Presentation of Your Work History: This is an Important Part of Your Interviewing Skills

Presentation of Your Work History: This is an Important Part of Your Interviewing Skills

The emphasis of a job interview shifts to your work history shortly after the obligatory niceties, such as if you had problems finding your way, observations on the traffic and weather, and an offer of coffee or water.

As you begin to relax in your chair, attempting to seem much more at ease than you really are, the interviewer takes your CV or application and begins to question you about your previous work experience in more depth.

If you have a résumé that mentions quantitative achievements, this is an excellent opportunity to elaborate on those accomplishments. Your company is on the right track if you have boosted revenues by 20 percent each quarter or accomplished a departmental restructuring that resulted in a 10 percent decrease in operating expenses. Given that your CV clearly outlines your accomplishments that have compelled a prospective employer to bring you in for an interview, your clarification of the specific activities you did will be anxiously anticipated.

Unfortunately, the majority of us are engaged in jobs where the outcomes are less clear. If you have ever worked in manufacturing, customer service, or retail, you will know how tough it is to link your efforts to the success of the firm. In such a circumstance, make an effort to draw attention to any personal accomplishments or management recognition that illustrate your abilities.

Any promotion, even if it is merely to a leadership position or the assignment of a specific project, is a positive development. Tell the interviewer about what you accomplished so that he or she may understand your previous employer's confidence in your ability to take on more duties.

If no promotions were given to you (which is frequently the case since they are not easily accessible), mention any instances in which you were singled out for special attention. From being named employee of the month to being requested to teach new employees, obtaining a written or verbal referral from a client you helped is all possible. If you get favorable comments from your superiors, be sure to share the specifics with us.

The reality is that many of us work fairly efficiently for years without ever earning a meaningful promotion or even much attention, despite the fact that each job candidate attempts to portray themselves as a super-achievement. That is something that employers are aware of. In fact, if the role is routine and there is no possibility for advancement, they may be hesitant to hire an overachiever who may chafe at the lack of advancement chances. In the manufacturing industry, one of the "Apprentice" candidates who is searching for a job would be looked upon with more than a healthy dosage of mistrust.

If this is the situation for you–a good, solid worker (or even one who is marginal), identify some personal traits that you can highlight. If you are a person who seldom takes sick leave and has a reputation for always being on time, now is the time to put your efforts into improving your situation. It's possible that you take time off whenever you can and are perpetually late. This can be used to highlight another aspect of your character, such as your ability to work as part of a team or your outstanding relationships with coworkers (all of those jawfests around the water cooler or the three beers after work with your cronies, whining about the management monkeys you have to put up with, are now being used to your advantage!)

If you have been employed by the same company for a lengthy period of time, you do not need to emphasize your stability since the interviewer is already aware of it. Instead, focus on addressing the unasked concerns that are swirling about in his head, as well as his concern that you are stuck in your ways. Make a point of demonstrating your adaptability and enthusiasm to acquire new skills and techniques. If you have moved departments, job titles, or duties over your lengthy career, please describe the changes and how well you have adapted to them as well as possible.

In the event that your work history is diverse, with several positions held for short periods of time, describe how much you learned from each job and emphasize your present goal to combine your experiences into a long-term, secure profession. In your response, describe how you are seeking a firm where you will be able to settle in and commit for the long haul.

Identifying the good components of your job history may take some time and self-exploration, but there are always certain areas of your work past that have a positive spin to them. Don't be hesitant to focus on your strengths, no matter how uninteresting you believe your previous work may have seemed to be.