By Kelly Cline, Search Consultant
In today’s competitive job market, excelling in an interview is not just about selling yourself but also about showcasing how your achievements can connect with the success of the company you’re aspiring to join. This is especially significant in the age of virtual interviews, where traditional in-person elements like handshakes and face-to-face charisma are less relevant.
Try incorporating these practical strategies for presenting your accomplishments effectively (whether you’re meeting in person or online) and how they can demonstrate that you can achieve similar results for your potential employer.
1. Familiarize Yourself with Your Achievements
Before heading into your interview, take some time to reflect on your notable career milestones. Consider the projects where you excelled, the goals you accomplished, and the challenges you overcame. This not only boosts your self-assurance but also prepares you to articulate your experiences with authenticity and demonstrate how they align with the company’s success.
2. Tailor Your Achievements to Suit the Role and Company
Understand that not all achievements are universally applicable to every job or organization. Customize your stories to align with the unique requirements of the role you’re pursuing and how they can contribute to the success of the company. This approach positions you as an ideal candidate who can make a meaningful impact.
3. Streamline Storytelling with the STAR Method
In any interview, effective storytelling is vital. Use the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to articulate your accomplishments clearly. It involves outlining the challenges you faced, the tasks you undertook, the actions you implemented, and the positive outcomes achieved. This method ensures clarity and memorability while showcasing your problem-solving skills and how they can be applied to benefit the company.
4. Quantify Your Achievements
Numbers carry significant weight during interviews. Whenever possible, provide quantifiable data to support your accomplishments. For instance, saying, “I increased sales by 30% in the first quarter” has a more profound impact than a vague statement such as, “I contributed to sales growth.” This approach illustrates the concrete impact you can have on the company’s success, and what company doesn’t want to increase sales?
5. Be Prepared for Varied Scenarios
Interview questions come in diverse formats. However, the opportunity to demonstrate your ability to handle challenges and deliver results is consistently significant. Ensure that you have a selection of 6-8 stories highlighting your skills, attributes, and accomplishments and how they can connect with the company’s goals and achievements. Leaving the interviewer with the knowledge that hiring you will increase their sales, retain their staff and/or eliminate downtime will help them understand that you will have an immediate impact on their business.
6. Refine Your Communication through Practice
Practicing the articulation of your achievements is crucial. Engage in mock interviews with a trusted friend or mentor to ensure that your narratives are easy to follow, and your outcomes are distinctly conveyed. The more you practice, the more confident and engaging you’ll become when discussing these examples in real interviews, thereby showing how you can connect your achievements with the success of the company.
Job interviews are pivotal in your quest for a desirable position, whether they occur in person or virtually. In the realm of virtual interviews, where your personality and physical presence have limited influence, your capacity to convey your achievements takes center stage.
Your accomplishments are your most compelling tool for making a lasting impression and connecting your potential contributions to the success of your future employer. Thus, prepare to present them professionally and convincingly.