You're looking for a great job, one that is a great match. Are you anxious about interviewing? Want to make sure the interviewer clearly sees you as THE person for the job? Wonder how you can increase your odds of winning the interview and getting the offer? You've got to take the extra steps to help your interviewer make the decision to hire you. You do that by connecting the dots for the employer, creating a picture of YOU in the job. Here's how.

Know What They're Looking For

All employers look for the same things. Someone who can solve the business problems, make the company money, and make them look good to their customers. What's needed is more than just the obvious skills, knowledge and experience. Sure, performance and competency are important. But increasingly employers are looking at other key areas in making hiring decisions. Attitude and motivation; ability to learn, adapt and make intelligent decisions; fit into the corporate culture; and character and integrity. Think about how you match up in these areas, and be prepared to tell stories and give examples of how you match up.

Know Who You're Talking To

There is probably one person in the mix who will ultimately make the hiring decision. But each person you interview with will have some influence over that decision. Think of each of your interviewers as ?buyers?, each with their own unique criteria for recommending someone for the job. Focus in on what they care about most. For example, what do you suppose is foremost on the mind of the Human Resources interviewer? Think about it. HR is measured by their ability to provide well-qualified applicants to the hiring manager. And HR cares most about your short and long term fit into the organization. After all, if there are any employee issues, it is often HR on the line to solve. How about interviewing with prospective peers? What do you think they care about the most in you? Chances are they'll be thinking about interacting with you on a daily basis, whether or not you'll carry your own load and be open to helping out as needed, that you'll share information openly. The bottom line is that you must identify each of your interviewers and anticipate what they care about most. Then gear your talk towards meeting their unique needs.

Connect the Dots for the Interviewer

Make it easy for your interviewers. It's no cakewalk to find great people to hire, and it's often a gamble when making a hiring decision. Lower their risk by painting a picture for the interviewer of you in the job, solving their problems. Help them ?see? you in the job. Help them ?feel? what it will be like to work with you. Help them ?know? you as a person. How do you do all of this? By using a connect the dots strategy in your interview. Connect an attribute or talent you have, with a specific advantage and benefit for the interviewer, and finish it off with a story that shows that attribute in action. Anyone can respond to an interview question on ?what are you strengths? with answers such as ?I'm very creative? or ?I build strong relationships across functions?. Nice attributes, but now you must paint the picture for them by connecting the dots as to what the advantage and benefit of that trait matters, and back it up with a specific example of how you've used it in the past to get results.

An Example To Pull It All Together

Let's give you a sales example of the importance of knowing who you're talking to, understanding what they're looking for, and then connecting the dots. Let's say you're trying to sell a high-end performance car. Into the showroom walks a 17-year-old looking for his graduation gift. You tell him about one of the car's features, its acceleration. 0 -100 mph in five seconds. Now think, what's the advantage and benefit for this buyer? Well, he'll look very cool to all his friends. And possibly this could be a real ego booster. Then you might follow it up with a story about a well-known personality who owns one of these cars. You've got him hooked!

Now, in walks a soccer mom with a toddler in tow. Again, you speak of the acceleration feature. In this case, do you think the advantage, benefit and story told to the 17-year-old will connect the dots for this buyer? NO! Instead, how about the advantage and benefit of quickly and safely being able to merge onto the freeway, thus protecting and providing safety for her family? Then follow it up with the story about a client who, just last week, was able to avoid a major collision due to the car's ability to swerve and accelerate out of harms way.

So think differently about interviewing! Solid preparation in understanding who you're interviewing with, what they need, and then connecting the dots will paint the picture of you doing the job. And make you a ?must hire?!

Copyright 2006 Winning Formula Studios