What "brand" are you?

Everywhere I look on the internet, the buzzword it "BRANDING". Personally I can't wait for it to fade and something else take over, but when it comes to job hunting it's the keyword that you need to think about especially to win interviews.Think about it. Why do companies have interviews? Is it so they can add you to their collection of employees? Nah. They want to know what YOU can do for THEM.

"Sure," you say, "everybody knows that!" But are you really prepared to sell yourself as a profitable investment for an employer?

When you think about it YOU are a product that you have to market; you have to sell them on buying YOU. Each and every question that is asked is an opportunity for you to sell your best features and give examples of how you did that. It doesn't matter if you're being interviewed for Head Fry Guy or CEO of Kajillionaire Corporation, you have to prove how you can improve productivity or profits for a potential employer. Your resume should give teasers with numbers and percentages and that hooks you an interview. Once you get the interview, though, the real pressure is on. How many other people is the company interviewing? What is the company looking for? Why are they hiring? (Is this a new job because the company is expanding? Did the last person get fired for not being the right fit? Is it a maternity leave position and you'd be filling the shoes of Ms. Dynamo? Try to adjust your answers once you get that information if you can get it before the interview; if not, use that question as one of yours when they ask if you have any questions - you know, the part where your mind goes blank because they pretty much told you everything you wanted to know already.)

Look at anything around you that you bought - why did you buy that product or brand? What were the advantages of you investing your money in that product? A company is going to make an investment when they add to their staff - if you are the one they need to hire, you have to prove it to them.

There is an old writers adage "show, don't tell" and it holds especially true for your resume and interview. If you improved customer service, how did you do that? If profits for your department went up 800% while you were there, what was your part in it?

You hooked them with your resume, now reel them in with your fabulous interviewing techniques. Show them the advantages you brought to others and how you can bring those same incredible results to this new company.

If you're having problems trying to word potential answers or want to get ahead by preparing for possible questions, have a look at one of these books. Don't forget to do your company research first so you can weave what you know about your future employer into your answers!