Do you know what makes you stand out?
My daughter Marissa accepted a new job last year with a political consulting firm. She really likes the people. She says they are her kind of crazy.
You might chuckle over the way she describes it. I know I did. But then I stepped back and realized that I used almost the same words a few years ago to describe a company I worked at for 9 years, my longest employment tenure. These people were special. They were my kind of crazy. They liked me just the way I was and valued my contribution. I was happy there.
I worked at another company before that where I knew on the first day that I made a terrible mistake. That company did not value me. I felt like a round peg in a square hole from the first day. I lasted three years but it was hard.
What makes you different? What makes you special?
Everyone has certain gifts and talents that differentiate one person from another. Maybe you don’t think about yourself that way? You should.
I love the interview question, “what five words describe you?” Most people can come up with three words off the top of their heads. But four is tough and five is really hard unless you thought about it in advance.
When I ask people that question while coaching to improve interview skills I always smile to myself at the many variations people can come up with. As many variations as there are people because everyone is different.
I am high energy, smart, problem solver, team oriented, and pretty well organized. I will not be happy in an employment situation where the culture or people do not value someone like me. If the workplace is quiet and subdued, they probably won’t appreciate my energy or my odd sense of humor. If the workplace is highly competitive with lots of silos then they will not understand my team orientation to work across borders to solve problems.
This is important stuff. If you cannot define who you are, how will you know whether that other company will be a good fit? How will you know if they are your kind of crazy?
No one wants to work in a place where you are not valued for who you are. It is just too difficult. So take a few minutes to understand what makes you different from other people.
What five words do you choose to describe yourself? Why do you choose those words? What stories demonstrate these words? Spend a few minutes on this question. This information is an important part of your Job Search Marketing Plan! It helps you answer that often asked question, “Tell me about yourself” in a job interview.
It seems like such an easy question, yet most people stumble over their answers to this almost every time.
Even worse, the Hiring Managers look to this answer to give them a big picture overview of you. It IS Important! If you cannot confidently and effectively answer this question, you will find yourself losing out on the job offers. Your answer CAN make or break your Job Interview Results.
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