Job Interviews: Identifying & Using Your Most Important Asset

When you're looking to get hired or get promoted, what do you think is your most important asset? Your experience? Knowledge? Skill? Talent?

While all of those are advantages that will help you achieve your goals, there's one thing that's more important than all of them combined.

Your attitude!

Let me illustrate my point.

I attended a board meeting recently. It should've been spelled "bored." Just about everyone's eyes were glazed over or nearly closed with fatigue as one dull presentation after another was foisted upon the board members, staff and audience.

Then something changed.

Someone who had never spoken at a board meeting before got up, went to the lectern, fired up her PowerPoint presentation, and totally blew everyone away!

People perked up in their seats and listened attentively to her every word.

When she was done, people clapped! (If you've ever attended a public agency board meeting before, you'll know how remarkable that is!) The board president said, "I've seen hundreds of presentations. This is the first time I've ever seen one that elicited applause!"

Was this presenter more experienced, more knowledgeable, more skilled or more talented than all the others? Absolutely not. As a fairly new employee, she was actually inferior in all of those areas.

What made the difference? Her attitude.

She was enthusiastic, positive, upbeat, energetic and truly excited about what she was talking about!

It wasn't the quality of her presentation that impressed people, it was how she made them feel. Her enthusiasm was contagious, so the audience greatly enjoyed listening to facts and figures that, presented by someone without her energetic attitude, would've bored them to tears.

Everyone in that room will remember and think very highly of her because of her attitude.

You know why companies conduct time-consuming, labor-intensive job interviews instead of simply hiring people based on the qualifications presented in their resumes? One of the reasons is to find someone they'll enjoy working with.

This can only be conveyed in person, by your attitude.

Think of your own co-workers. Who do you enjoy working with? The smart guy who has all the answers but acts superior? The woman who has the most experience but whines or complains whenever she's asked to do something in a new way?

Or the person who always smiles, listens to you, stays positive, friendly and supportive no matter what?

How's your attitude?

Bonnie Lowe is author of the popular Job Interview Success System and free information-packed ezine, "Career-Life Times." Find those and other powerful career-building resources and tips at her website: http://www.Best-Interview-Strategies.com

---

Making Sure You Get a Good Reference

You've had 3 interviews with a potential employer and they've... Read More

Stand Out From the Crowd with Simple Marketing Methods

Although today's job market can be very competitive, many job... Read More

5 Tips for Customizing your Resume

Gone are the days of the bland, generic one-page resume.... Read More

What is Workers Compensation Fraud

What is FraudFraud occurs when a person knowingly or intentionally... Read More

Technology in the Workplace - Boon or Curse?

Like all new innovations, technology in the work environment can... Read More

The Case For Internships

America may be the Land of Opportunity, but this is... Read More

Retirement: Is It A Career Change Option?

Retirement might be the answer when you ask yourself "why... Read More

Career Planning for Gifted Adults

"James is so restless and energetic. I wonder if he's... Read More

Bullseye Interviewing

An interview is much like a blind date. You have... Read More

Career Strategy When Your Boss is a Bully

Q. Right after I accepted my new position, the manager... Read More

Stay At Home Moms No Longer Struggling To Make Ends Meet

It is hard to be a stay at home mom.... Read More

Work Is A Four-Letter Word

I can hear the jokes already and most of them... Read More

Job Search Lessons From The Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is a game but, like sports in... Read More

Seven Steps to Making a Successful Career Change

My first job was secretary to Moses. Having to transcribe... Read More

Why You Need To Be An Intrapreneur

When a client asks me if I think he or... Read More

How To Win the Job-Hunting Game

When I got over the initial shock of being urged... Read More

Self-Knowledge: The Key To Finding The Right Career Direction

Your career, like any journey, has a beginning, an end... Read More

Job Search - Understand Employers

Think like an employerTo be successful in your job search... Read More

Your Job Search -- a Marketing Campaign?

The successful job search is really just a personal marketing... Read More

Networking Masterclass - Part 2 Practicing Altruism

Practicing Altruism The 'Golden Rule' occurred in the Greek and... Read More

Big Job Sites Vs The Small Ones

There is much to say about posting resumes on the... Read More

Get a Life Why Dont Ya?!

It's okay to take your job seriously, to be a... Read More

Top 10 Skills for New World of Work

There are many changes coming in the world of work,... Read More

Culture Shock

Today we hear much talk of the 'global village'. People... Read More

Four Simple Steps To Better Results With Your Resume

Is every job description you read the same? No.Is every... Read More