The hiring process is your opportunity to make yourself shine! It takes charisma and people skills, but more than that, you have to build a case that you’re the most qualified, most experienced candidate fit for this particular job. And there’s no better way to build your case than by using specific examples of your greatness—or at least your competence. Here’s how to use concrete examples on your resume and during a job interview to make yourself a better job candidate.
Show off your achievements
As you’re crafting your resume, be sure to use numbers to make yourself stand out. Instead of simply saying that you helped your company save money or boosted sales revenue, give specific examples. How much money did you save? By what percentage did you boost sales revenue? Numbers add credibility and give an idea of how effective you are as an employee. Use those specifics to demonstrate that you added value to your previous employers.
Consider what the employer values
As you prepare for your interview re-read the job description and a bit about the company so you have a pretty good sense of what they’re looking for. Think about examples from your experience that align with some of their qualifications. If they’re looking for someone who’s self-motivated, mention a few instances when you took on extra responsibilities, taught yourself a new skill, or volunteered to help a colleague.
Look to your background
Think about your previous employers and what earned special praise and recognition from them. Bring up some of those achievements during your interviews. Explain what you did to earn success and what specific skills or qualities helped you get there. The evidence of your hard work is much stronger than words alone and much more persuasive in proving that you’ve made considerable contributions at your previous companies.
Highlight your key personality traits
Look again at the job description and identify some of the personality traits that will echo what they’re looking for. Or simply identify a handful of traits that you know any employer will find valuable. Think hard work, self-discipline, punctuality, persistent, good communication skills, collaborative. Come up with some instances when you’ve exemplified each of those traits and be prepared to talk about them when you’re asked about your strengths and weaknesses.
Mention your failures
We’ve all failed before. Or at least come up short. Failures are a great chance to tell a specific story during a job interview. Instead of focusing on the shortcoming, highlight your resilience, the obstacles you had to overcome, and the lessons you learned from your mistakes. Not only are failures great learning opportunities, your willingness to discuss them shows humility and self-awareness as well.
The hiring process can be stressful, but when you’re prepared and armed with some concrete examples, you’re sure to stand out from the competition. For more tips on finding the right job for you, contact our team today.
