How to sell yourself in an interview là gì năm 2024
Picture this: you apply for a job and make it to the final round. But another candidate, with less experience than you, gets the offer. Show
Frustrating, yes. But it’s really common. The reality is, there’s a sea of candidates applying for each open role. A lot of them are in no way better than you. Yet, they get an offer and you don’t. This is because you probably don’t know how to sell yourself. And selling yourself in an interview is often the key step to standing out from the competition. How to sell yourself in an interview?
Let’s dive in and help you become irresistible. Want to get an offer after every interview? Our interview prep tool will guide you through all the questions you can expect, let you record and analyze your answers, and provide instant AI feedback. You’ll know exactly what to improve to turn your next interview into a job. ACE YOUR NEXT INTERVIEW Inside Big Interview, you’ll learn must-know tactics few other candidates know + insider tips for any industry. And you’ll be guided through the process by US’ leading interview coaches.Our users land jobs 4 to 5 weeks faster than the national average. Get ready for your interview now. What It Means to “Sell Yourself” in an InterviewIn summary:
People think selling themselves means overpromising, embellishing past achievements, and being pushy. Not true. It’s actually this simple: selling yourself in an interview means presenting your strengths and skills that the company is looking for, backing them up with evidence, and showing enthusiasm for the role. If you’re modest, it can be a daunting task — but anyone can do it with a bit of practice. Studies suggest that using self-promotion strategies can improve your interview ranking, so we’d say working on this will definitely pay off. Take Lawrence for example. He’s a successful IT guy with an impressive resume and no problem getting up in front of a room full of colleagues. However, he hasn’t interviewed in a while and he’s always been a fairly humble guy. Our career coach, Pam, asked about his strengths in their first session. He got confused and started to stumble and mumble. Lawrence was like most of us — the sheer thought of “self-promotion” made him cringe. But after one session, Lawrence went from modest and forgettable to irresistible (and he got the job offer that he wanted anyway). And if you’re like him, we’re here to help. Keep reading, as we’ll teach you how to sell yourself in an interview, step by step. How to Sell Yourself in an Interview1. Research and understand your prospective companyIn summary:
This is a crucial first step. It will help you:
You’ll come across as a person who knows (and owns) their stuff. The kind anyone wants on their team. Where can you start? Study the job description and find keywords that will point you in the right direction. This will show you what they need and will help you take relevant experiences from your work history and present them in a memorable way. But you’ll also need to:
✅ Pro tip: Knowing who you’ll speak to during interviewing stages (HR, team leaders, founders, team members) will help you anticipate the kind of questions they’ll ask. HR will be most interested in your experience and qualifications. A CEO might focus on your vision, strategic thinking, and if you’re a cultural fit. If you need more tips to rock any job interview, we’ve prepared a free course to teach you how to speak about your strengths, sell yourself, and negotiate the salary of your dreams. 2. Identify and articulate your unique selling points (USPs)In summary:
To convince a recruiter you’ll be the perfect addition to their company, think of the bits and pieces of your professional self that make you special. Create your USP by:
Then, create a supporting proof statement for each selling point. It can be a short story or a particular example that showcases your selling point. You can see a few examples below, adjusted to fit the criteria outlined in the job ad. Example selling point1: Management skills/experienceFor a management role, you’ll want to demonstrate that you can successfully lead others. If this is one of your strengths, highlight it with specifics: Proof Statement A (specific example): In my current role, I have built a great team that has grown from 3 to 14 over the last five years. Early on, I learned a lot from my mentors about how to hire the right people and coach them to success. Now I’m proud to say that my team has been acknowledged as the most productive and cohesive group in the division. Now my bosses send young managers to me to mentor! Proof Statement B (general description): I love being a manager and I believe it’s one of my greatest strengths. I have managed customer service teams at both large and small companies for more than four years, so I know how to get the best out of customer service professionals. Example selling point2: Hard workerA strong work ethic is a great asset and a desirable quality for almost any position. Just keep in mind that interviewers hear this “hard worker” claim a lot and may not see it as a huge differentiator. If you choose this as one of your interview selling points, make sure you have a great example or proof statement that shows how you personify this quality. Also, be sure to supplement this one with additional selling points that are more specific to the role and set you apart more clearly. Proof Statement A (specific example): In my previous position, I put in many late nights to ensure that our monthly client newsletter went out on time — and that it met the company’s high-quality standards. Because of layoffs, we were understaffed and I volunteered to take on many additional tasks beyond my role — I wrote stories, edited for our other writers, oversaw layout, and served as the final proofreader to ensure no mistakes made it to press. The issue was a huge success and resulted in lots of positive feedback from clients and from senior management. Proof Statement B (general description): I have always been that person who’s first in the office in the morning and last to leave in the evening. And I’m not happy unless I know I’m giving my all. I’m the guy who taught himself website design so that I could be more valuable to my team on our site redesign project. I also learned the classic drag-and-drop website design using my own portfolio as an example, so I could use this format for future projects. ✅ Pro tip: You can mention your USPs on several occasions during the interview — when they ask:
