You’ve created a standout resume, obtained glowing professional recommendations and landed yourself in the hot seat of a job interview. Whether it’s for a summer gig or a long-awaited dream career, it’s of utmost importance to know how to market yourself during an interview. According to Glassdoor, each corporate job opening attracts 250 resumes – of those candidates, only four to six will be called in for an actual interview. Below are suggestions on ways to ensure that it’s you who gets offered the job!
Brand Yourself
As a marketing professional, I’m always looking for ways to best position our brand. What will persuade guests to choose Conrad Indianapolis for their hotel stay? How can we keep engagement high on our website and social channels? Believe it or not, you can also have a brand – a personal brand. Before you have your interview, make a list that outlines your professional values, goals and what you can bring to the table as it would relate to the job at hand. Having a clear picture of who you are as a person will help you bring confidence to the interview and stand out amongst the competition.
Do Your Homework
Take time to truly educate yourself on both the company itself and the person who will be interviewing you. Coming to an interview prepared to answer company or industry related questions is vital and will show the interviewer that you’re taking the experience seriously. Start with the company’s website so you can learn about their services, products, staff, mission and more. Be sure to take your research a little broader by reviewing what kind of media attention the company has received. It’s also worthwhile to understand the company’s field as a whole, so look into trade publications to prepare you to answer questions as it pertains to not only the company, but potentially its competitors and supporters. Additionally, don’t forget about social media! This is an area where you can learn more about the company’s tone of voice and how they engage with their audience. You don’t need to stick with Facebook or Instagram, either. Rather, utilize LinkedIn to help get a sense of the company’s professional nature, as well as your interviewee’s past job history.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Believe it or not, interviewing isn’t always that easy – especially if you are new to it! Just as you would practice before a big performance or speech, it’s necessary that you also practice your interviewing skills. There are some people that may feel modest when it comes to “selling themselves,” so in this case, it’s helpful to write down your talking points and practice speaking them smoothly, confidently and naturally. If you’re able to practice with someone, this will allow you to receive direct feedback so that you’re able to iron out any kinks prior to the interview. After all, practice makes perfect!
Contributor: Staff, Conrad Indianapolis
