Adams & Garth Blog

“Why should I hire you?”

Prospective employers ask this question to find out about what you bring to the table. If you’re able to sell them on the unique value you can offer, then you should be able to land the job.

However, answering this question with responses like “I’m hard working” or “I have 5 years of experience” could be a problem. Again, employers want to know what you can do for them. Specifically, how you can help them solve problems, save time, save money, make money, or enhance customer satisfaction.

With that said, here are some tips to help you answer this inevitable interview question:

Go over the job description.

Before your interview, make sure you take another look at the job description. Try to get a sense of the employer’s goals or needs when it comes to filling this position.

Write down a list of achievements.

Think about your past achievements that align with the employer’s goals or needs. Write down three or four of them. It’s helpful to think more in terms of end results. For instance, in past positions, were you able to:

• Reduce costs
• Retain clients or employees
• Enhance sales/growth
• Impact productivity
• Keep the company in compliance with regulations
• Add to the company’s financial stability

Again, the accomplishments you ultimately choose to highlight in your interview should be relevant to the job description.

Use numbers.

Once you know which accomplishments you’d like to discuss in your interview, try to illustrate them using numbers, such as actual dollars saved or the percentage of sales increased. For instance, if you’re applying for a sales position, you might say something like: “By targeting new markets, I was able to build the company’s client base and enhance sales by 10%.”

Talk about any special skills.

Don’t forget to highlight any special skills you have, such as the ability to speak a foreign language or knowledge of a complex software program. Unique skills will help you stand apart from other candidates.

Practice.

Now that you’ve developed several examples of your accomplishments, how they positively impacted your past employers, and any special skills you have, practice your answer out loud.

The bottom line is that many candidates aren’t prepared to answer this question. However, if you follow the tips above, the next time you’re asked this interview question, you should have a great answer ready that will truly impress the interviewer.

And if you need some additional help landing interviews – or a new job, please contact Adams & Garth. As a Harrisonburg employment agency, we can help you prepare for interviews and find a great job that’s a match for your skills and interests.

Many company recruiters in Harrisonburg – and beyond – start out job interviews with the question “Tell me about yourself.” Some use it as an icebreaker, while others use it to gain a better sense of how articulate and confident you are. Regardless of their motives for asking the question, you should be prepared to deal with it. Otherwise, you’re missing out on an important opportunity to sell yourself.

What to Say

This question can be overwhelming for candidates who are uncertain of where to start or how much to say. But keep in mind, the recruiter really only wants to know what you bring to the table and how you can help the company if you’re hired. They don’t care about where you were born, how many kids you have, or that you played basketball in college (unless, of course, you’re interviewing for a coaching position).

So instead, focus on what you think the recruiter will be most interested in (i.e. describe the qualifications you have that you think are most important for the position) and highlight your biggest accomplishments.

Here’s an example:

“I’m a restaurant manager with 15 years of experience. In my last position at ABC Grille, I was responsible for hiring and training staff, managing inventory, and overseeing customer service. I also re-negotiated vendor contracts and, as a result, was able to the cut restaurant’s overall operating expenses by 10%.”

Whatever you say, keep it short – think 30 seconds or less. When preparing for your interview, write your answer out and practice it until you feel comfortable with it and it sounds natural. You don’t need to describe your entire career to the recruiter. You simply want to pique their interest and demonstrate that you’re confident in your abilities.

Another benefit to preparing for this inevitable interview question is that many other candidates don’t. They are unprepared and respond with “Well, what do you want to know?” Or they tend to ramble on, recapping their life story or, worse yet, relaying personal matters. So by being prepared for this question, you’re already setting yourself apart and making a better first impression.

And if you need help preparing for a job interview, or finding a job, please contact Adams & Garth. We’re one of the leading recruiters in Harrisonburg and can give you access to opportunities you may not find elsewhere.