And for additional tips on how to leave a great impression, check out the video below: 3. Create and master your elevator pitchIn summary:
An elevator pitch is a concise, appealing summary of your experience and key skills, typically delivered in the time span of an elevator ride — hence the name. In an interview, you can generally use your elevator pitch when you’re asked “Tell me about yourself,” usually right at the beginning of an interview. How to create an elevator pitch
Elevator pitch: SampleI’m a Customer Service Specialist with 9 years of experience in the SaaS industry, primarily in the Trucking and Logistics sector. I have extensive experience with the biggest ELDs on the market. Over the past 4 years, I consistently exceeded expectations, resulting in 2 promotions in my current company. I’m looking for new challenges, perhaps even taking on more responsibilities as a Customer Success Manager, and I believe my versatile experience and connections are a solid starting point. I’m passionate about meaningful work and my unique blend of strong technical skills and excellent communication allows me to deliver exceptional service to customers. I’d love to discuss how my expertise can contribute to your team’s success. 4. Present your skills and accomplishmentsIn summary:
Remember that golden resume rule that you should always focus on your accomplishments and skills rather than everyday duties? The same goes for interviews. Quantifiable achievements (and relevant skills) are something you’ll always want to emphasize. They’re solid proof of everything you say about yourself. Having trouble coming up with or quantifying achievements? Use the PAR (Problem-Action-Solution) formulaFor every position you worked in, think about some of your successes and what actions you took to achieve them. What problems were they tied to? This should help you get inspired. Make your accomplishments SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, TimelyThis means providing achievements that are specific, measurable, data-driven, and believable. Talk about frequency and scaleThink about how frequently you were able to deliver your work (resolved X customer tickets/day, wrote X long-form pieces of content/month, booked X demos with clients/week) or the scale of your work (how many people you managed, how many people from other departments you collaborated with, how big the budgets you handled were…). These are achievements in themselves. List qualitative achievementsIf you don’t have hard numbers but you still feel like you improved something, you can still bring it up as an achievement in an interview. Telling a story about it will create space for you to showcase your skills, especially if you’re just starting out and lack relevant experience (qualitative achievements are praises from your superiors, awards, promotions, and similar). Use the STAR modelOnce you have the list of achievements and skills you want to mention, the best way to showcase them is through the STAR model (Situation-Task-Action-Result).
For each accomplishment, pick a single event from your experience. This is the most efficient way to prove your skills. And if you practice before the interview, your story will flow naturally, it will be engaging and compelling, and you’ll be able to efficiently get your point across. Our Answer Builder will help you list supporting arguments for each event you want to mention. 5. Showcase your soft skillsIn summary:
Unlike hard skills, you can’t really quantify soft skills and present them as achievements. Yet, they’re equally important. So how do you showcase them in an effective way? During the interview process itself. Want to showcase your interpersonal and communication skills? ➡️ Be an active listener. Ensure you fully understand a question before answering. In your answers, be clear and concise. Pay attention to your non-verbal cues, nod your head to let a recruiter know you’re listening, and use positive body language (eye contact, open arms, body facing their direction). After the interview, send a thank-you note. Want to showcase you’re dedicated and resourceful? ➡️ Come to the interview prepared. Getting to know the company before the interview will hint at how dedicated and resourceful you are in everything that you do. Want to showcase your sharp wit and critical thinking? ➡️ Ask the right questions after the interview. Make sure they’re meaningful and tailored to the company you applied for — they’ll reveal a ton of useful information. You get the drill. Actions speak louder than words here. 6. Display positive body languageIn summary:
“It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it” — this is actually, mostly true. More than half of what you communicate is through your body language and non-verbal communication instead of what you actually say. Source: London Image InstituteBeing mindful of your non-verbal communication and body language will help you be confident and sell yourself, leave the right impression, and establish a more professional presence. Here’s how to do it:
7. Ask insightful questionsIn summary:
To put it frankly, the questions you ask at the end of the interview will show if you’re lazy and forgettable or curious and resourceful. They can make or break your status with a recruiter. God forbid you say “No questions on my side, thanks.” If you get these questions right, it’ll give you an advantage over 90% of other applicants — and will help you to sell yourself. Not to mention you’ll identify if the company is the right fit for you. You can ask all types of questions based on the company you’re interviewing for, the industry it operates in, company culture, or its long-term plans and vision. Examples of insightful questions you can ask:
Check our full guide for more smart questions to ask in a job interview. 8. Close strategicallyIn summary:
Closing the interview is your last chance to leave a lasting impression, so you’ll want to make sure you emphasize your dedication, passion, and the fact that you’re the right fit for the role. Here are a few tips to help you close your interview strategically and make recruiters excited about extending you an offer. 1. Show gratitude Thank the recruiter for their time and show appreciation for the opportunity to discuss the role and company in question. 2. Circle back to the company’s culture and values Briefly mention the examples of shared values and goals between you and the company — it’ll show that you did your research and that you’re a cultural fit. 3. Emphasize your interest in the position Restate how interested you are in the position within their company and mention a particular detail from the conversation/job description that made you excited to work there. Make sure to mention how the position matches your skills and experience and your professional plans for the future. 4. Recap key points Briefly go through the key points mentioned during the interview (particular achievements and skills that make you a perfect fit). It’ll remind recruiters of how you can bring value. 5. Ask for the next steps Feel free to inquire about the next steps in the interview process and how you’ll be moving forward. But remember to be polite! 6. Be courteous Thank the recruiter once again for their time and efforts and say you’re looking forward to hearing from them soon. 7. Display healthy confidence Confidence is a magnet that will make others more attracted to you. Interestingly, confident candidates high in extroversion tend to engage in more honest self-promotion. This might motivate you to at least fake it till you make it. ✅Pro tip: The perfect time to close the interview strategically is after all the questions are answered and the interview is about to end. You can start by saying something like “Before we leave, I just want to thank you for your time and…” 9. Send a thank-you noteIn summary:
So you prepared for your interview, learned all types of questions and how to best answer them, learned how to sell yourself, and crushed the interview. Chill time, right? Not yet. Not until you take the final, crucial step to selling yourself: Writing a post-interview thank-you note, the cherry on top that will solidify the rapport you established with the recruiter. Here’s a few tips on how to write it:
For more details and specific instructions on how to write a thank-you note, head here: How to Write an Interview Thank You Email [Tips + Examples]. Post-interview thank-you note sampleSubject Line: Thank You | Content Writer Interview Dear Rachel, Once again, thank you for the time you took to meet with me yesterday to discuss the Content Writer position at your company. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about Skillful Communications, especially the details regarding the collaborative company culture and systematic approach to operational processes, which I really value. I’m excited about the potential opportunity to work with your diverse team of writers and editors, as I’m certain I’d provide value with my educational background and hands-on writing and editing experience. Please let me know if there is any additional information you need from me. I hope to hear back from you and have the opportunity to continue our discussion about the role. Sincerely, Maja Stojanovic How to Sell Yourself in an Interview: Popular Opinion vs. Expert AdviceMost people can’t stand the idea of “selling” themselves in an interview because they don’t really understand what it means. You might think you need to brag about yourself or exaggerate your accomplishments to win the interviewer over, but that’s rarely the case. Let’s see what people from Reddit and Quora had to say about this. Neurorex on Reddit said: “Selling yourself” has been one of the most damaging advice that’s been floating out there, with a terrible return rate, and successes that may not even have been attributed to the candidate’s salesmanship. With interviewers always expecting different things from applicants, this isn’t something you “failed” at, any more than you can fail at reading people’s minds. It’s just been a really sexy thing for people to say, to make them feel like they’re helping others by giving advice. It’s more important to just be your best, professional self. Those interview questions are already ineffective in the first place, so it doesn’t help anyone to cater to random expectations. If you walk in and interpret the questions using your best professional judgment, and respond in kind, at least you can walk away from the meeting knowing that you were at least the most honest one in the room (whether you ultimately get the job or not). Career expert comments: The perfect example of what we talked about above — it’s easy to misinterpret this phrase and avoid it. I wouldn’t say that interviewers expect to hear anything in particular from candidates. There’s no script candidates