Better Job Application Results Through Positive Outcomes

By Andres Villalva

Ask not what the employer can do for you, ask what you can do for the employer. This is the attitude that you should take with you throughout the job application process in order to give yourself the best opportunity of emerging with a job offer.

After all, the situation is that an employer is looking for someone to solve one or more problems for them. This presents an opportunity to market yourself in a manner that convinces the employer that you are the best person to address those problems or carry out that job function.

Consider the following interview question to press my point. "Where do you see your life in 5 years?". Many job candidates might respond in relation to their personal lives "With my wife and a new born child", or "travelling the world". But what value do these responses bring to the employer?

The first response indicates that you may be less flexible to work long hours due to your growing family, the second response indicates that you may have resigned! Once again, the key to a positive outcome response is to ask yourself what you can do for the employer.

Lets try a response to the previous question that is centered on the new job? "I hope to be reaping the lifestyle and financial rewards of my numerous promotions from doing such as great job for you." Can you see where I'm going with this? Same message but from a different perspective, this time the response is relative to outcomes for the new job.

The same approach also works with you cover letter and your resume. Instead of writing "I troubleshoot and support computer components and the Windows operating system", a positive outcomes approach is to write, "I service the organization's PC client base by way of hardware and Windows technical support".

This approach also allows you to build on the statement both in your job application documentation and in your interview. You can talk about the number of clients your service, the processes you have put in place to make that service more efficient, meeting targets and so on.

Most importantly, this approach is ethical. It doesn't rely on unrealistic grandiose statements that in my opinion reflect poorly on the job applicant anyway. And it is a very informative way to describe your experience while making a direct connection to the advertised role.

So next time you write you job application consider your content from an employers' viewpoint. Do you sound like somebody that you would hire?

job, jobs, career