Interview Preparation
If you have been invited to interview for a position, it has already been determined that based on your resume you have met the required skills and experience. During the interview process, the interviewer will be validating the depth and breadth of that experience. In addition, you will want to convey what makes you unique. What is your value proposition? What makes you different from the rest of the candidates and why should they pick you? This is not a time to be modest. You have to sell yourself. You have one shot at convincing them you are the right choice.
In preparation for an interview, a useful exercise is to summarize those skills and characteristics that are your strengths so that you can recall them easily and comfortably speak to them. I have provided several lists of words and phrases to help you get started compiling this information; the Building Blocks of Character List; the Self Management Skill List; and a Mid-Level Career Skill List (for the experienced professional). Print out these lists and quickly highlight those words or phrases that capture your skills and strengths. Then take the words or phrases that are your main strengths and consolidate them in the template. Reference this list before interviewing to remind yourself of these strengths. I like to visualize myself actually interviewing and imagine myself speaking easily and confidently about my strengths and related experiences.
Reflect on this list and over time create a personal value proposition that captures what is unique about you. I have provided some examples of personal value propositions below:
My personal favorite - I make order out of chaos, can put structure where there is none, and make a well run operation even better.