What the Hiring Manager Is Really Asking…

During an interview, you’ll probably be faced with direct questions. One common question is, “Explain what you do in your current position.” This question can help you feel more at ease – as you know the exact responsibilities of the job you’re currently in. Asking this question also enhances your resume by adding more descriptions to your previous jobs.

• Identify your current job title and its responsibilities.
• Describe your current job duties in a way that’s related to your desired job.
• Refine your resume so that the important functions of your job is shown in the descriptions.

Points to Emphasize

Make sure you communicate to the employer the results of your work. Show that in your work, you made a positive difference. Remember to emphasize:

• Project results
• How your experience connects with your desired job
• Honesty and confidence
• The big picture of your experience

Since the hiring manager probably knows the industry you describe, no need to go into a lot of unnecessary detail about your work.

• What projects or tasks have you been given that connect to your desired job?
• What positive results were you a part of in those projects and tasks?
• What overall skills have you gained from those experiences?

Mistakes You Should Avoid

Keep the interview going well by remembering these tips:

• Be honest – don’t take credit for something you didn’t do
• Don’t include a lot of unnecessary detail
• Keep your response simple and straightforward
• Make sure your response is directly related to your desired position

Highlight the qualities and skills the ideal candidate should have for the position by being honest and straightforward in your response.

• What experience or story of your accomplishments would you address?
• What qualities and skills from that experience could you pull out to relate to the ideal candidate?
• Describe the experience in limited detail

Sample Answer

Check out this example to answer the question of, “What do you do in your current position?”

“For the last seven years, I’ve served at XYZ Marketing as an account representative. I was in charge of 30 accounts and in a team with 10 other representatives. In my position there, I successfully maintained positive relations with clients and grew my client base 50% in my first year there.”

Notice how this example highlights the results of the work. This shows the hiring manager not only what you do but that you’re able to do it successfully as well.

• Write the first draft of your answer with your tutor.
• Are there any words or phrases that you are not comfortable pronouncing?
• Now rehearse with your tutor until you are comfortable answering the question without the script.

What the Hiring Manager Is Really Asking…

For the hiring manager to make an informed decision about whether you’re right for the job, they’ll often ask a combination of both tricky and direct questions.

One common direct question often asked in interviews is: “Why should we hire you?”

Don’t freak out. While this question can seem overwhelming, it also gives you the chance to convince them you are the best choice. With preparation, you can explain with confidence how you’re the perfect candidate.

Follow the steps below to shine in answering, “Why should we hire you?”

• Review the job description before you answer. Connect the description to why you’d be the best fit.
• Ponder the reasons why you, and not the next person, should get the job.
• What experiences have you excelled in that set you apart from the other candidates?

#1. Research

In preparation for the interview, record what skills and experiences you’ve acquired are most applicable to the job. Focus on these key characteristics while answering. It also may be helpful to know what problems the organization is struggling with so you can show your willingness to help in solving those challenges.

#2. Know You’re the One

Know the keywords and phrases included in the job description and in the interview. Pick up on what qualities are emphasized then match your own skills and experiences to match what the hiring manager is looking for.

But, make sure you’re sincere. Support your statements with related examples and experiences so they know for certain that you’re the real deal.

#3. Add Your Value

Prove your worth by using examples of experiences that show what value you’ll bring. Instead of just saying, “I’m very organized”, add the example of when you coordinated multiple projects at the same time and excelled in each. Highlight how your management of each project contributes to your organization skills. Communicate to the employer that you are not only qualified but will also bring value to the organization.

• Write down your top skills that are related
• Combine your top skills with the value you’ll add to the organization.
• Practice your answer with confidence with your tutor

Example Answer 

When answering the question, “Why should we hire you?”, consider the following example:

“With a passion for this industry, skills, and experience to thrive in this role and an eagerness to serve with X, I know I would be a great fit here. I have the qualifications, experience, and advantages to add value to this organization. For example, in my previous job, I enhanced my skills in X and gained experience working in multiple roles. I developed problem-solving techniques in Y, which is something your organization is facing as well.”

