Get the Job: Be Their Need

Every employer is looking for the "right" employee to finally walk into the interview.

What are they looking for?

1. Be early to the appointment. Timeliness matters in business. If you are late to your interview you might as well throw the towel in right now. This is the most basic display of time management. If you know ahead of time when you need to be somewhere to prove you are the perfect fit for their company, showing up late completely dis-qualifies you. This also determines if you value their time. In business and in life time is the most valuable asset we have. It will be a bigger part of whether or not they hire you than most people give weight to.

2. Look sharp. You will not get an executive position with a Sears suit. Very important detail - Shined shoes matter. The details of the way you look. Your hair is clean and brushed or combed. You smell good. Your facial hair is non-existent or looks like it has a specific plan. Your belt matches your shoes. You have creases in your slacks and shirt (not wrinkles). Your nails are clean and trimmed. Most importantly your shoes are clean. If you don't think these details matter you will be out maneuvered by more detail-oriented people. If you have someone with the same experience, education, and qualifications that happen to be better dressed they will get the job over you the majority of the time. There is no such thing as too over-dressed for an interview. That is a myth that you can not afford to believe.

3. Do your research. Make sure you know what they do whether it is sales, manufacturing, research, etc. You will more than impress the decision makers if you understand their business when you walk in the door. Even further is if you understand what they are looking for in the position before you walk in the door. Understand their brand. Imagine having worked in a different industry as a "director of something" and applying as a similar position in a completely different industry. You may not qualify because you have not done enough homework to understand the scope and responsibilities of the position you are interviewing for. The more prepared you are to interview them the more likely you are to get the job. You must have better information than they have and it will create value in you before you are hired. They will see you as a very well-informed person. Imagine how well you will stay informed after you get the job.

4. Tell them about yourself. Their is nothing worse than asking a potential employee to tell them about yourself and all they find out is that you are married with children and you were born in Michigan. No one cares. When the question is asked they want to know what you have accomplished for your past employers. Big wins...Big Sales...Big Savings...etc. This will automatically separate you from the non-professionals. They have a very limited time to decide if you even qualify to apply. You must be very prepared with specific information regarding your past achievements, successes, project management, campaigns, etc. The more prepared you are the more value you are building in yourself. Speaking in generalizations about your past success as a leader does not develop confidence in your potential future employer. If you can't answer what you specifically did to build value in the past what makes anyone believe you will build value in the future.

5. Why they should hire you in one sentence or paragraph. You must be what they need or it is wasted time. Remember rule #1 time matters in business. Don't waste their time. You should have done enough homework and reading about the position, responsibilities, and scope of job description to easily explain why you are a great match for their needs. General statements like "I like working with people" are big red flags that you are not the kind of leader they are looking for. General statements like that are an obvious function at that level and should be a known and expected aspect of your abilities. Where are you going to take the department or organization you will be leading?