When you’re applying for a job it’s best to prepare. You can’t plan out every last line of dialogue – nor should you – but you can figure out a few things you want to get across.
Work advice blog Passive Panda notes that one good way to do this is to create a list of sound bites:
Sound bites are short phrases or sentences that you want to make sure you say throughout the interview. These are phrases that highlight everything that is great about you as a candidate. The exact way you tell a story might change, but you’ll always want to include the sound bite. For example, “I once worked with a co-worker who constantly pushed her work off on me because Excel spreadsheets are a strong point for me and she knew this…” is a great sound bite to use at the start of a story about dealing with a difficult co-worker. It kicks things off and refers to one of your skills. You can tell the rest of the story naturally and still know that you included a solid sound bite. You should have a sound bite for each story you tell.
This may seem a little insincere, but even if you get along really well with the interviewer you’re not having a casual conversation. A few good sound bites – especially ones that sound natural – will stick in the mind of the interviewer more easily. It’s a good way to make sure you get your point across and do it succinctly. If you end every story you tell with one great sentence, you should have an easier time staying in the minds of those who have the power to hire you.
For more great tips, be sure to check out the full post over at Passive Panda.
99 interview tips that will actually help you get a job [Passive Panda]
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.