There’s always a big issue when people are looking for a job – there’s always that fine line of what you’re qualified to do but there might be components of the position that you might not know how to do. The best way to find a job is to secure the position that you’re most qualified for. At the end of the day, any company wants someone to hit the ground running. Nobody wants to deal with training or teaching you, they want you to make the impact right away. Of course, there are companies that are more open-minded and flexible in these terms.
A great reminder – Yes, you can!
Sometimes people look at the position and think “Oh my God, I can’t do that!” Yes, you can!
Yesterday I had a lovely candidate apply for a position for one of my clients and the job description indicated certain things that he was perfectly qualified for but during the phone call he discovered a component that is not mentioned in the job description. Apparently, he told the manager “I don’t know how to do that.” Since this was a small company, the recruiter was sensitive to him and said “I think you can learn that.” He called me afterward and he was panicking. He said, “Revi, I don’t anything about this one component so I can’t do it.” Yes, you can do it!
Here’s an opportunity to not only bring value to the company and your expertise to the position but also adding to your knowledge, your experience and skillset by learning something new. Luckily, the recruiter was understanding and they’re meeting for an in-person interview, but I told him that he can’t say that he’s scared to do something. That is incorrect! Nine times out of ten when you answer that you can do something or you’re scared of that, the interview is going to end. Especially with the younger generation – you can pick things up and learn very easy and quick. There is no excuse. You need to be proactive and have self-initiative. That’s the quality that firms really want. In this day and age, everything is online. Maybe the firms will send you to a one-day workshop or school, but nowadays it’s unnecessary.
Show your will to learn
You should always answer “Yes, I can do that!” Of course, you want to be honest and indicate that you don’t know something but right after add “I have no problem to learn and it sounds exciting to me. The fact that I’ll be adding something new to my skillset is exactly why this role is so interesting. Not only do I get to bring value to your company with my expertise and background but I’m also going to add to my product knowledge and skillset which is a win-win opportunity.” Do you see how much better that sounds?
A few months ago I worked with a seasoned veteran – 20 years of experience in the business. The role she applied for required a specific license that she didn’t have. She had an interview and after that, she called me and I asked how did it go. She said that she wasn’t comfortable with taking an important test since it was a long time since she graduated college.
There was a moment of silence in our conversation and I’m sure it was the same during the interview. Fake it ‘till you make it! Yes, you can! When there is a question about a test like that, the answer should be “Absolutely, I can take the test! I’ll start preparing and check online if there is anything I can find. That test will now be my top priority.” Of course, she wasn’t called back, why would she?
The company had no time for that kind of answer, they had many more candidates for the role. The interviews ended right there. This is not the time for you to be “totally transparent”. You can, later on, think if you are able to pursue this role and if that is really for you, but that is after all the process. During the interview, you must say “Yes, I can! I don’t have the license but I’m excited about the opportunity to learn and get the license.” No one cares if you don’t feel confident – you can do it, you will do it!
Show the energy the employer wants to see!
If you’re ever being asked a specific question about being exposed to something that you’ve never done or that you don’t know how to do, tell the truth and say that you’ve never done those things but say that you’re ready to take any test, learn and find out about anything. That’s the energy the employer wants to see – confidence in your ability to do the role. Yes, you can!
Don’t forget to check out my eCourse “On Your Marks, Get Set, HIRED!” I’ve got hundreds and hundreds of stories, strategies, tips, secrets and everything else from my couple of decades of experience that will educate and empower you on everything you need to know, like how to write a resume, how to interview, how to complete a background check, salary, salary expectations, interview prep etc. This course covers it all! It’s around 60 videos, 70 worksheets and it’s sharing my insider expertise and knowledge on how to find a job.
Have a great week! Focus, be driven, send out that resume and remember – yes, you can!
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