With such experience, skills, and knowledge, I am confident I will bring a unique value to the team that sets me apart from other candidates. I look forward to the opportunity to show that.”

• Write the first draft of your answer with your tutor.
• Are there any words or phrases that you are not comfortable pronouncing?
• Now rehearse with your tutor until you are comfortable answering the question without the script.

What the Hiring Manager Is Really Asking…

The interviewer is trying to accomplish a few things here. First, she’s asking about your career path and giving you an opportunity to describe your professional self in your own words before narrowing down on specific skills and qualifications.

Second, she’s gaining a sense of what kind of person you are and what you’d be like to work with. Also this is your chance to summarize your background and bring attention to the significant information that couldn’t be included in your resume and cover letter.

• What are the two things that the interviewer is trying to accomplish by asking this question?
• What does ‘your professional self’ mean?

How Should You Respond to “Tell Me About Yourself” In an Interview?

To talk about your professional self, you’ll need to do two things. First, you’ll need to identify your professional accomplishments. Second, you’ll need to tailor your achievements to the needs of the company.

So, what are your greatest achievements? Ask yourself:

• Have you ever accomplished anything at work that you can illustrate with numbers? (Good examples are making revenue, saving costs, or improving process.)
• Can you think of accomplishments that demonstrate how well you use a skill?
• Did you ever win an award or receive a promotion?

Note, you do not have to take your examples from your job experience. If you have little or no work experience, you can take examples and success stories from anywhere. Are you a student or fresh graduate? Your achievements can include success stories from your extracurricular activities.

The point of the exercise is to identify your achievements. Once you have a master list of your top achievements, go back and take a long look at your job description. Underline all the skills and requirements listed. Where do you exceed the requirements?

Here’s an example of a job description for a Product Marketing Manager:

Notice the keywords underlined in the job description:

• Strong analytical skills
• Can optimize the use of data and information to uncover customer insight
• Can provide strong evidence-based analyses that build brand equity and a differential advantage
• Customer Focused
• Can develop and sustain positive relationships to obtain customer insight.
• Strong communication skills (verbal and written)
• Can coordinate information and requirements with related operational departments
• Proactive in identifying needs/issues
• Can employ effective solutions in a timely manner
• Detailed and action oriented

You could choose a success story based on communication. You could talk about the time you developed a relationship that gave your insight. Now, look back at your master list of achievements. You’ll want to circle those that match the qualities you find in your job offer. The next step is to choose a couple that you feel strongest about and use the STAR approach to illustrate them.

• What are your greatest achievements?
  • Have you ever accomplished anything at work that you can illustrate with numbers? (Good examples are earning money, cutting costs, or improving efficiency.)
  • Can you think of accomplishments that demonstrate how well you use a skill?
  • Was there a time when your boss praised you?
  • Did you ever win an award or receive a promotion?
• Write down as many achievements as you can think of now.
• Read the job description and highlight the requirements you think are relevant to you.

Example “Tell Me About Yourself” Answer

Your response should only last a couple of minutes. Who are you as a professional and what are you doing right now? Your tell me about yourself answer should be a brief elevator pitch of your professional self.

“I am a Copywriter with 5+ years of experience working for large advertising companies. I’ve worked with clients including Pfizer, Coca-Cola, and Johnson & Johnson.”

Use the examples you’ve come up with to illustrate the skills and value you’ll bring to the position. Don’t forget to use the STAR approach when answering the tell me about yourself interview question.

“I am highly dedicated and ambitious. Every time I start a new campaign, I aim to win an award or nomination. Of course, my ultimate goal is to please the client. But the fact that I aim high has resulted in at least 20 industry awards and nominations.”\

For example, I once led a project for a client who was sure that he didn’t want to add digital media to his campaign budget. He wasn’t behind the times, but he was sure that his client-base was. My Creative Director asked that I get the client on board. So, I created some samples, and I put together a presentation. I set out to show the client that he was missing an entire demographic of untapped customers.

He was sold. He added digital media to his campaign budget making my boss happy. The work I put into the digital campaign to impress the client was above and beyond what we normally do. The result was two Cannes Lions awards.”

