clearer picture of how you act in certain scenarios.
Be confident
What you say is important, but how you say it also matters. Be mindful of your body language and choice of words. Slumping in your seat, fidgeting, and avoiding eye contact can make you appear uninterested. Verbal tics and stumbling over words will give away how nervous you are. Practice answering interview questions as it can help you prepare, and will make you feel more comfortable. Research the company in-depth and the position you’re applying for, and put your strengths on display. Being nervous in a job interview is normal, but you should work to show your interviewer that you can still function confidently under pressure, and you are serious about the job you’re applying for.
Looking for a job can be taxing, especially if you have to go through multiple interviews. But with enough preparation, you'll be able to distinguish yourself from the other applicants and be the one who gets hired.
Written by Joanne Nealy for persuasiveinterview.com