Ever respond to an interview question, by saying "I haven't done it, but I can learn"?
OUCH … I can feel your pain. Your interview ended with those words. The fat lady sang.
Employers realize you can learn if you've been in the workforce for a while, or if you've graduated college. Of course you can learn. It's even a bad answer for an entry-level job candidate.
But today, unless you're entry-level, employers don't want someone who can learn, they want fast solutions to problems. If you can learn, you might have a future with the company to solve new problems, but to be hired you've got to demonstrate that you've already solved that problem (see http://recareered.blogspot.com/2008/04/do-you-create-employer-value.html).
Employee turnover averages 18 months, and technology changes every 3-4 years – is it any wonder employers look for people who already have the skills to solve today's problems?
Instead, could you reply, "Sure, I've solved similar problems!" and go on to give a close example? Instead, most candidates turn into a "deer in the headlights" and say "I can learn".
Anticipate problems the company has through your research (see: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2008/05/4-killer-ways-to-use-research.html), before you even craft your customized resume. Read press releases, SEC reports, articles, blogs … and gain an understanding of the company's challenges and problems. Show how you can solve them before you are even asked and you're a leading candidate.
Say "I can learn" and you’re road kill.
TIP: Remove the phrase "I can learn" from your vocabulary. Don't say it to recruiters, nor to family or friends. Just don't say it … ever.
Many job seekers describe themselves in a resume as a generalist, attempting to attract a broad number of opportunities. That's nice – but it doesn't work (see http://recareered.blogspot.com/2010/01/who-needs-generalists-anymore-best-of.html).
Yes, this used to work, and it's how everyone over 30 learned how to job hunt. But it's 2011. And in 2011, employers want subject matter experts who have direct experience in solving specific problems.
Phil Rosenberg is President of reCareered, the web's central hub for job search advice. An active blogger about social media and career change, Phil's articles have been republished by several of the leading job, career and recruiting sites. Connect with Phil on Twitter @philreCareered.
Posted at 09:56 AM in Advice, Interviewing | Permalink | Digg This | | Comments Interview Road Kill – "I Haven’t Done It, But I Can Learn"
Ever respond to an interview question, by saying "I haven't done it, but I can learn"?
OUCH … I can feel your pain. Your interview ended with those words. The fat lady sang.
Employers realize you can learn if you've been in the workforce for a while, or if you've graduated college. Of course you can learn. It's even a bad answer for an entry-level job candidate.
But today, unless you're entry-level, employers don't want someone who can learn, they want fast solutions to problems. If you can learn, you might have a future with the company to solve new problems, but to be hired you've got to demonstrate that you've already solved that problem (see http://recareered.blogspot.com/2008/04/do-you-create-employer-value.html).
Employee turnover averages 18 months, and technology changes every 3-4 years – is it any wonder employers look for people who already have the skills to solve today's problems?
Instead, could you reply, "Sure, I've solved similar problems!" and go on to give a close example? Instead, most candidates turn into a "deer in the headlights" and say "I can learn".
Anticipate problems the company has through your research (see: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2008/05/4-killer-ways-to-use-research.html), before you even craft your customized resume. Read press releases, SEC reports, articles, blogs … and gain an understanding of the company's challenges and problems. Show how you can solve them before you are even asked and you're a leading candidate.
Say "I can learn" and you’re road kill.
TIP: Remove the phrase "I can learn" from your vocabulary. Don't say it to recruiters, nor to family or friends. Just don't say it … ever.
Many job seekers describe themselves in a resume as a generalist, attempting to attract a broad number of opportunities. That's nice – but it doesn't work (see http://recareered.blogspot.com/2010/01/who-needs-generalists-anymore-best-of.html).
Yes, this used to work, and it's how everyone over 30 learned how to job hunt. But it's 2011. And in 2011, employers want subject matter experts who have direct experience in solving specific problems.
Phil Rosenberg is President of reCareered, the web's central hub for job search advice. An active blogger about social media and career change, Phil's articles have been republished by several of the leading job, career and recruiting sites. Connect with Phil on Twitter @philreCareered.
Become a Fan ( function() { var container = document.getElementById( 'facebook-like-container' ); if ( container ) { var e = document.createElement( 'fb:like' ); e.setAttribute( 'href', 'http://blog.simplyhired.com/' ); e.setAttribute( 'layout', container.offsetWidthBrought To You By#sh_job_widget {width:165px; border:1px solid #cccccc; margin-top:8px;}#sh_job_widget form input {width:155px; margin:4px; font-size:14px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; }#sh_job_widget form button {margin:4px; font-size:12px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; }#sh_job_widget h3 {font-size:12px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight:bold;color:#666666; margin:4px;}
Search Millions of Jobs: Follow Us!Guest Blogger ProgramGet your content published on the Simply Hired Blog by becoming a guest blogger!Job Search Newsletter
Sign-up for our newsletter for job search tips and advice!
Recent PostsCategoriesAdviceApplyingCareerEventsInterviewingMiscNetworkingNewsOopsSearch TipsShinyTalkToolsTopicsTrendsUsArchivesMay 2011April 2011March 2011February 2011January 2011December 2010November 2010October 2010September 2010August 2010More...Recent Tweetsnew TWTR.Widget({ version: 2, type: 'profile', rpp: 3, interval: 6000, width: 165, height: 240, theme: { shell: { background: '#ffb83d', color: '#000000' }, tweets: { background: '#ffffff', color: '#333333', links: '#0b83ce' } }, features: { scrollbar: false, loop: false, live: false, hashtags: true, timestamp: true, avatars: false, behavior: 'all' }}).render().setUser('simplyhired').start();Blog powered by TypePadMember since 02/2005 mktoMunchkin("525-OOD-660"); Blog HomeArchivesSubscribeSimplyHired.com document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js'%3E%3C/script%3E"));COMSCORE.beacon({ c1: 2, c2: "6035669", c3: "", c4: "http://blog.simplyhired.com/2011/05/interview-road-kill-i-havent-done-it-but-i-can-learn.html", c5: "", c6: "", c15: ""});
No comments:
Post a Comment