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Five Skills You MUST Convey In A
Job Interview:
by Nathan Newberger
This http://www.WorkTree.com
career article by Nathan Newberger gives you some great
advice on how to convey some very important skills during
the interview process.
No, it's not time to throw your resume in the trash
and start a "new age job search". But one thing that
any job seeker must understand is that the showcase
of talents does not begin and end with the resume. There
are many "secret" abstract, often called "soft", skills
that employers keep an eye out for.
This article discusses the five key "secret skills"
that interviewers examine and how to demonstrate them
in an interview situation.
These five skills are:
1. Organizational
2. Critical Thinking
3. Communication
4. Interpersonal
5. Multi-Tasking
1. ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS
Unless you are applying for a job as a mad scientist,
organization is an essential skill for any job. Employers
can get sense of how an individual will handle large
workloads by how organized that person is during the
interview. Moreover, a person that makes a sincere effort
to stay organized is an employee that will take a job
seriously and make a sincere effort to get things done.
The best way to display these skills:
- Dress professionally and neatly for an interview.
- Keep supplies or materials on hand if you think
they might be pertinent to the interview. This can
go beyond pen, paper, resumes, and business cards
depending on the position you apply for.
- Organize your thoughts before the interview. Preparation
for typical interview questions will reflect a sense
of general readiness.
2. CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS
Nobody wants a mindless drone for an employee. If
they did, they would buy a robot. Employers want people
that can think on their feet and respond. They are looking
for people that won't come crying with every little
setback. They are looking for problem solvers. Having
critical thinking skills means that you can come through
in the clutch.
The best way to display these skills:
- Prior to the interview, prepare of a list of anecdotes
or previous jobs that required critical thinking to
solve a problem. When applicable, bring these examples
up in the interview.
- Talk your way through the answers. Let the interviewer
understand your train of thought when responding to
questions. This can also buy you a little extra time
if you are unsure of how to answer.
3. COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Glossophobia, or the fear of public speaking, is the
number one fear in America, but making an impact requires
these skills. Unless you can communicate ideas to others
effectively, you may not come across as very confident.
This is precisely why so many employers ask for individuals
with good communication skills, often including public
speaking.
The best way to display these skills:
- Practice speaking, or answering interview questions
in a mirror. This will get you used to speaking aloud
and let you see the things you may be doing wrong.
- Practice interviews with another person, so you
can learn to keep cool when reacting to another person's
comments.
- Stay calm and ALWAYS MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT. It's
hard to disagree with a confident person. Once you
SEEM confident, you hold all the cards.
4. INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
Along with being able to communicate your own ideas
well, you have to be receptive to other ideas and work
constructively with them. Companies need versatile team
players: people that will work hard on their own and
increase the depth and effectiveness of a group effort.
The best way to display these skills:
- As in the case of critical thinking, it is a good
idea to prepare a list of examples in which you were
part of a successful team effort. These items may
not be on your resume, but could come up in an interview.
- When possible, reflect back on cases where you
coordinated a team effort. It is one thing to work
well in a group, but it is even better when you show
that you can also lead and take charge of a group.
- Don't be afraid to mention troubles within a team
that you had to overcome. A group of people will not
agree on everything 100% of the time. Being able to
work through problems and succeed is paramount.
5.
MULTI-TASKING SKILLS
Businesses are always happy to drive down costs, and
the best way to do this is by hiring fewer individuals
who can multi-task. It is often the case that one efficient
employee can do the work of two typical employees. Employees
are paid for the hours they work, and employers want
to get the most out of what they pay. An employee that
can complete multiple tasks at once is the solution.
The best way to display these skills:
- When discussing previous positions held, include
situations where you worked on multiple tasks at the
same time.
- Prepare a list of projects that required you to
separate tasks into clusters that could be addressed
simultaneously. Be ready to explain the thinking behind
your separation system.
- Show a willingness to take on many responsibilities.
Any worker can pick up one or two, but if you can
pick up more without getting spread to thin, you become
a valuable asset.
CONCLUSION
The resume will always be around and serve as your primary
means of communicating skills with a prospective employer.
But remember that you are more than just a list of skills
on a piece of paper. The interview lets the employer
see whats not easily determined from a resume and also
your chance to shine. Mastering the art of showcasing
your "secret skills" will let an interviewer know you
are person they need to hire.
This article can be read online and shared with others
directly at:
http://www.worktree.com/newsletter/skills-to-convey-interview.html
Sincerely,
Nathan Newberger,
Managing Editor
http://www.WorkTree.com
"Helping You Find More Jobs Faster"
About the Author
Nathan Newberger is the job and career expert at http://www.WorkTree.com
Nathan has over 10 years experience in staffing and
human resources. He has worked both as a recruiter and
career counselor. Mr. Newberger has been the Managing
Editor at http://www.WorkTree.com
for the past 5 years and his articles have helped thousands
of job seekers.
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