Going on a job interview? DO NOT talk about your past successes! Instead, talk about this…

Did you know that one of the fastest ways you can kill an interviewer’s interest in your candidacy is to talk on and on about all the amazing things you did or all the great, profitable ideas you had?  That seems so counter intuitive – doesn’t it?  Isn’t getting your amazingness across to a hiring executive the whole point of the interview after all?  Well, yes – actually it is, BUT talking about all the amazing things you did is not what really makes you amazing to anyone who has a stake in filling a job opening.

What does?  It’s the same thing that would make someone else amazing to you if you were doing the hiring.

Talk about what everyone wants to really know…

what you contributed to another’s success.

In short, answer the question “what the heck is in it for me if I hire you?”

The faster you can convey a sense that working toward group success or another’s success matters most to you, the faster you will gain (and hold) favor over other job candidates.  You convey this by talking about the intentions you have for those you serve and collaborate with – AND you have examples – stories with your intended results coming to fruition – to back up those intentions.

So here it is …

Interviewing Toolkit – item #4…

Signature Services Statements

A “Signature Services” statement is a declaration that showcases traits you chronically and easily engage in to bring about an intended benefit to others.  It contains 3 components:

1. A quality or characteristic about yourself
2. how you commonly demonstrate that quality/characteristic (i.e. an action or behavior that embodies that trait)
3. How you intend another to feel when you demonstrate that action/behavior

AND of course, HAVE EXAMPLES TO BACK THEM UP!

Your “Signature Services” statements reveal to others what you can be relied upon for (what you can’t help yourself), to provide to others.  These statements give you a vocabulary – the language – to share something about yourself that could matter to another – something that could inspire somebody to want to connect themselves with you.

Why do they get inspired?  Because a “Signature Services” statement contains language that can enable another to imagine how they might get to feel if they were being served by you.  It also conveys that you are motivated by being a part of a team – part of something bigger than just your own success.

So why does being able to do that matter?  Well, we all know what it feels like to be in the presence of someone who seems to be all about themselves OR someone quite opposite – someone who doesn’t seem confident at all – neither are generally people we want to align ourselves with – especially in a professional sense.  But here is another reason…

Let me share a secret with you…

Whenever an interviewer asks a job candidate to tell them something about themselves, what they typically get from the candidate is a summarized replay of their resume – it’s like the backstory to their education or career choice plus some accomplishments which are probably on the resume anyway.  Candidates will say things like:  “Well, I went to school here, then I worked there, I accomplished this and that, I volunteered here, etc.”

Most interviewers will accept that answer, but it’s not what they really want to hear.  What they are really asking is “What can I count on you for time and time again no matter what job you’re performing or the circumstance you’re in?”  They want to know what you will bring to the table as a person – what you can be relied upon for even if (God forbid), your beloved pet just died.  As sad and unfeeling as that may sound – it’s the truth.  They don’t know you as a person just yet – you’re a candidate – a potential purchase of talent for the company.

So your “Signature Services” statements express “here is what you can not only count on me for – here is what I can’t help myself but to do for others and it doesn’t matter if I am sweeping floors for a living or if I am the CEO of a company”.  THAT is what people want to know about you in an interview!  THAT is what will make you more memorable and attractive as a candidate even over someone with more job experience than you. THAT is what you must convey on your interviews to set you far apart from the other candidates.

Getting your hands on the language to explain this is not always easy to do – and many don’t even know what it is they can be counted on for – so how could they even explain it!  Language like this enables you to explain things about yourself that are highly reliable for your character and that you are authentically in touch with how you intend to impact others – because of that, you will come across as naturally and confidently as possible.  It won’t even matter if you are sharing the most profound Signature Services statements possible for yourself.  What you share will not be as memorable as the fact that you are confident and comfortable expressing who you are and that you know how what you naturally do can matter for others!

So how do you develop your “Signature Services” statements?

indigoforce offers a proven step by step process to develop your “Signature Services” statements.  In 1 hour you will be able to easily express who you are and what you have to offer to others – you will get your unique value proposition that sets you apart from other job candidates!

My clients report that developing their “Signature Services” statements helps them to see what is unique about them and it helps them feel empowered to take on a job interview – they see something in themselves that can be powerful and inspiring to others and they have the language to comfortably explain it.  Plus, they help them to feel confident and comfortable talking about themselves to others – without sounding boastful.

You can use your “Signature Services” statements in several different situations – such as networking events, writing about yourself – such as resumes, bios, cover letters, thank you letters, and social media profiles, and certainly for you can use them to verbally share about yourself in job or college interviews.  These statements are a great reply to someone who says – “So, tell me about yourself”.  They can also be a great answer to common interview questions such is “Tell me about your strengths” or “What else do you want me to know about you?”

 ______________________________________________

As a former HR executive and head of HR, I’ve been in the hiring, firing and managing people business for over 20 years and worked in small, large, for profit and not for profit industries – this is what works and is valued across all organizations and cultures.  When a candidate can really express who they are, what they can be relied upon to bring to the table, and how it can be a great match with the job and the organization, they get hired time and time again.

PLUS – When you have your statements, you also know what to consistently give once you are hired – it’s what you have to offer to develop trust and respect with others and therefore, to become revered – valued – highly valued among your peers!!

Yes, I want to feel confident and ready for my next job interview – show me how!