What A Better Way To Get Hired Than To Tell Your Story?
I’m in the throes of interviewing right now and am reminded of the value of being able to tell your story.
Many roles don’t require direct experience doing the exact same work, in the same industry, or at the same level. Experience is often a proxy for what we’re really trying to understand:
Competency. So, if you are sure you’ve got the competencies and want to take a role that’s a bit of a stretch for your direct experience, Remember These Three Keys:
- Find Creative Ways to Build Experience:
Write a few newsletters for your HOA. Offer to co-plan an event for your church group. Survey your Girl Scout Troop and analyze their feedback. Not only do you get practice, you also demonstrate initiative! - Make It Obvious That Your Transferable Skills Are Relevant:
Go through the job description and circle the skills you want to emphasize, then practice including those key words in your STAR-structured stories. Directly tying your skills to the role makes it less likely the interviewer will miss the connection between your qualifications and their ideal candidate. - Acknowledge Where You’ll Need To Learn:
Every role change will require some form of learning, whether it’s a new company, new function, or just the work-styles of a new manager. Discuss your capacity to learn, willingness to ask questions, and your ability to use resources to teach yourself. Then, set about being the easiest trainee you can be.
Not every part of every job can be addressed in this way – you’ll need some biology chops to be a biomedical engineer and leadership experience helps when applying to lead a department. The point is to not let small gaps in direct experience keep you from applying. And once applied, make sure to squeeze utility out of every experience you have to make your case for getting hired.