Family Features

Finding Your Next Job Fast

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Interview Like a Pro

An interview is any situation in which you have a face-to-face meeting with a person who has the power to hire you—even if he or she does not currently have a job opening. As one Harvard study found, of the people who found jobs through personal contacts (the hidden job market), 43.8 percent had new positions created for them. Jobs are created each day for people who can prove they can meet an employer's needs.

When you think of any conversation with a prospective employer as an interview, you will be better prepared to take advantage of opportunities that arise as you follow up on leads from your personal contacts, and as you contact employers directly. You will be hired when you can prove to the employer that you can meet their needs (i.e., save them money, make something work more efficiently, etc.) better than the other candidates. The key is being able to communicate effectively what you can do for the employer.

One study showed that 80 percent of job hunters couldn’t “prove” their top ten skills for the jobs for which they are interviewing. "Proving" your skills means that you can give specific examples that illustrate that you do have the needed skills for the position in question. For example, a secretary might prove she has the skill of organizing systems by saying, "Mr. Employer, recently I organized the company’s filing system, which allowed our staff to find files in half the time it used to take." In order to prove that you are the applicant who should be selected, you need to first know what relevant skills you possess and then be able to cite compelling examples of how you have used those skills.

Communicating well also means being able to answer frequently asked interview questions (such as “Why should I hire you?”) effectively. Practice answering interview questions with a friend, family member, or career coach until you feel you could confidently answer most questions in your sleep! Remember that it is not necessarily the most qualified person who gets the job, but rather, the person who can most convincingly communicate in the interview that he or she can do the job.

Get the Support You Need

Using effective techniques to find job openings and to interview well can greatly reduce the amount of time it takes to find employment. But remember: knowing this information is not enough; you also need to be persistent in implementing what you have learned. Finding a new job is not easy; most people need support, encouragement, and accountability as they search. Create your own support network of friends, family, and/or fellow job seekers.

If you aren’t getting the results you want, you may want to explore professional career assistance to maximize your job search. Doing the same thing you’ve always done to look for work may not be enough in this job market.

Kevin Brennfleck and Kay Marie Brennfleck are the authors of:
Live Your Calling: A Practical Guide to Finding and Fulfilling Your Mission in Life. They are National Certified Career Counselors and recognized experts in helping people identify their giftedness and find their purpose in life. Their websites, www.ChristianCareerCenter.com, www.ChristianJobFair.com and www.ChurchJobsOnline.com, feature hundreds of job listings from churches, ministries, and Christian employers; a resume bank; and, career and job search articles. If you are interested in career coaching and testing to discover work that fits your God-given design; or would like assistance with writing a powerful resume, interviewing effectively, finding job openings, or other aspects of a successful job search, you can schedule a free consultation session today.

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