What Motivates Companies to Hire You?
By Mary Elizabeth Bradford
Knowing what triggers a company’s interest and quickly
motivates them to sit up and take notice of you is powerful
knowledge that you can use over and over again.
Of course, each situation is different, but the running themes
that connect them are the same. Here are several motivators you can
begin using to increase a company’s interest in you:
Motivator #1 You can solve a problem they
have
Perhaps you read about it in a job ad or in a news article. No
matter where, a company that has a challenge will appreciate your
attention to it and willingness to be either a part of the solution
or THE solution!
Motivator #2 You have little, if any,
competition
Don’t wait for a job ad to post on a major job board
before you connect with your companies of choice!
Connect with a decision maker (not human resources) and
express your interest and qualifications. Companies ALWAYS have a
need for talented people across all departments – so why wait
when responding to a job board ad means competing with hundreds of
other resumes? Compounded by the fact that over 80% of jobs
aren’t even advertised!
Motivator #3 You have a REALLY impressive
resume
This is where hiring a resume writer really pays off. One of
my clients told me he landed a great interview in a new industry he
was targeting. When he got there, the first thing the interviewer
told him was “I just had to meet the man behind this
resume!” Needless to say, the interview went very well and he
got the job!
A compelling resume is just one component of a successful job
search, but it is a powerful help to have your interviewer
“primed up” by impressing them with a resume that
builds the excitement of meeting you!
Motivator #4 You are enthusiastic
You will score BIG, BIG POINTS if during your interview, you
find an opportune time to say, “I am really impressed with
your company and I can definitely see myself working here” or
“I am really excited about this position” or even
“I want this job!” Just think about it, would you want
to hire someone who didn’t want to work with you? Of course
not!
Motivator #5 You are positive
There is no deal breaker like a string of negative questions
and answers. People that are critical thinkers have to be
especially careful about coming off too quiet or too questioning in
interviews (my engineering, technology, and finance friends, you
know who you are J).
You don’t have to be something that you are not, but
take a little time to prepare for your interviews putting a special
focus on the positive responses you can give, PLUS (and this is a
big plus) stories about your accomplishments! Critical thinkers and
introverts can display their brilliance and their aptitudes just as
easily as outgoing people as long as they take time to prepare for
their interviews.
These are simple, but tried and true techniques that are easy
to overlook, but pay off in more generous offers if you take the
time to incorporate them into your job search strategy!
