Prepare for an Interview by Knowing Your Skills

It's important to prepare for an interview effectively. What matters are the job skills you bring to the employer.

During the job interview question and answer, you need to be prepared to weave in all of the skills you bring to the table. This will only be possible if you put some time and thought into it ahead of time.

Skill emphasis during the interview is crucial, because you can use it to show the employer what makes you different from all the other job candidates they have interviewed or will interview. In this competitive world, the interviewer will be searching for the most qualified employees available. Decisions will be made by weighing the varying set of skills of the different candidates against each other, and then determining how they would best benefit the company.

Companies want employees who stand out... because of their expertise, ability to develop new ideas and improvements, and pleasing personalities that would complement the organizational culture.

So, the message is clear... prepare for an interview by knowing how you will fit in!

Job skills are grouped into three categories — knowledge-based skills, transferable skills, and personal traits. Let's take a closer look...

• Knowledge-based skills are those learned through experiences or training. They may draw upon formal education, additional on-the-job training, seminars attended, and other practices that you have studied to enhance your expertise.
  
  Knowledge-based skills include computer and communication skills, marketing or managerial knowledge, product development, and many more. These skills vary, depending on the field of industry of each job candidate.

• Transferable or portable skills are those job skills you bring from one job to another, even if they don't directly apply. This is the reason why you'll often hear—during the job interview question and answer routine—"What could you offer the company?" Transferable skills are important, because companies strive to look for quality employees that would improve the development of the workforce, and also those who bring that little "something extra." Prepare for an interview by knowing what that something extra is for you.
  
  Portable skills include problem solving, team leader potential, organizational skills, writing and communication skills, customer service orientation, time and project management, and ability with numbers and budget. These kinds of skills vary depending on the experience and versatility of each job candidate.

• Personal traits determine who you are. In a job interview, one of the most common things an employer says is, "Tell me something about yourself." Your response is vital, because it can set the tone for the rest of the interview.
  
  Personal traits include good judgment, analytical, goal oriented, flexible, creative and many more. Try to sell yourself in as modest a way as possible within a limited time.

So, here are some essential action steps you should follow to prepare for an interview...

Assess yourself and your job skills. In order to provide an impressive presentation, examine your resume and list all the skills you have acquired for each past job. Make a comprehensive list of your skills and strengths including personal traits, knowledge-based and transferable skills. This would be the basis for your very own "personal commercial."

Once you have completed your job interview question and answer script, you are now ready to face the interviewer. Remember that employers are interested in your accomplishments. Use words that are concise, direct and clear. Prepare for an interview by practicing saying these words.

Although many companies require a unique set of job skills, you should still highlight some specific general skills in the interview. These skills, which top companies usually seek, include leadership, communication, confidence, flexibility, problem solving and energy.

Emphasizing all of your strengths and skills on job interviews will increase your chances of landing the desired job. So, take your time and prepare for an interview as though your life depended on it. Know your job skills. Go into that job interview question and answer armed with everything you have!

Top of prepare for an interview page