Sometimes employers need you to draw a map
➔ It’s relatively easy for you to focus on one job opportunity at a time. It’s even easier when you’re focused on only one interviewer. It’s like when you’re at an event and you’re introduced to four or five people at once. It’s easy for them to remember your name, but it’s a lot tougher for you to remember their four or five individual names.
But pity the poor interviewers. Their entire careers are like that. They have deal with possibly a half dozen applicants (or more) at a time – all of whom have been pared down from the initial deluge of hundreds of hopefuls. Let’s not forget, this is a numbers game.
They need help
It’s OK that they need help because you’re just the person to give it to them. They may, however, need for you to draw them a map. (We hope not literally.)
If you’re genuinely prepared for your interview, you’ve reviewed the job description (or job posting) to determine precisely what the employer needs for the position in question. To boost your chances, you may need to play connect-the-dots for the interviewer.
“Here’s what I’ve done and here’s how that relates to your needs as stated in your job posting. And here’s how it all adds up to your (Mr. Employer) benefit.”
You need to be prepared to draw them a map, to paint them a picture. It’s part of your interview preparation that you hear so much about. Your job in that interview is to create links between what they’re looking for and what you have to offer.
Make that connection and you’ve made their day.