Cut to the Front of the Interview Line
by Carole Martin

The question is, "How can you make yourself stand out when there are so many other candidates looking at the same job?"

The answer is to "focus" - focus on what makes you unique.

Let's assume that you have an outstanding resume and that you make it to the top of the stack of resumes of people to be called for an interview. You, and maybe nine or ten other equally qualified people for the position, that is.

Because companies have so many candidates to choose from, they are interviewing more people so that they can select the "best." When you are lucky enough to be invited to an interview, it is essential that you be ready to sell yourself, to let the interviewers know what makes you unique, what added value you can bring to the position-in other words, why you are the best person for the job.

Step 1.

• List the skills and experiences you have that would be required in the type of job you are seeking. For instance, a technical job would focus on programs, languages, and platforms, etc.

Step 2

• Give some thought to those skills in which you excel, those that are referred to as the "soft skills." These skills can be viewed as transferable- you can take them with you to any job you hold.

Step 3

• Next, think of the personal traits that make you unique. Maybe you never miss deadlines, or perhaps you are willing to do above and beyond what is asked, or perhaps you have a great attitude. (Don't dismiss these traits--many people have been fired for negative personal traits rather than for lack of knowledge).

Step 4

• Make a list of those strengths and some examples of when those strengths have helped you achieve results on the job. It will be essential that you can not only identify your strengths, but that you also have examples and stories of times when you demonstrated those strengths in the past.

Step 5

• The next step is to make a list of 5 points you want the interviewer to remember about you - the ones that combined - make you unique.

When you walk out of that interview room, your interviewers may not remember all five of your points; but if they remember even two of the points that make you unique, you will be ahead of the game!

About the author: Carole Martin