You’ll want to stress that the position is in line with your plans and career goals. It’s also a good idea to make it sound like you’re interested in staying on for awhile.

“While I enjoyed my previous work, it was commercial. It’s a dream of mine to do work for nonprofit clients. Your company has done some amazing work for nonprofit and NGO clients and I’d love to switch gears. That’s why I applied for this position.”

• Write your professional persona. Revise it if necessary with your Cambly tutor.
• Write what makes you stand out (2 – 4 points). Are you using STAR approach?
  • Here you will want to tailor your tell me about yourself answer to the job and the company. Which of your achievements will match those listed in the job description?
• Write why you’re going to fit. Revise it if necessary with your Cambly tutor.
• Now rehearse with your tutor until you are comfortable answering the question without your script.

LinkedIn Experience Section Example

Below is an example of the experience section of your LinkedIn profile. The author, Hugo Pereira, highlights in accomplishments, responsibilities, and recommendations and supports his claims with examples of his work.

Remember that your goal is to be found by people interested in your unique experience and talent. Be sure your profile matches with industry-related content.

• Why do you need a well-crafted LinkedIn profile?
• Make sure you created a profile already and shared the link with your tutor.

Part 2: Your LinkedIn Connections

As a social network, LinkedIn helps you connect with people you know and who you want to know. Connections are very beneficial in searching for jobs.

Why are they so critical?

Your first-level connections are those who you know well. Those connections can introduce and connect you with others you who want to get to know – to opportunities across industries.

For example, Steven Burda has a lot of connections. His recommendations and references include a broad range of categories and endorsements.

• Why are connections so critical on LinkedIn?
• How many connections can you find? Try brainstorming who you can connect with with your tutor.

Sidebar: The Recruiter’s Perspective

When looking for talent on LinkedIn, there are certain things recruiters really look for.

John Paul Engel is the president of a recruiting firm that serves high-growth companies in a variety of industries. Below are a few tips on what gets his attention as a recruiter:

Turn-ons:

1. Keywords related to the job. (Listing software names makes it easier to find your profile for related positions)
2. Measurable accomplishments. (Dollar estimates and hard numbers)
3. Well-written copy
4. Complete profiles (Fill out the details)
5. Key accomplishments that make you stand out
6. Lots of connections – particularly if we share some
7. Great recommendations from executives

Turn-offs:

1. Goofy picture
2. Weird jobs or job descriptions
3. Missing key information
4. Low number of connections
5. Recommendations only from very junior-level connections

• Do you have keywords related to the job?
• Do you have measurable accomplishments?
• Did you complete your profile with key accomplishments?
• Do you have any list from turn-offs that apply to your account? How can you improve?

URL Customization

When you change your LinkedIn URL, it makes it easier for people to find you by your name. And, it also helps you connect with your other social media accounts like Twitter or Facebook – which your potential employer may be checking out as well.

Your default URL often contains some form of your name as well as several numbers. If you can, shorten it. If your preferred URL isn’t available, try a memorable combination of your initials, first name, last name, middle name, or some other way.

Personalizing your LinkedIn URL is simple:

1. Hover your mouse over the word profile running across the top bar.
2. Look for edit profile and click.
3. Look in the light gray box beneath your profile picture. Find the link to your LinkedIn URL followed by an edit button. Click the edit button and customize your URL.

• Customize your LinkedIn profile URL with your tutor.

Make Your Summary the Focal Point

The summary of your LinkedIn profile provides you the opportunity to highlight what makes you stand out from other professionals in the job market. Here, you can include photos and videos that are relevant to your work.

LinkedIn Profile Summary Example 1

Here’s an example of a LinkedIn Profile Summary. Here Steven Burda includes both a short and long summary and highlights his experiences with an example of his work.

Your Experience, Skills, and Expertise are More Than the Sum of Their Parts

Don’t just copy your resume into the experience section of your LinkedIn profile. Keep it interesting to read so that readers can scan quickly. Use your creativity to showcase your accomplishments, talents, and skills in an interesting way.

You can also include images, videos, recommendations and other add-ons to make this section engaging.

