In a job interview, you should interpret every question asked as, “Tell me why I should hire you?”

As you’re 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 case:

I’ve got the skills

This 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 you’ve done this. If you haven’t 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.

I’ll fit in

In most companies, you won’t be working in a vacuum you’ll be interacting with and maybe managing other people. It’s 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 culture

There 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. Don’t 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 conditions

Timing 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 motivated

You 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 don’t want the job because they think it will make them more attractive to the hiring manager. Playing hard to get is never desirable 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 you’re right for the job.

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