Mar 03 2009
Less is More
Yes folks, less is more (and mess is lore) when it comes to selling yourself to the hiring manager at the job interview and in your follow-up letter. That essentially means that you don’t want to overwhelm her with a portfolio that includes everything from copies of your diplomas to notes from your elementary school teachers on how cooperative you were in class.
Be sweet, concise and to the point when you talk about yourself and your skills. Stick to the things that will really matter in that particular job and you can hone in on those desirable traits during the interview as well as by studying the words they use to advertise the position.
Try to pick up on the nuances and subtleties if you can. Why did the last person leave? What skills did they need to work on to fill the needs of the job? What is the hiring manager really looking for? Like a puzzle, figure out what they really need and fill in the blanks with your strengths and abilities.
And if you don’t feel like you have the right skill set for this job or they have impossible expectations for the person who fills it, look somewhere else. Don’t waste your time on a job you think is not right for you.
