In light of this week’s topic of preparation, which is also the 4th ingredient the new book “Ingredients of Outliers,” I am going to talk job interviews. Here are a few tips to prepare you to nail your job interview.
1) Work your social media — Not only should your social media be clean and clear of anything derogatory (like vulgar language of any sort and that drunken picture of your sister’s wedding that you don’t remember taking), you can also use social media to do research on the company that you want to work for. It is impressive when a potential employee knows something about the company’s history and has relevant questions lined up.
2) Plan your route — Don’t sabotage yourself before you even walk into the interviewing room by showing up late! It is important to arrive about 10 minutes early to a job interview. Leave early and be prepared for bad traffic. Avoid the risk of getting lost by mapping out your route and an alternate route before hand.
3) Dress to impress — It’s better to overdress than underdress. A wise man once told me that you should dress two steps up from what you think you will actually be wearing on the job.
4) Sell yourself — Develop a 25-30 second elevator speech that highlights your experience in the field, your most glowing accomplishments and what sets you apart from other applicants.
It is needless to say that we are living in perilous times. The job market is competitive and hundreds of qualified applicants are all applying for the same positions. If you can encompass the traits and qualities of an outlier, you will stand out in the crowd.
OUTLIER: A STATISTICAL OBSERVATION OF PEOPLE THAT IS MARKEDLY DIFFERENT IN VALUE FROM OTHER PEOPLE IN THE SAMPLE
Check out “Ingredients of Outliers” to learn about the make up of an outlier and read some glowing examples of those who have already achieved great things.