How to NOT Sell Yourself

How NOT to Sell Yourself During an Interview

By: Michael Neece, CEO Interview Mastery

Interviews are NOT Selling Events
Common interviewing advice recommends you sell yourself during a job interview. Interviews are often called selling events, but this is not true. Job interviews are just like playing darts blindfolded. The following article describes just one of the proven job interview strategies found in Interview Mastery.  Prepare to get hired faster.

Playing Darts Blindfolded
Interviews are exactly like playing darts. The target (dartboard) is the mental criteria each interviewer is measuring you against. Each dart represents a dimension of your many talents. You have many “darts of talent” you could throw at the target, but you can only throw three of them.  To win this interviewing dart game you have to locate the target and decide which three “talent darts” you will throw. Each interviewer has a different target.

You have one additional challenge. You’re blindfolded and can’t see the target. To win the dart game you must ask questions to illuminate the target. Asking the right questions will help you locate the target and tell you which three “talent-darts” to present to your interviewer. 

Find the Target & Select Your Darts
An effective opening question will provide you with the critical information you need to locate  ach interviewer’s target.
- “What are the key skills you feel are required for this position?”
- “What parts of my background are you most interested in?”
- “What did you see in my resume that created your interest?”

Asking one of these “opening questions” at the start of each interview will help you locate the interviewer’s target. An opening question also tells you which three “talent-darts” this interviewer is most interested in. This opening strategy is discussed in great detail, along with many other proven strategies, in Interview Mastery.

Did you Score?
In this game you are blindfolded. You’ll need to check if you hit the dartboard. After you present each talent-dart, check to see if you hit the target by asking a follow-up question. The intention of your follow-up question is to make sure your answer was understood accurately.
- “Did I give you enough detail?”
- “Does that make sense?”

These are a few examples of follow-up questions that will get interviewer feedback on the effectiveness of your answers. Asking follow-up questions will also influence the course of the interview.

Job interviewers are just like playing darts blindfolded. If you don’t ask questions you’ll be in the dark, miss the target and loose the game. Ask opening and follow-up questions to win this dart game and win the job offer.