Understand The Contribution You Can Make

Planning and rehearsing in advance how to answer difficult questions in a job interview or when writing a cover letter or resume will help you be able to clearly articulate why you are the best candidate for the job. The more positive you are in your interview or on your resume or cover letter the greater the impact you will make on the employer. The best way to be positive and assertive in your interview is to clearly understand the contribution that you can make to the employer.

Understand the job

In order to be able to inform the employer of how you are qualified for the job you must first understand what the position actually is. While this may seem obvious, a bit of research into the company or organization prior to the interview can provide you with additional information that you can use to your advantage. Look at the company as a whole, not just the specific position that you are applying for. If, for example, you have to work with the public and you speak another language, it may be a deciding factor for the employer to have a bilingual person on staff. Understanding that you have this skill will allow you to convey the importance of this to the employer in the interview.

Understand your skills, talents and knowledge

In order to talk about how your can contribute to the business you must first know what are your skills, talents and knowledge both job specific and in a broad sense. Planning in advance for difficult questions like "What are your strongest characteristics?" or "What assets would you bring to this job?" will help you provide an accurate and professional answer. Complete a personal skills inventory prior to going to the interview and then match your existing skills and talents with the requirements of the job and the information that you have on the company.

Understand yourself

Knowing your own ability to contribute to a workplace is critical. Be aware of the elements that you possess that may be natural or that you have received training in. Make sure that you mention these elements in job interviews or on resumes or cover letters. Many employers are looking for individuals with a wide range of positive attributes, not just those listed on the job posting. Don't be afraid to discuss talents that you have that are not directly listed on the application. It is important to keep the discussion relative to skills that could be used in the workplace but many skills overlap from one environment to another.

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