A competitive edge for your job search

Ever finished an interview, then thought of exactly what you wanted to say on the way home? The truth is doing the job and getting it are distinctly different skills.

Often, accomplished professionals don’t enjoy selling themselves since they rarely do it enough to feel a comfort level. Plus, most of us never learn how in school … then, society teaches us to be humble! In today’s competitive job market however, once you land an interview, you better be prepared to show you’re the best fit, projecting confidence and friendly team spirit.

Funny, most people won’t play sports without practicing but tackle interviews that could change their lives without any preparation!

If you’d like free employment assistance, you’re invited to “Re-Charge and Re-Energize Your Job Search” on Saturday, April 2, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Longwood, 891 Florida 434, Longwood, presented by the Central Florida Employment Council and Christian Help. Attend five informative, inspirational sessions from career specialists: “Creating Your Job Search Action Plan” with Sandi Vidal, Christian HELP/CFEC; “Personal Branding for Job Candidates” with Tanya Rodriques, Career and Resume Solutions; “Job Hunting with the Business Journal” with Matt Masterson, Orlando Business Journal; “Network Your Way to a New Job” with Brenda Anthony, True Compass Consulting; and “Professional Image & Power Interviewing” with Lisa Maile Seminars & Coaching.

As a career coach, I repeatedly hear, “I don’t have enough experience for this interview,” but if work history were the critical factor, you’d just e-mail your resume, and the best experience wins. Likewise, if answers to interviewers’ questions were most important, they’d e-mail you questions, and you’d send back responses. If everyone’s qualified, what you look like and how you present yourself — a professional image (look, not cost) and confident, energetic body language — are prerequisites to stand out.

Let’s analyze real communication: although most people worry about saying the wrong thing, words are the least significant part of our message, only 10 percent. Our voice — how we use our words — is 20-25 percent: Do you sound happy to be there? Nervous? Bored? The most powerful way we communicate is through image and body language, representing 65-70 percent of our message. Surprised? Nonverbals help create commanding presence.

Power interviewing is practice and preparation: 95 percent of your interview should happen before you show up — that’s your prep time defining talking points and how you’ll present yourself. Power interviewing isn’t just answering questions — it’s explaining why you’re the best fit for them, whether asked or not, while illustrating that you possess the qualities they need with success stories. Interviewers aren’t mind readers — they’ll only know what you tell them. And if you don’t explain how well you’ll perform on the job (words/nonverbals), someone else will.

It’s unrealistic to expect you’ll project your strongest first impression on the spot without preparation. For a competitive edge, join us at “Re-Charge & Re-Energize” on April 2. Reservations are required. Visit www.CFEC.org or call 407-834-4022.

Maile is a professional speaker and image/communications coach. Visit LisaMaileSeminars.com