Jeremy Johnson has a new guest blog post this week with why you should think “So What” when presenting your job skills. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past. It matters why that hiring manager would see it as benefiting him/her.
Jeremy is a recruiter in Kansas City for EHD Technologies, a recruiting, staffing and managed services company serving the IT, Engineering and Automotive industries.
You can also follow him on Twitter at jsquaredkc
Think “So What” When Presenting Your Job Skills
One of the universal truths I’ve learned as a recruiter is that the majority of job seekers are really good at telling people what they’ve done but really bad at telling them why they should care.
And when it comes to getting a hiring manager’s interest, it’s ALL about the caring part. What matters is why that manager would see you as a solution to his specific problem, or why you can meet his specific need. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past. It matters why that manager would see it as benefiting her. Remember, it’s all about them.
So, you’re probably saying right now, “I already do that!” I have not a single doubt that some of you do. But, I have a ton of doubts that most of you do. Why do I doubt it? Well, recruiters get good practice with as many people as we talk to.
Here’s the mistake job seekers tend to make here: they equate talking about their background with selling their qualifications. But, there’s a big difference – huge difference! It may seem small, but it’s not.
The difference is where you put your focus. When talking about your background, the focus is on yourself. When selling your qualifications, the focus is on your audience. And that change in perspective can make a world of difference.
Making that shift probably isn’t natural for most people, but there’s an easy way to check yourself.
Pretend like that hiring manager has asked about a part of your background, you tell him about that part of your background, and he replies, “So what?”
“So what.”
It’s a great little phrase to check that you’re thinking about things from the proper point of view – the viewpoint of your audience.
Your background makes sense to you. You lived it! You know why you feel you’re right for the job. Your living it helps you to make that mental comparison. A hiring manager doesn’t have that luxury. She can only evaluate you on what you present. She doesn’t know you! And, if your background doesn’t exactly fit what she’s already preconceived as the right fit, you’re probably going to get overlooked.
So, act like that manager is looking at your resume, looks up at you and says (in a very serious tone), “So what?”
“So what?” “Why should I care?” “How will this help me?” Start connecting the dots for them. Don’t expect them to figure it out on their own.
Just because the fit makes perfect sense to you doesn’t mean that someone else, coming from a different perspective and who doesn’t know you, will see it the same way.
If you have exactly the same experience that they’re asking for – the same industry, the same technology, the same processes – that will speak for itself. But, if your background isn’t apples-to-apples glaringly obvious that you match the expressed job qualifications, don’t assume the hiring manager will see it the same way.
Give that manager the “so what” factor of how your background can help them solve the problems presented in that job.