How to Sell Yourself at Interview: Workshop Notes
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How to Sell Yourself at Interview: Workshop Notes
If you’ve been called for an interview, the organisation hiring obviously think you are qualified
for the job. It is likely, however, that you will be one of many candidates interviewing for the
role. The interview is your opportunity to set yourself apart and show why YOU are the best
fit. Most interviewees - 81% according to numerous studies conducted - fail because they
can’t answer ‘the why?’ Why are you the best person for the job?
One of the most common questions in an interview, one which allows you to answer ‘the
why’, is some variation of ‘tell me about yourself’. Such questions can seem straight-forward.
You know all about yourself, right? But, answers to these questions should never be
improvised on the day. They offer the perfect opportunity to answer ‘the why’, using a
concise, carefully planned, and well-practiced statement about your professional self. This is
what is known as the elevator pitch and is a message you can deliver to an interviewer, in
under a minute (anywhere between 45-60 seconds is ideal), which demonstrates your
unique personality and outlines your unique skills and interests.
Interviewers are human. Thus, though they follow structured interview plans, there is still an
element of subjectivity. Although it’s rarely asked directly, the basic job of an interviewer is to
consider the question “Who is this person and are they the right person for the role?” The
Elevator Pitch is designed to target this unasked question and answer it in as quick and
precise a manner as possible.
Your elevator pitch should always answer 5 key questions:
1. Who you are and what it is you do
Consider stating your true profession rather than just your job title
2. Why you do it.
What is the driver (motivator) behind doing what you do – this is not just about the money. Consider who
you help, who benefits from your work, why do you enjoy your work.
3. What are the key skill(s) which define you?
Consider your greatest strength(s) or the best compliment you have ever received, where are you most
assured
4. What value do you bring to an organisation?
The hook for the interviewer will be how you link your answer to question 3 to the specific role you are
applying for
5. What are the results you have delivered in the past and can deliver in the future?
The key here is being specific ensuring no generalisations. Use of numbers, ratios, percentages etc. is
highly recommended as it brings to life in graphic form the positive impact you have had / will have on
any future employer
When writing the answers to all these questions, look at the role you are applying for. Look
at the competencies required in the job spec, and link them to your professional and
personal story in a way that is compelling for the interviewer. Examine your skills, strengths
and weaknesses, and your accomplishments. Be specific about the points you are trying to
make. A generic or non-specific elevator pitch is unlikely to resonate with those interviewing
you. Give your pitch a theme or a hook and it will instantly make it more memorable and
genuine.
As important as what you are saying are the words you are using to say it. As you are aiming
to get across as much as possible about what makes you suitable for the role in under a
minute, every word counts. Think if there is a shorter, more direct way to say what you want
to say. Also, avoid the use of technical jargon - you don’t want to run the risk of confusing
anyone. Your elevator pitch should be one your mother could understand.
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How to Sell Yourself at Interview: Workshop Notes
A successful elevator pitch however will come down to more than the words you choose.
How you deliver these words is equally important. Words which are delivered as ‘reading’
won’t impress. You must deliver your pitch with passion, in a compelling and genuine way. If
you can’t be passionate about yourself, how will you be remembered?
Your voice should be used to its full potential, changing your tone to emphasise those key
points you want to get across to a potential employer. Reading the pitch out loud will help
you get the tone right. And it will help you determine if the words you have used sound good
when spoken.
You haven’t got long, so avoiding the ‘umms’ and ‘ahhs’ will not only give you more time, but
will make you sound more confident in what you are saying. It is true that the time for a pitch
will be short, which might make you feel pressure to speak faster than you normally would.
But clarity is important, so DO NOT rush it. Deliver it at a good pace, making proper use of
pauses.
Finally, body language which engages the interviewers - eye contact, smiling and being
animated - will make you far more likeable. One of the objectives with your elevator pitch
should be to get the interviewers to like you, because if they don’t like you, they might not
hire you!
To get all this right, practice the pitch aloud again and again. Practice makes perfect! Take
every opportunity you can to practice – be it in front of a mirror, in front of the cat, or even in
front of willing colleagues.
If written and delivered correctly, the elevator pitch will leave your interviewer knowing what
makes you unique, what you do (and do well) and what you will bring to the role and
organisation. It will also make the interviewer interested and want to know more. This will
stimulate conversation. Above all, the best elevator pitch will differentiate you from the
competition - vital in today’s competitive job market!
For Further Information Contact Graham Morris, Founder of Connexus, at the following:
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