Tips On Interviewing - Help, Don't Sell

Tips on interviewing should include one of the mostthe interviewer, helping her to make the right hiring
effective sales techniques. Selling at interviews is reallydecision.
helping people, your interviewers, make the right hiringBy asking questions, you're establishing rapport with
decision instead of thinking "how to sell myself."interviewers [ by showing interest in the job and
Unless you've been in sales, investment banking, orcompany.
customer service you probably have a fear of selling.When you hold off talking about yourself until you
When you think about selling at interviews as helpingknow what a prospect wants, your pitch will be
prospective employers make the right hiring decision,shorter and to the point. Why? Because you're now
there's no selling involved. Only helping.able to target the job with skills you bring to it. This
There is a big difference between trying to help andtechnique also sharpens your personal presentation.
trying to sell. Instead of launching into a prepared, factA buyer of your services has to know what you can
filled personal presentation -- find out first what yourdo. However, before you can present that information,
prospective employer is looking for by asking questionsyou need to know what the prospect wants by
about the position.analyzing his needs. Then you can determine whether
This can be done at the beginning of an interview byor not you can help. When you can, link your
asking, "would you mind telling me what you're lookingbackground to the job's requirements.
for in the ideal candidate?" If the person answers thisSo think of interviewing as trying to help. Then you
question, you're able to match your qualifications to thenever have to try and sell yourself. Just find a buyer
job's specifications. Thus, you're doing the matching forfor your services.