{"id":129,"date":"2015-07-29T23:53:21","date_gmt":"2015-07-29T23:53:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/salesx17xmaster\/?post_type=chapter&p=129"},"modified":"2015-07-30T00:09:51","modified_gmt":"2015-07-30T00:09:51","slug":"selling-u-selling-yourself-in-an-interview","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/cerritos-sales-1\/chapter\/selling-u-selling-yourself-in-an-interview\/","title":{"raw":"Selling U: Selling Yourself in an Interview","rendered":"Selling U: Selling Yourself in an Interview"},"content":{"raw":"
\r\n

<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n

Learning Objective<\/h3>\r\n
    \r\n\t
  1. Understand how to prepare for a successful job interview.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\nIn many ways, gearing up for a job interview is like gearing up for a sales presentation. You can\u2019t control the outcome of the interview, but you can control the preparation that goes into the interview. Preparing beforehand, paying attention to logistics, and knowing what to expect will set you apart from your competitors and put you in the best possible position to let your personal brand shine. Here are ten steps that can guide you through preparation for and follow-up after every job interview.\r\n
    \r\n

    Ten Steps to Successful Interviews<\/h3>\r\n
      \r\n\t
    1. Be ready to show and sell.<\/li>\r\n\t
    2. Accept and confirm the interview.<\/li>\r\n\t
    3. Research the company.<\/li>\r\n\t
    4. Rehearse your elevator pitch.<\/li>\r\n\t
    5. Prepare your answers to popular interview questions.<\/li>\r\n\t
    6. Prepare your<\/em> questions and answers.<\/li>\r\n\t
    7. Prepare for the logistics.<\/li>\r\n\t
    8. Prepare your wardrobe.<\/li>\r\n\t
    9. Make a personal connection during the interview.<\/li>\r\n\t
    10. Follow up, follow up, follow up.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
      \r\n

      Step 1: Be Ready to Show and Sell<\/h2>\r\nIn a sales presentation, you want to make your product come to life by showcasing it in a way that gets your audience involved. You want your prospect to \u201csmell the leather in the car.\u201d The same is true at a job interview; it\u2019s not just about your r\u00e9sum\u00e9. Let your interviewer see examples of the work you\u2019ve done and help her to envision the work you can do for her company. You can start preparing for this now, while you\u2019re still a student. Bring your portfolio on every interview. If you need some tips, review the Selling U<\/em> section in Chapter 6 \"Why and How People Buy: The Power of Understanding the Customer\".\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
      \r\n

      Step 2: Accept and Confirm the Interview<\/h2>\r\nWhen one of your target companies calls or e-mails to offer you an interview, don\u2019t leave anything to chance. Grab a pencil and paper or your personal digital assistant (PDA) and take down the information you\u2019ll need to know on the day of the interview. Do you have the correct day and time written down? Do you know the name, title, and office location of the person with whom you\u2019ll be interviewing? Do you have directions to the company\u2019s location? Keep in mind that googling the company\u2019s address on the day of your interview may not get you where you want to go. Sometimes companies have large campuses with a number of buildings, and Google won\u2019t be able to tell you how to find the right entrance to the right building and how to find your contact person\u2019s office once you get there. Take care of logistical details like this beforehand, so you won\u2019t have anything to slow you down on the big day.\r\n\r\nWhile you have a contact from the company on the phone, take the opportunity to ask whether there is a job description on the company Web site that you can review before the interview. It\u2019s also a good idea to ask for the title of the job for which you will be interviewing and the names and titles of the people with whom you will be interviewing. You should also ask for your interviewer\u2019s phone number and e-mail, and bring the phone number with you on the day of the interview in case you are unavoidably delayed. E-mail your interviewer several days in advance of the interview to confirm your appointment, or call her the day before. This demonstrates professionalism and ensures that everything will run smoothly.[footnote]Kim Richmond, \u201c10 Tips for Successful Interviews,\u201d presentation in the How to Market Yourself as a Brand to Get the Job You Want Workshop Series, Upper Merion Township Library, King of Prussia, PA, June 1, 2009.[\/footnote]<\/span>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
      \r\n

      Step 3: Research the Company and Your Interviewer<\/h2>\r\nJust as you would never go into a sales presentation without carefully researching your prospect\u2019s company beforehand, you should never go to a job interview without the same kind of preparation. Begin by reviewing the job description on the company Web site if it\u2019s available. Then spend some time on the Web site, researching the company\u2019s mission statement and description. If you know which department you might be working in, pay careful attention to any specific details you can learn about this department on the Web site. Some of the basic facts employers will expect you to know include\r\n