How to Make Your Strongest Case to the Hiring Manager

How to Make Your Strongest Case to the Hiring ManagerHow to Make Your Strongest Case to the Hiring ManagerIn a job interview, you should interpret every question asked as, Tell me why I should hire you?As youre walking from reception to the board room, the small chit chat is really, Do I like you enough to hire you?When the recruiter asks you to walk him through your resume it really means, Walk me through the milestones, choices and results that will back up my choice to hire you.Every single part of the interview process is meant to establish your qualifications for the job.Here are five messages you want to get across to the hiring manager to make your strongest caseIve got the skillsThis is at the top of every recruiters list they want to know if you can handle the activities and responsibilities that go along with the job e.g., do you have the technical knowledge to handle specific software? Can you handle specific types of clients e.g., high-net-worth, mom and pop, Fortune 500 companies? Make sure to share examples of when youve done this. If you havent done something listed in the job skills, provide an alternative e.g., you took a class or did something similar. Just make sure you can back up how similar it is.Ill fit inIn most companies, you wont be working in a vacuum youll be interacting with and maybe managing other people. Its important to understand what kind of people your target employer has working for them and maybe talk about past experiences working in a similar environment. You want to prove that you will fit into their organization seamlessly.I get your work cultureThere are other aspects of fitting in. Work styles, history, size and overall culture of a company are important aspects and you need to demonstrate that you get it. Dont spend a lot of time talking about your Fortune 500 experience if your target employer is a fast-growing start-up. On the other side, if your experience is working in smaller offices and your target employer is a big company, you want to make sure they understand that you can navigate multiple layers and hierarchy.I am on top of current market conditionsTiming is critical when it comes to job search so it is very helpful to establish that you are the right hire at the right time. If you establish relevance to a particular market condition your potential employer might be facing, it might take precedence over your ability to do the rest of the job or fit in with the team or company.I am highly motivatedYou will always need to prove that you want them regardless of how much your next employer may want you. This means coming into an interview with high energy, understanding your role, their people, their culture, the market conditions and being excited about working there. It means clearly stating that you would love to work there.Too many job candidates act like they dont want the job because they think it will make them more attractive to the hiring manager. Playing hard to get is never de sirable to employers. You must show them that you are motivated to make a move now.If you show that you can execute responsibilities, with their people, in their culture, in current market conditions, and that you are all-in then you can prove that youre right for the job.