should follow blindly. Each question is there for you to display the way you think, the values you uphold, and the experiences you went through. That being said, I agree that you should be your honest, best professional self. No one expects you to lie, but it is expected that you prepare a few achievements relevant to the position you applied for and show that you’re aligned with the company. And that’s honest, right? ‘Cause otherwise you wouldn’t be invited to the interview. So coming in prepared, being sincere, and connecting with the interviewer in a meaningful way is more than enough to “sell” yourself. Tom O’Brien from Quora says: Well, the hiring company is making a decision to pay money for your services. Seems to me that that is the equivalent of a buying situation for them (and a selling situation for the interviewee). In sales, the goal is to add value. The buyer should get some return on their investment. Going into an interview, my mindset is always “How can I add value to this company”. If you can’t answer that question, then you are not prepared for the interview. I believe this is true for ALL positions. Adding value in my context might mean the ability to implement a sales process AND land big enterprise accounts. If you are interviewing to be a dishwasher, adding value means always being on time and willing and able to help out whenever and wherever needed. Happy to be a team player so we all succeed. Think in detail about how you add value before the interview. Career expert comments: In simple, transactional terms, this is the ultimate truth. It’s a proactive, value-driven approach to interviews. You will provide services you’ll be paid for — and your employer will buy those services and spend money. You need to showcase why your services are great and better than other candidates’ services. At the end of the day, the focus will always be on what you bring to the table. Perfect-Maize-5540 says: I’m not sure you actually need to be unique at a job interview. That could easily backfire. Just being memorably above average or qualified will probably do the trick. Career expert comments: Well, this sums it up nicely. You don’t need the fluff, the exaggeration, the lying, or the fake confidence (I’ve seen a lot of “fake it til you make it” pieces of advice on Reddit). You just need to show up prepared, talk about your strengths, and back them up with quantifiable accomplishments. These strengths need to be aligned with the job ad and demonstrate how you can help the company solve its pain points. If you can do this, you’ll be ahead of most of the candidates. Summary of the Main Points
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FAQsI’m on my way to the interview now — what’s the key thing to do to sell myself?Present your accomplishments and skills in a way that will prove you 1) have the experience 2) are aware of the company’s needs 3) are the right person for the job. Use the STAR model to showcase your achievements and pay attention to your non-verbal communication (be polite, smile when appropriate, and assume positive body language). How to sell yourself in an interview if you have no experience?By focusing on what you have: transferable skills, academic experience, and any work experience, however small. In these cases, draw a lesson from each academic experience and take one or two key transferable skills that will show you have the potential to be successful in a role (always focus on key skills listed in the job ad). Try to draw parallels between your existing skills and achievements and how you could use them to be successful in the future. Display positive body language, be polite, ask smart questions at the end of the interview, and send a post-interview thank-you email. How to sell yourself in an interview for a managerial role?Pick out your proudest leadership accomplishments and tell them through appealing stories using the STAR method. Present your key managerial skills (ideally ones also mentioned in the job description) as your unique selling points and prepare a proof point for each. How to sell yourself in 30 seconds?Create a spotless elevator pitch in which you’ll briefly touch upon who you are and what you do, your proudest accomplishment, and how you can bring value to the new company. You can be positive, persuasive, and confident in your delivery by practicing beforehand. Can introverts successfully sell themselves?Absolutely! Selling yourself in an interview is not about being extroverted, bold, loud, or boisterous. It’s about presenting your strongest accomplishments and skills and backing them up with proof. Preparing your unique selling points and practicing in advance will help you sell yourself, even if you’re on the introverted side. If it’s easier, you can use another technique: engaging in self-verification behavior that might help you present yourself authentically. Or, if you want a more realistic picture, you can throw in a story or two about your own shortcomings. What if I have no unique selling points and am just a solid employee?Being a solid employee is a strength in itself. If you don’t have crazy achievements or unique selling points, you can always turn to the quality, scale, or frequency of your work — talk about how much you got done and how quickly you got it done. Emphasize soft skills like being consistent, dependable, hard-working, adaptable, and similar. Focus on qualitative achievements (promotions, company awards, positive feedback, bonuses, etc.) and use the STAR method when speaking about your accomplishments. Sell it yourself là gì?Tóm lại, "Sell Yourself" hay "tự bán mình" là một kĩ năng tương đối quan trọng trong thế giới khoa học hiện đại. Cái quan niệm "hữu xạ tự nhiên hương" có lẽ không còn thích hợp trong thế giới đầy cạnh tranh ngày nay. |