3 Things that Enhanced My Career

Whenever I heard the word talented as a child, I often felt isolated. The reason for this is simple: the adjective wasn't being used to describe me. Sure people said that I was smart, but I can't recall anyone saying that I was talented. Whenever there was a talent show, no one was looking for the "smart" kid to spell words for 5 minutes or to demonstrate their penmanship. Instead, talent was linked to entertainment and the arts. I had no idea that everyone, including me, has talent until I was much older. Talent simply put is a natural aptitude or skill. In order for anyone to get hired, they have to possess the required skills needed to perform the job. Having said that, not only am I talented, but so are you because everyone is skilled at something. I have found that being able to enhance my talent as it pertains to interviewing has positively impacted my career and I did it by implementing the following:

Preparation - I like to think of myself as strategic and futuristic. In other words, I'm a planner and I understand that preparation positions your talent. I've interviewed for countless positions throughout my career and I've always prepared for the interview ahead of time. I understood that if I failed to prepare, then more than likely, I would under-perform. In other words, when I prepared beforehand, I made the choice to release and maximize my talent instead of assuming that my gift didn't need to be developed. Enhancing my talent not only takes preparation, it takes time.

Practice - In order to become the best candidate, I had to perform during the interview. My resume might have opened the door, but so did someone else's. The only way for me to improve my interviewing skills was to practice, which ultimately sharpened my talent. As I prepare for an interview, I read the questions aloud that I generate and then I practice reading my responses. Practice strengthens you; it trains you to be the best at whatever it is you do. If this were not so, athletes wouldn't practice 40+ hours per week prior to the start of a game. They understand that if the goal is to win; to be successful, that practice is mandatory.

Persevere - There were times when I'd begin the interview process, only to find out that several rounds of interviews would transpire before a candidate was selected. In those moments, I didn't know whether or not I would be selected to move through the process, but I was determined to do my best. Whenever an obstacle presents itself, I've learned to be persistent and remain constant. In doing so, my talent was not only enhanced, it was sustained. Preparation and practice takes time, but when you learn to persevere, you, too can enhance your natural aptitudes and talents.

More from this contributor:

Initiative, Motivation and Your Career

Why Interning is Urgent

How to Turn Career Obstacles into Opportunities