• Discuss what you want to include in your summary with your tutor.
• Write a first draft of your summary either on your own or with your tutor.
• Come back again to revise your writing.

When researching potential job candidates, hiring companies often use social media. In fact, 94% of U.S. companies utilize social media in recruiting, according to Jobvite. A lot of companies utilize LinkedIn as their most popular social network for recruiting.

For someone pursuing a job, this means you need to have a quality LinkedIn profile.

A LinkedIn profile lets you highlight different aspects of who you are that extend beyond your resume. This guide will help show you what to include in your profile, how to make a good impression with it and help grow your professional network.

• Why do you need a well-crafted LinkedIn profile?
• Make sure you created a profile already and shared the link with your tutor.

LinkedIn Profile for Maximum Results

While there is no set perfect example of what a LinkedIn profile should look like, there are best practices that are helpful to follow. One important note is that details on your profile are critical. Make sure you pay attention to the little things, like grammar and spelling, in creating your profile.

What’s in a Name?

Keep your name simple – first and last name. It will make it easier for potential employers to find your profile.

• Check you have your first and last name in English.

Headline Design for Success

Your headline on your LinkedIn page is one of the most important sections. It’s a great place to include career-related keywords and is helpful in locations like:

• Search Results
• Connection Invitations
• Employee Listings
• Company Pages
• Messages

Here, you’re allowed to use some creativity in writing in order to draw attention. Keep it professional, but be yourself as well. Also be sure to make it something searchable.

Here’s an example of a headline that contains important keywords yet has personality:

• Discuss what kind of keywords you can use in the headline with your Cambly tutor.
• Revise your headline according to the guideline.

Choosing the Photo

The photo you choose for your profile picture is your visual representation on LinkedIn. Keep it professional yet applicable to your intended audience. Headshots are preferred, as people tend to remember faces better than names.

Below are two examples of profile photos. Mark Cuban’s photo has his personality and represents him well. Yet it’s most common to have a more friendly and professional photo like Tatiana’s.

• Do you have the right headshot? If not, find an appropriate photo to replace.

Congratulations! You’ve got the content for your cover letter. Now, it’s time to format it to make it look good to make a good impression.

Here are a few quick tips when styling your own:

1. Have margins 1” – 1.5” margins
2. Don’t go below a 12-point font
3. Choose a professional font style
4. Keep the same alignment of all paragraphs

• Is your cover letter following the guideline?
• If not, revise according to the guideline.

Red Flags

I have “Red Flags” in my work or personal history — should I address them in my Cover Letter?

“Red flags” is something in your history that might reflect poorly on your job application. Below are some of the most common cover letter red flags. Learn more so you know how to be best prepared:

1. I want a career change/ I’ve job hopped in the past
2. I need to relocate for the job
3. I have gaps in employment on my resume
4. I was terminated from a previous job
5. I’ve been laid off before
6. I was previously self-employed
7. I have a medical issues/disability
8. I have a criminal history

• Do you have any red flags that you want to address? Click the links to do further reading, then revise your cover letter with your Cambly tutor.

What is a cover letter?

A cover letter is a one-page document that you send along with your resume when you apply for a position. This cover letter:

• Introduces yourself to the hiring manager/employer
• Describes why you’d fit the job well
• Enhance and explains your resume

• Is your contact information following the guideline?
• If not, revise according to the guideline.

2. Introduction

Before you start writing, be sure you know to whom you’re writing. Beginning with “Dear sir or madame” doesn’t sound genuine. Find out the name of the hiring manager’s name by calling or looking it up online.

Introduce yourself

Begin the letter by telling them the what position you’re applyng for and how you became interested in it. Next, include your basic information including:

• Degree
• Area of expertise/study
• How your career goals align with the organization

• Who are you writing to?
• What is the name of the hiring manager for the company you are trying to apply to?
• Are you being clear about which position you are applying to?
• Are you being clear and concise about the basic information about yourself?
• Revise your introduction with your Cambly tutor.

3. Sell Yourself

For the second paragraph, respond to the job description. Explain how your abilities and experiences will help you met the organization’s needs. Use words and phrases from the description in your explanation.

