Impressive! How To Wow An Interviewer
Want to
really “wow” the interviewer? Use competitive intelligence.
The term
refers to pre-information. How does this apply to job seekers? Competitive
intelligence is valuable information you can demonstrate to potential employers
you have foresight about their product, service, and company.
Let’s suppose
you’re applying for a position at a top retailer. You find yourself on an
interview panel and the inevitable question is posed by the interviewer, “WHY do
you want to work for OUR company?” In your mind, you compose yourself in the
heat of fire and formulate a response that represents competitive intelligence.
Whether you
are crafting a “sales letter,” cover letter, or are promoting your USP (unique
sales points) during an interview, find out essential points about your
desirable company or business such as:
-
Competitors’
distinguishing features, products, and services.
-
Competitors’ strengths and weaknesses.
-
-
Example: If
you’re preparing for an interview, be a sleuth and visit the employer
to evaluate what they’re doing and not so well. This is not unlike a “mystery
shopper.” In military terms, it’s doing a “recce,” by paying a visit to the
site. If a visit is not possible, visit an employer’s web site/Facebook page and
go to the competitor’s web pages and see what they are lacking.
-
After doing
preliminary research on the competitor, tell your desirable employer what YOU
can offer and how you would improve upon what the competitor is doing.
-
Present these
findings briefly during an interview and then discuss what you would propose to
do in the first 90 days of your hire.
-
Peggy McKee
refers to this as the “30/60/90 day” sales technique. Use your competitive
intelligence information to apply the ABC (always be closing) tactic to get
yourself hired
If you take
this approach, employers will take you seriously as a candidate. Even better,
you will hold enough sway for employers to evaluate you or advance to the second
round of interviews.
Use
competitive intelligence to your advantage and slay your competitors!
