Comments on: How to Convince Any Interviewer They’d Be Stupid Not to Hire You

By: Jobseeker12

Jobseeker12 — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 04:07:00 +0000

As Sean says, having a short punchy selling line is important. I think it would be good to then spend some time justifying your claims. For example, after you’ve floored the panel with your opening phrase above, you could then pick it apart yourself.
You could basically question every line: How are you self motivated? I identified an improvement to a process [insert process here], discussed this with my supervisor and team and we came up with some solutions [insert solutions here]. Lauren is right in saying that everyone describes themselves as self-starters, but few people can give specific examples to justify it. The more specific example you can give, the more likely I think a person can convince an interviewer (who has heard the cliches all before) that YOUR example is the genuine one.
regards,
The Jobseeker
http://www.itjobseekerz.com.au

By: Prep't

Prep't — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 06:37:00 +0000

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By: Sean_McPheat

Sean_McPheat — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 09:29:00 +0000

Seems like you’ve completely missed the point of the article Lauren. I am certainly not saying everyone should have the same things to say about themselves at an interview. I am merely giving some advice on how to create an elevator pitch for an interview. Anybody who would read this article and repeat it word for word as their own has also clearly missed the point.

My point in the article is to show how you can add value to a company and put this across in a way that interviewers will understand.

By: Lauren Milligan

Lauren Milligan — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 16:43:00 +0000

DON’T TAKE THIS ADVICE.
This article makes me sad. It perpetuates the belief that people should talk about themselves in corporate-speak, and hackneyed phrases. If someone introduced themselves to me as, “I’m self-motivated, with energy and enthusiasm for great results. I love working with a team and achieving goals” I’d look at them as if they had two heads…then I’d walk away. Why is everyone so afraid to talk like a person – in clear, plain language? And by the way, EVERYONE in the world thinks they are self-motivated, energetic and enthusiastic so what this article is saying is that everyone should have the same elevator pitch.
Think about it this way. If you were at a neighborhood BBQ, talking to the new neighbor while holding a beer, what would your answer be when that neighbor says, “so, what to you do?”. That’s how you figure out your elevator pitch. It has NOTHING to do with boiler plate language like that ridiculous list above. Ask yourself these three questions: 1) What do you do better than your peers? 2) What do you love to do that your peers hate do do? 3) How did you get started in this job/industry?
That’s where you start. If you need help from there, check in with me at ResuMAYDAY.com.

By: Kat @ BitchesWork.com

Kat @ BitchesWork.com — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 15:50:00 +0000

Exactly! And the thing is many times we WILL add value, but we don’t know how to communicate it. Like you said – it all comes back to how we sell ourselves. If we don’t know how to sell ourselves both we and the company can lose out.

By: friv250

friv250 — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 15:19:00 +0000

Very interesting and very funny.

By: Sean_McPheat

Sean_McPheat — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 14:31:00 +0000

You couldn’t be more right Kat. Everybody is looking for
that “added value” aspect these days and they really want to feel
like they’re getting more than they had bargained for so make sure that you
show the interviewer just how valuable you could be for their company and you’ll be a step ahead.

By: Kat @ BitchesWork.com

Kat @ BitchesWork.com — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 13:37:00 +0000

Spot on, this is damn good! Crafting that pitch so that almost every line has the interviewer going, “We need this person now,” is key. I also like to study up on the company and see where they have some unmet needs, and then make sure my pitch weaves in how I can bring even greater value to the company by helping them address those needs. This is like going to a friends house and bringing cake – they were just expecting your to come, they weren’t expecting what else you’d deliver!