How Going on Many Interviews Will Help You Land Your Dream Job
Recently I have found myself going on a good bit of interviews as I transition into a new territory career-wise, and I have to say, it has been the best learning experience that I could have ever had! It has forced me to take a step back and reevaluate my skills and helped me narrow in my focus as I look for what job would be best for me.
Funnily enough, my brother and I were talking today after his big interview and we both agreed that we thought job interviews were fun. Not the normal reaction for most people, I know, but when you think about it, they really are the best way to figure out what you are doing well at and what you need to do better on.
I'll elaborate for you....
Get ready to land your dream job!
1) It forces you to hone in on your top skills.
I am all for being a jack of all trades, and being a master of many, but at the end of the day you are going to be more successful when you pick 4-5 skills that you know you are awesome at, and then let them see those other skills not mentioned before after you get the job. This will show them that you have focused your attention on a few areas and you are confident that you do them very well. So when they say, "What do you feel like you can contribute to the position?" then you can say, "While working my previous position at such & such job, I was able to utilize my top skills like planning and organizing, as well as communicating and listening. This helps me as a Marketer because X, Y, Z...and this is how I can implement those skills into this position". This creates value. Those may be just the skills that they are looking for and desperately need for that particular position.
2) It helps you become a better communicator.
I don't know about you, but I definitely have to rehearse what I may say before an interview, so i am not fumbling over my words when I am speaking to the interviewer. It is almost as if I am about to give a presentation, but not so rehearsed that it sounds robotic. When I started going on many interviews I found that I said, "um" or "you know" too much. I also wasn't great about looking my interviewer in the eye and showing them that I am engaged and that I understand what they are saying.
Once I realized this, I was able to work on my speaking and teach myself how to speak more eloquently so I get the message across without using filler words like "um". It helped me to also relax in the interview and not to feel so nervous because I didn't have to think of every answer on the spot, I had an idea of what I was going to say prior to the interview so I was confident in my answers and how I was presenting myself. And with time I have gotten a million times better, not perfect, but no one is perfect :)
3) It gets you out of your comfort zone.
The only other time I was forced to be more out of my comfort zone was when I was taking public speaking class and let me tell you, that wasn't a pretty sight but I survived it! When you go on interviews you sometimes do not have any idea of what you are going to be asked so not all answers can be rehearsed. It forces you to think of answers on the spot and to not be so prepared. I know for some people that is a nightmare to not be 100% prepared, but its unavoidable.
You are also meeting a ton of different people within many industries so you are out of your usual bubble and that can push anyone out of their comfort zone whether they want to or not. It's exciting to meet different kinds of people and to hear what they have to say about that particular company and culture, and I have enjoyed making those connections out in the real world.
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So the bottom line is, I'm not saying to just go on interviews and waste interviewers time with a position you are not interested in, but do go on many interviews as you are job searching and use them as a learning tool. You can't lose in any interview. If you did really terrible at one then you can do better at the next and then keep getting better until you finally land the job you have been dreaming of!
I'd love to hear anyone's stories about interview fumbles, embarrassments, or times you have WOW'd an interview and gotten the job! I may even tell you some of my embarrassing stories as well :)
