Skills are fundamental, the more they are related to your aspired position the better it is but the real key to succeed in your next job interview is to show what really matters most to you. Here there are some tips on how to do it.
Start with your why
Most résumés and interview responses are just a long list of “what” someone did without ever getting into into “why.” Instead of telling hiring managers what you’ve done, begin by explaining your motivations — why you chose that activity — and the impact of your work.
Here we have an example: Alex loved to build software applications because he believed that technology equalizes access for everyone. So Alex’s motivation to pursue coding was highly personal, which fueled his passion.
Discuss where you invest extra time
For most positions, a suitable candidate is expected to be smart, work hard, and get results. An exceptional candidate tells interviewers about when and where he went above and beyond. Alex used to hide in the computer lab when it was shut down so he could stay after closing time to continue on coding. His extra hours of hard work paid off as a program that he wrote during that period was used by the system administrator at his university to run the lab more efficiently.
Share your hobbies
When you’re passionate about something, it tends to spill over into other aspects of your life. Alex loved to build things. He created computer programs in school, at work, and at home. Alex showed videos of his latest invention, done in his spare time, in his job interview and that project demonstrated his enthusiasm and deep commitment to his field.
Talk about where you’ve worked for free
Passion and belief can lead you to work on something even when it’s not part of your job or hobby. At his next interview, Alex told a story about helping to feed the homeless at a shelter. Because of limited space, the shelter fed a hundred people at a time and then turned around the seating for a second batch of guests each evening. It was a scramble to feed everyone during the allotted time. Alex noticed that one delay was caused by taking orders for the two menu choices and delivering them accurately. He coded a program that displayed the seating chart and the chosen menu item. The program increased serving efficiency by 17 minutes and reduced errors and frustration.
After using these techniques during interviews, Alex he worked hard for the company that hired him, winningfive patents, and becoming a prolific coder.So as part of a new company, during you next interview show them what moves your passion and motivation to keep on evolving and doing your best. Help employers to see the commitment you have by underlying your actions and words. Show them that passion comes in different form and yields impressive results – the kind of results that you’ve already nailed
