YES! You just got the call and the interview is scheduled for tomorrow.  This is what you have been waiting for.  But, are you ready?  The most successful job seekers, the ones who find the best jobs the fastest, know three things.  (1)  They know exactly what they want in their next job.  (2)  They know what they have to offer the employer that differentiates them from the competition.  (3)  They know their value.  Preparation is the key to a successful interview.  When you are prepared, you will be confident and self-assured, which makes you very appealing to the interviewer.  Here is a list of questions to help you prepare.  If you have clear, strong answers to these questions, you are well on your way to acing the interview.

1. Do you know exactly what type of job is right for you? If they ask you, what will you say?

2. What do you have to offer the company that is uniquely you and that is different from your competitors?

3. What is your branding statement and how will you use it during the interview?

4. What is your value proposition and how will you incorporate it into the interview?

5. What are the three to five attributes you bring to the job that you will emphasize throughout the interview?

6. Do you have accomplishment stories for each of the attributes you identified in Question No. 5?

7. Have you prepared answers for the most commonly asked interview questions?

a. Are your prepared answers each 60 seconds or less?

b. Are your answers succinct and to the point?

c. Do they incorporate your three to five attributes?

d. Do you include stories?

8. Are you prepared to answer any questions that might be raised from your resume?

9. Have you thoroughly researched the company?

10. Have you researched the hiring manager and others in the company?

11. Do you have a list of questions you want to ask during the interview?

a. Do those questions show your curiosity and interest in ensuring the company, the job, and the manager are the right fit for you?

b. If asked, can you explain why you are asking each question and what answer you are looking for? For example, if you ask about the company culture, can you explain what type of culture you prefer?

12. Are you comfortable with silence?

13. Can you stay on message and not say more than necessary?

14. Do you have the proper clothes ready?

15. Will you remember to sit up straight, lean forward to show interest, maintain good eye contact, and smile?

16. Will you remember to listen carefully to what they tell you they are looking for and incorporate their description into your answers?

17. Can you keep the interview conversational, asking the interviewer(s) questions as you go along?

18. Do you have your research documentation, additional copies of your resume, your reference letters, your portfolio, and anything else you want to take with you to the interview neatly organized and ready to go?

19. Is there any reason they wouldn’t hire you? If so, resolve the issue and overcome any objections.

Now, you’re ready. Best of luck!

The other day I ran across a discussion on LinkedIn about a job seeker who was thinking about hiring someone to send out 8,000 résumés for her.  Whoa! That is just crazy on so many levels!  First of all, the job seeker probably isn’t even interested in working at 99 percent of those businesses.  Second of all, any résumé sent this way would have to be very generic, which would generate no interest whatsoever.  And lastly, if a company did respond to an unsolicited résumé that arrives by fax or email and isn’t personalized in any way, it is doubtful that it would be a company anyone would want to work for.

I hear people say that the job search is a numbers game, but that can be a very misleading statement.  The more résumés you submit, the more people you talk to, or the more LinkedIn connections you make will not necessarily result in more interviews and subsequently more job offers.  A productive job search needs to be targeted and planned out.  The successful job seeker will know exactly what type of job she is looking for and have a list of companies she is interested in.  She will focus her time and effort on making quality contacts and asking questions that will move her toward her goal.  She will spend her time building relationships with a manageable number of key people, not making brief contact with many.  She will have better luck conducting 20 informational interviews at companies that interest her than submitting 420 résumés through the job boards.

While it is true that the more times you practice networking, interviewing, and your job search techniques, the more comfortable you will be and the better you will become; please be careful how you interpret the “numbers game” statement.  Don’t fall for the scam of the résumé blast.  If you feel like you need help, spend your money on a good career coach who can help you focus your job search.  And when someone tells you that you absolutely must tell everyone you meet that you are out of work and looking because you never know where a job lead might come from, you can mostly ignore that advice.  Tell your hairdresser because hairdressers always have great information, but skip the teenager bagging your groceries and the tollbooth operator.  It’s really less about numbers and more about taking aim at a well-defined target.

Would your job search be different if you thought of yourself as self-employed?  I often talk with job seekers who perceive employers as having the upper hand and holding the power in the employer-employee relationship.  These job seekers seem to think they have to convince the employer they are worthy of being hired.  They are not nearly as discriminating about the employers they will work for as the employers are about whom they will hire.  When it comes to salary, they tend to think more in terms of getting as close to their previous salary as possible rather than thinking in terms of their market value.

So, how does the mindset of these employees differ from the mindset of someone who is self-employed?  Here are a few descriptors of those that tend to think of themselves as employees:

1.    They are applying for jobs they aren’t sure they’re qualified for but think they could learn if given the chance.  Or they are applying for jobs they know they are overqualified for.  They have thoughts, such as, I could do that or That would be an okay job.

2.    They aren’t familiar with the industry but are willing to learn it if they are hired.

3.    They need a job and/or benefits.  Although they won’t accept just anything, they aren’t too concerned about the specifics of the job and the company.

Here are some descriptors of someone who is self-employed:

1.    They know their qualifications and the benefits they have to offer their clients.  They have to know or their clients won’t buy.

2.    Even if they don’t know their clients’ industry, they know their clients’ needs and can clearly articulate how their skills and talents will fit and meet those needs regardless of the industry.

3.    They stay at the top of their game and seek out clients who will value their contributions.

Employment is – or at least should be – a partnership.  Employment is an exchange of value.  The employee contributes a service in exchange for pay.  The employer needs a high performing, reliable employee as much as the employee needs a salary and benefits.  Both parties have a lot at stake.

I encourage all employees to adopt the mindset of the self-employed.  Know and be confident in your abilities and the value you have to offer.  Know how your skills, talents, and experience will benefit the employer and be ready to tell them.  Choose your employer wisely, make sure they are worthy of your time, dedication, and hard work.

If you approach your job search with the mindset of someone who is self-employed, your résumé and cover letter will become marketing materials describing the benefits of your services for your potential client (the employer).  Your interviews become exchanges of information between equals looking for the right fit.  Your salary negotiation becomes a discussion about your true market value and return on investment.

Approach employers as a potential business partner.  Come to the table fully prepared to meet the employer’s needs and know what your services are worth.  This will accomplish a win-win situation for you both and a much happier future career.