By first identifying the key words and then breaking down
what you think it will take to do the job, you will be able to com-
municate effectively about your abilities and what you can do for
your customer (the employer/interviewer). This exercise also pro-
vides you with an insider’s view of what the employer is looking
for in the perfect candidate. The result? You’ll be able to sell your-
self as the ideal person for the job.
When you can sell yourself as the solution to the inter-
viewer’s problem, you will be taken seriously and stand out from
the competition. Being able to stand out is especially important
in a tight job market where the competition is fierce. In fact,
because employers are in the driver’s seat in a tight market with
many candidates to choose from, they are demanding more for
their money. In a normal job market employers are willing to set-
tle for about 80 percent of the requirements they wish for. In a
tight job market employers tend to be greedy and look for 100
percent of the requirements, and then some. You’ll want to show
that you meet their requirements, and you can do this by using
the perfect phrases. By using stronger phrases than other job
applicants, you’ll show the interviewer through your words that
you are the best person for the job.
Finding the Key Words and Phrases
for Your Position
Once you have collected and printed out several job postings
and descriptions—the ones with as much detail as possible—
highlight or underline the words that appear more than one
time. When you finish, stand back and take a look at what
Getting Ready for the Interview