What are the best practices for helping clients identify their unique selling points in job interviews?

Definitely there are many areas, you could work on, to identify your own strenghts, But I would like to highlight 2 areas - Story Telling & Elevator Pitch. I have lost count, of the number of times, I get tongue tied, during a networking occassion, or hand on heart, in the actual elevator with my Chief Executive and I am at a loss to what I can say, to break the ice or make a good impression. Story telling is useful in any situation, as it makes the narrator relatable and authentic. Everyone loves a story, more so, when it is real, best when it is engaging and humourous.

Build the client's confidence by starting with career affirmations in the morning. This practice allows your client to get comfortable speaking highly about themselves. Challenge your client to identify their top 10 unicorn-like abilities and write them on a sticky note for reflection and storytelling. Often, our clients do not talk about their strengths or recognize their leadership until it's too late. Get their minds going early so when the interview comes it will be a fluid conversation. Guide your client to get feedback from 3 accountability partners. Ask the following questions: 1. What are my impacts in your opinion? 2. What is my best leadership contribution? Boost their confidence and the interviews will be a breeze!

The StrengthsFinder is one of the best tools for assessing your strengths and values. I took it and it gave me a lot of clarity on why I gravitated towards certain areas. When I work with job seekers and they take the StrengthsFinder test, they realize why they enjoy certain types of work. Understanding your why allows you to have a conversation with the interviewer. Most candidates give canned answers that they believe sound nice but it doesn't help them connect with the interviewer. Going deeper and understanding what makes you different and knowing your why will help you close more interviews.

Think back to what you've been complimented on at work. This could be your presentation skills, ability to lead through change, etc. Be sure to share these skills in your interview. Tie them to the position.

Keep track of your career accomplishments either in a journal or on your personal computer. Look at and updates these regularly. It's easy to forget what we've done.

It isn't enough to research the role. After all, since the time it was formulated, it may have changed and no one will update the job description to reflect the change. Thus, start the interview by asking them about the role and what they are looking for so you know their current thinking about the job so you can talk about what you've done that matters to them and not just talk about what you've done. Your job is to connect the dots between what they need and what you've done so they want to hire you and you are in a position to negotiate the best deal you can for yourself.

Ask during the interview what HR and/or the manager is looking for in their next hire. Tie your experiences and skills to those goals.

Do you want to identify your unique selling points in a job interview with me? I'll make it easy for you! What did you do today? How did you get here? What sets you apart from other professionals in your field? What do you enjoy most about your work? Why would you like to work with us? OK, you're on! Let's highlight together all that these examples show us about your unique selling points (USPs)

Not just the company but it's competitors in the same industry. If it is number 2 and you have skills similar to number 1, it will be easy to sell your skills. Also look at the role at one level above you. Recruiters hire for future potential also.

Apart from the past hard successes (numbers driven) look at the soft skills. Emotional intelligence and resilience are key attributes. Your uniqueness can come out by focusing on examples and stories.

Focus on results. Results will speak louder than adjectives used to describe yourself, such as 'organized', 'driven'. Pick your experience that demonstrates the skills needed, without needing to say these competences out loud.

Practice, practice, practice. You want to explain your USP's on the fly. We have a tendency to ramble when we aren't 100% confident in the answer. With practice, you can alleviate that issue.

I always suggest practicing before you even have the interview request. People are automatically behind the 8-ball if you have have not collected your unique selling points and prepared them in advance. I work with my clients in creating an Interview Notebook as part of the preparation process. By conducting multiple mock interviews you have the ability to practice incorporating your USPs into your answers. This builds confidence and helps refine their responses.

Also use chatgpt. It will help you formulate your pitch based on the voice you need. The story should come through, but should not be rehearsed to the extent that it sounds like a script. Use NLP techniques to expand on the lines.

There is no doubt that your CV should highlight the salient features of the USP. Leave everything out. Use the words and the font and the colours of the target company.

One way I do this is to look for a selling point not directly called for in the job description or interview discussion, but that you feel would make you better qualified than someone else with the same requested skills. For instance, I now work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, but my IT project management experience allows me to focus on delivery, goal-setting, and attention to detail.

Remember find what makes you unique and stay authentic. By going through this process you can empower yourself to effectively communicate your USPs, increasing their chances of interview success.

To help clients showcase their unique selling points in job interviews, start with a thorough self-assessment, possibly using tools like Myers-Briggs or StrengthsFinder. Gathering feedback from past colleagues provides insights into perceived strengths. Reflecting on past achievements helps pinpoint specific value-added moments. Tailor USPs to the job in question for maximum impact. Using the STAR method, clients can effectively illustrate their strengths in relevant scenarios. It's essential to build a memorable narrative around USPs, ensuring authenticity. For some roles, a portfolio demonstrates skills effectively. Mock interviews help refine presentation, while mindful body language reinforces the message.

Be in the right state of mind, in the right energy, when you convey your USP. Due to personal events, my self-confidence was low at a given point, and no matter how good my message, it would not get me the desired interviews and job offers. Remember that non-verbal communication is pre- dominent compared to what you actually say. Building a strong USP is one aspect. Another one is to convey it with confidence. Some clients will need to work on their self-confidence, aside from their USP, to get their dream job.