For a third paragraph, you can do some research about the organization to find out what they’re doing and goals they have. Then, explain how you can help them achieve those goals.

• Discuss which format suits your current situation and goals.
• Choose the format from the 3 mentioned above.
• Reorganize the information in your resume.
• Make sure you have finished this step before moving onto Part 2.

4. Conclusion

End the cover letter with the “call to action,” which says you’d like an interview and will follow up in a week. Be sure to thank them for their time.

• Discuss which format suits your current situation and goals.
• Choose the format from the 3 mentioned above.
• Reorganize the information in your resume.
• Make sure you have finished this step before moving onto Part 2.

3. Sell Yourself

The second paragraph should respond directly to the job description written by the hiring manager. Describe how your previous job experiences, skills, and abilities will allow you to meet the company’s needs. To make that easier, you can (and should) literally include words and phrases from the job description in your cover letters.

To go the extra mile, do some research about the company, and try to find out what they are doing — and why — given the current state of their industry. In a third paragraph, explain how you can fit into that schema, and help push the company forward and achieve any goals you suspect they may have.

• Discuss what kind of position and company you are applying to.
• Are you describing the write job experiences, skills, and abilities that fit the opportunity you are applying to?
• Did you include words and phrases from the job descriptions?
• Do a little bit of research about the company. What did you find?
• Revise your second and third paragraph according to the guideline with your Cambly tutor.

4. Conclusion

The final paragraph is called the “call to action.” Inform them that you’d love to get interviewed. Tell them that you’ll be in contact with them in a week if you don’t hear back. Thank them for spending the time to read your letter.

• What are your “call to action”?
• Did you include that 1) you want an interview, 2) you’ll be in contact if you don’t hear back, and 3) you thank them for their time?
• Revise your conclusion according to the guideline with your Cambly tutor.

Last but not least..

It’s important that you go over your cover letter several times to improve its content and writing. Also, don’t forget to constantly revise as you apply to different companies and positions.

• Read over your completed cover letter and make sure you don’t have any grammar errors or typos.
• Revise your cover letter as you apply to different companies and positions.

Step 3: How to Style your Resume

Congratulations! You’ve got the content for your resume completed. Now it’s time to give your resume some personality.

I. Number of Pages

How many pages should it be? Typically, you don’t want to go over one page. However, if you have information that’s really relevant to the position and can’t fit it all on one page, add an extra one. But, don’t just add content for the sake of more pages.

II. Font and Sizing Dos and Don’ts

The font style and size is mostly your preference. However, keep these tips in mind:

• Choose fonts that are easy to read
• Keep font consistent
• Biggest fonts should be used for name, headers and bullet points
• Make sure font is large enough – not below 9pt
• Don’t spend too much time selecting the perfect font

Many resumes follow this format for sizing fonts:

• Name = 24pt
• Body headers = 12pt
• Bullet points = 10pt

Keep readability in mind when you choose font sizes. Don’t make the hiring manager need to put on his glasses to read.

Choosing a font is often between Serif or San Serif. For a paper version, it’s better to use Serif fonts, while electronic versions look better with Sans Serif fonts. For example,

III. Lines

Incorporating lines in the resume break up the sections and helps the reader process the content. Just don’t include too many breaks, or it will hurt the resume’s readability.

Below are some line styles for you to consider (see the yellow highlights):

Line Styling Sample 1

Line Styling Sample 2

Line Styling Sample 3

IV. Margins

Margins, although small details, are the first things the potential employer will see about the resume. Generally, one-inch margins work well if you have little experience. But if you have a lot of experience, you can shrink the margins to help it fit all on one page. Be careful not to make the margins too small, or else the page will look overcrowded. Don’t go below .5 inches.

• Let’s go over the following points with your tutor:
  • # of pages
  • Fonts do’s and don’ts
  • Readability
  • Lines
  • Margins
• Revise your contact information according to the guideline above.
• Do a final revision with your tutor.
• You’ve made it! Give yourself a pat on the back. Now let’s move onto “Writing A Cover Letter”.