Companies hire someone because they have specific tasks that they need to get done. This means that in order to get hired you need to demonstrate that you are the best person to do whatever it is they need done. There’s an art to this, and if you master it, employers will be jumping to hire you.
Step One: Identify the Specific Skills They Are Seeking
Companies put a lot of info in their job ads and, when it comes to presenting yourself as a skills leader, all of it is pure gold. Read the ad carefully and jot down every skill and bit of experience they are looking for. Consider these items as your roadmap to presenting yourself as the right person for the job. In addition, check out the company website and social media pages so you can acquaint yourself with any initiatives or key projects, as you may possess the skills that can specifically help them in those areas.
Step Two: Match Your Skills to their Needs
Once you know what a company is looking for, it’s time to jot down yours skills, experience, and other strengths that match them. Keep in mind that skills can be transferrable, and that some experience or training may be able to fill in for an item you can’t match. For example, you may not have experience with a program they use, but you may have had experience with one that utilizes the same type of understanding.
Step Three: Craft Your Resume and Cover Letter
Consider your resume and cover letter your response to the job ad. Throughout both documents, show, through experience and training, that you match their particular skill needs. Use keywords and match lingo used in the ad. Be concise yet thorough. You can find more information on writing your resume here.
Step Four: Use Your Interview to Present Yourself as the Solution to Their Problem
Employers have needs, and they want to know how you are going to be able to help achieve them. Hiring Managers want to hear about your skills and experience in real world situations. Be ready to answer their questions with examples of how you’ve used these skills. Talk about examples where your skills either saved (or earned) a company money, or allowed them to grow specific projects or departments. Make it clear that you have the skills to help them immediately, and that you have the track record to take on new challenges and learn what you need to excel at them. You can find more great tips on handling job interviews at http://appleone.com/Career_Seekers/nhp/.
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