Preparing for a job interview means preparing
to answer a lot of questions.
Answering every question perfectly,
saying all the right things can quickly become a common worry.
But don't go memorizing perfect answers just yet.
Instead, it take a deep breath and ask yourself,
"What is the interviewer simply trying to learn from me?"
A job interview is an opportunity for you
to tell your unique professional story.
And there are 9 powerful phrases that
will allow an interviewer to truly get
to know and see the real you.
I'm Sinéad, and coming up in this video,
we're exploring these 9 powerful phrases with great examples
on how these phrases are being used.
All right, let's get started!
The first 3 phrases can help you to articulate
your personal experience.
First, "my drive comes from"
For example, "My drive comes from knowing
that I can make a difference in the lives of my neighbors.
I saw on your website that your mission
is to help your community, which is something
that I value as well.
At a young age, I started volunteering for the city.
From what I've gathered, your team
focuses on providing outstanding care.
And I am truly so eager to contribute
to that collective effort."
All right, so far, so good!
Next: This role fits my sense of meaning and purpose
For example, "This role fits my sense of meaning and purpose
by aligning with one of my core values, helping others.
Just like this team, I find satisfaction in offering
solutions to problems.
As a customer service rep, I know
that I'll be able to provide that support to your customers
on a daily basis.
And now, one of my favorite phrases,
"I am passionate about"
For example, "I am passionate about working with animals.
I've been rescuing strays since I was a kid,
and I'm excited about the opportunity
to educate people on the importance of neutering pets.
This role connects my love for animals with my strength
for writing engaging content.
I know I'll be able to connect on a human level
with my readers."
As you can see, these examples are
used to answer the why question, using words
like "drive" and "passion" really
help paint the picture of what is driving your why.
So if you hear an employer ask, why, then you know
they really just want to know what inspires you to get out
of bed every day and what's going to inspire you
to do great work at this job.
Now, before I move on to the next set of powerful phrases,
if you have made it this far in the video,
be sure to give us a Like, hit that Subscribe button,
and of course, hit the notification bell
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All right, onto the next!
The next 3 powerful phrases can help answer questions
about your competence.
After all, you want to show your interviewer
that yes, of course, you do have the experience
to be successful in this job.
So practicing saying things like,
"I have a track record of success that includes..."
Here's an example: "I have a track record of success
that includes creating value.
Whatever the task requires I am able to step up my approach
and finish the job.
In my last role, I was tasked with driving unique sign-ups
to a new product feature on our website.
This required me to leverage my existing knowledge of how
to create enticing CTAs and to help the company expand
our service offerings."
The next phrase is, "I can add immediate value
because in the past I have..."
An example may sound like, "I can add immediate value
to this team by leveraging my knowledge of working
with the client management system in my previous role.
I know I will need to become accustomed to how
you use it to meet your goals.
But having worked with it so recently
will allow me to focus on understanding
how it is used to meet this team's needs without having
to spend too much time learning basic skills."
And, "My experience aligns with your needs"
For example, "My experience aligns
with your service industry needs because I've
worked in the restaurant and food
industry for the past three years,
working in roles ranging from host, server, bartender,
and most recently manager.
Working in different areas of the restaurant
has given me a complete 360 view of how
each team can work together to better serve customers.
Now, these are all great examples of what
the interviewer is really looking for --
aha, competence.
They're asking are you capable of doing the job at hand?
If you are, recall a specific story
that demonstrates when you were most proud of your work.
And then start your story with a powerful phrase.
Now, are you ready to confidently promote
your strengths?
Be sure to use phrases such as, "I take initiative."
An example of this may sound like, "I
know there will be a lot to learn
to be successful in this role, but I will take initiative
from day one.
My last role required the use of a content management system
that I wasn't too familiar with.
Before my first day at work, I watched video tutorials
on the new CMS ahead of my first day,
so I knew what features were available
and I wouldn't be relying too much on others
to learn the ropes."
And this brings us to phrase number 8, which is,
"While I was researching the company, I was impressed by..."
An example of this might sound like, "One
of the things that drew me to this particular role
is your mission.
While I was researching the company,
I was really impressed by a video
of the founder describing the origin
story and those early years.
She was earnest, detailing why sustainable sourcing
and environmental impact matter from the beginning.
Sustainability really matters to me
and is one of my primary drivers."
And our next phrase sounds something like this,
"In my work, I take responsibility for..."
Listen to this example: "I take responsibility
for resolving my client's problems.
For example, if there is a problem
and technically it's a co-worker's responsibility,
but I know I can put it to bed, I do.
Just yesterday, a client had a billing dispute.
I'm not in accounting, but I saw the issue
and resolved it quickly."
You definitely don't want to shy away from showing off
your strengths!
And these are all great examples of doing just that by pointing
to specific details.
At the end of the day, you want to show your interviewer
that you are perfect for this job
and why you believe that you're a good fit.
Now, you may not be perfect.
And you might not be the best fit for the job out
of everybody else applying.
But it's OK.
Employers are looking for candidates
who take initiative, pay attention to the details,
and of course, who are extremely eager to contribute
as quickly as possible.
So take some time with these answers.
And remember your powerful phrases
so that your employer can understand your impact.
Now, we've uncovered 9 powerful phrases
to help you stand out in an interview.
But there is one additional phrase
that is so important to say: Thank you
Yes, it's simple enough.
But like I said, this one is important.
Now, when you go in for your interview,
it might not be your only one.
If you're a sought-after candidate,
you can have many in a single day.
And it's important to express gratitude every single time,
so that you can build a personal connection
with your interviewer.
And there are so many great ways that you can say thank you
during an interview.
You can say something like, "I know how busy you are,
but I really appreciate you taking the time to meet me."
Or "I've been really looking forward to the opportunity
to learn more about this role and to share
how my background fits with what you're looking for."
And, "Thank you again so much for the work
that went into arranging this meeting
and aligning our schedules."
Listen, we have been taught manners since we were kids.
And it's still just as important today.
And now, let's recap these 9 powerful phrases
that will help you shine in your next interview.
#1: My drive comes from
#2: This role fits my sense of meaning and purpose
#3: I am passionate about
#4: I have a track record of success
#5: I can add immediate value, because I have
#6: My experience aligns with your needs
#7: I take initiative
#8: While I was researching the company, I was impressed by
#9: I take responsibility for
Remember, your next job interview
is just another great opportunity.
So take the time to give thoughtful answers,
remember these 9 powerful phrases, and of course,
don't forget to give a heartfelt thank you.
This can make all the difference.
We really hope you found this video helpful.
Before you go, hit the Like button and Subscribe,
and of course, hit the notification bell so don't
miss our weekly career advice.
But there's no need to wait right now, because we
have a playlist right here.
And while we're on the topic of interviewing,
to answer the question, tell me about yourself
in the interview, you're going to want to check out
this video right here.
Thank you so much for tuning in.
I'm Sinéad, and I'll see you guys next time.
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