"What will my answers the tough interviewing questions be"? This dilemma is the one common source of anxiety shared by every job seeker who ever lived. The solution, however, to the dilemma does not start with trying to memorize every conceivable interview question and response. This concern is so pervasive that it should be addressed beginning at the most basic point. That point is actually the answer to yet another question which is, "how well do I know the product that I am selling?" Right now, you are probably wondering "what in the world are they asking? What is this product that you are talking about and who is selling anything? I am not a sales person!"
Yes, You Are A Sales Person
The simple and direct truth is that you are both the salesperson and the product. If you are not a sales professional by trade, you have to become one to execute a successful job search. You, as the interviewee are selling you, the product, to your potential buyer, the interviewer. As any good sales person knows, you have to know your product inside and out and be able to explain the product features that deliver the benefits sought by the potential buyer. Knowing yourself intimately will help you deliver the answers to the tough interviewing questions.
Personal Career Data File
So, just how well do you know yourself? In order to experience a successful job search, don't leave the answer to this question to chance. Prepare yourself by creating a Personal Career Data File consisting of individual information sheets for every job that you have ever held regardless of the tenure. This includes summer jobs and internships. Your performance and experience in every job yields information about your native abilities, people skills, resourcefulness, leadership talents, subject matter knowledge and more. Take the time to get a detailed look at yourself by recording and analyzing your employment/service history and experiences. If you prepare the data file in a thoughtful, comprehensive manner, it will make you an expert on your most important product...YOU.
Once completed, the file will be a resource for your use in:
Creating a general resume
Creating position specific resumes
Providing as a source of information to professional resume writers
Preparing for every conceivable type of employment interview