Tired of Finishing Second? In Your Next Food & Beverage Job Interview, Hard-Sell Your Soft Skills

August 19, 2013 in Career and Job Search Tips, Interview Tips

 

 

You have the right experience.  You have the right job skills.  You even have the right intangibles for the position.

So why are you always coming up with the “silver medal” – instead of landing the job you want?

It could be because you aren’t adequately explaining why you’re the best cultural fit for the job.  Most food & beverage professionals find it easy to explain how their job skills and experience are a great match.  But few are able to show how their soft skills make them the best candidate – and therein lies an opportunity for you to separate yourself from the crowd.

So in your next interview, don’t be another me-too candidate who describes himself as an “outgoing team player with excellent communication skills.”  Skip the cliches, and find more vivid, memorable ways to hard-sell your soft skills:

Plan ahead.  Learn everything you can about the company’s mission, vision and corporate culture.  Study the position description, looking for clues about the types of skills needed to interact effectively with others in this role.  Compile a list of the top four or five soft skills required.  Then, think back through your professional career to find evidence that demonstrates you possess those skills.

Use a three-step process.  Rather than just reeling off a long list of soft skills in your interview, use anecdotes and experiences that clearly demonstrate them.  Experts recommend that you:

  1. Briefly describe the situation;
  2. Tell what you did specifically;
  3. Explain the positive result or outcome.

Don’t fake it to land the job.  Stay true to yourself – and your natural personality style – when selling your soft skills.  If you say you have a certain type of work ethic or management style (just because you think that’s what the interviewer wants to hear), be aware that this could backfire.  In the long run, you’ll need to actually demonstrate the skills to which you’ve laid claim.  Misrepresenting your soft skills in the interview could eventually cost you the job.

Looking for Your Next Professional or Executive Food & Beverage Position?

Register with Kinsa today.  Our team of food & beverage industry recruiting professionals will listen to your needs, match you with a perfect career opportunity, and then show you how to effectively sell your soft skills in the interview.