As you probably know, it’s important to be prepared for every Lynchburg job interview you have. That means developing a list of questions to ask the interviewer. With that said, there are some questions that are better left unasked. Here are a few:

What does your company do?

At this point in the game, you should know what the company does. Before you even step foot into the interviewer’s office, you should have thoroughly researched the company online. That means finding out who they are, what they do, and who they serve. Based on the information you find, you may have some specific questions about details or processes. But such a general question will make you sound ill-informed and unprepared.

How long does it take to get a raise?

You haven’t even gotten the Lynchburg job yet and you’re already asking for a raise? Instead, ask the interviewer whether the company conducts annual performance and salary reviews.

Will I be able to transfer to a different position?

This question is a major red flag for interviewers and if you ask this, you can pretty much kiss that Lynchburg job offer good-bye. You’re basically letting the employer know that the opportunity is not right for you, but you’ll take it anyway. If it’s a company that you really want to work for, but you realize during the interview that the position is not right for you, be honest with the interviewer. If you’ve made a good impression and there’s another position opening up within the company that’s a better fit, the interviewer may tell you about it or keep you in mind for future opportunities.

I have a medical issue. Is it covered under your insurance policy?

Translation: “I don’t really care about the job. I’m only interested in this position so I can get health insurance.” Even if that’s not what you intended, that’s probably what the interviewer is thinking. Instead, if the position is offered to you, ask to learn more about the company’s benefits, including their health insurance plan, before accepting the Lynchburg job.

Do you drug test? Do you require background checks?

Nothing says “guilty” quite like these questions. If you aren’t guilty, but just trying to learn more about the selection process, then ask that question directly, i.e. “What does your selection process entail?” Otherwise, you’ll look like you have something to hide.

So now that you know which questions you should never ask during a job interview, what are some questions you should always ask? Here are a few:

• What’s a typical day like in this position?
• What are the day-to-day expectations and responsibilities of the job?
• Why is the position open?
• What’s the company’s management style like?
• What’s the company’s culture like?
• Does the company support ongoing training or continuing education opportunities so employees can stay up-to-date?

And if you need help landing some job interviews in Lynchburg, please contact Adams & Garth. We can give you access to a variety of rewarding job opportunities with some of Lynchburg’s leading employers. Contact us today. We can help.

You just had what you thought was a great job interview with an employer in Central Virginia. All you have to do is sit back and wait for the phone to ring, right? Wrong!

There are several mistakes that candidates oftentimes make that can blow the post-interview period, just when the hiring manager is making the final decision.

So what mistakes should you avoid? Here are the top five:

MISTAKE #1: Forgetting to send a thank you note.
If the interview went well, you may think you don’t need to send a thank you note. Not true. Not only should you be thanking the employer for the interview, but you should also use the note as an opportunity to remind the hiring manager why you are perfect for the position.

MISTAKE #2: Writing a thank you note that is too long, or too general.
Brevity is key. Hiring managers are busy people and a long note will simply annoy them.
Besides being concise, also be specific in your note. Write at least one thing that connects with the interviewer regarding something specific you discussed at the interview.

MISTAKE #3: Not alerting your references.
Let your references know that a potential employer may be contacting them. Otherwise, they will be unprepared to promote your strengths to the hiring manager.

MISTAKE #4: Harassing the hiring manager.
You will not help your cause by bombarding the hiring manager with emails and voicemails. Be patient. The hiring process can be a long one for certain companies and positions.

MISTAKE #5: Bad mouthing the employer.
Don’t burn any bridges if you aren’t offered the job. Simply ask the hiring manager the reason you weren’t hired, so if you made any mistakes you can correct them in the future.

If you need help preparing for an interview, or are looking for a job in Central Virginia, then please contact Adams & Garth. As a leading employment agency serving Central Virginia, we can offer you access to a variety of rewarding job opportunities in fields such as administration, accounting, IT, engineering, HR, and hospitality.

Contact Adams & Garth today to learn more.