How to Position Yourself as the Best Candidate for a Job

One way to land a new job is to position yourself as the best candidate for the open position. Unfortunately, many people aren't naturally good at showcasing the right skills and experiences that would appeal to specific employers.

Andrew LaCivita , who is a leadership and career coach, recently joined me on an episode of LinkedIn's Career Talks to offer advice on aligning your impact with an employer's goals. You can watch the full broadcast by clicking the video below or by clicking here.

One of the most important points Andrew made during our discussion is that an employer's goals fall into eight areas: Revenue generation, market awareness, customer attraction, customer happiness, company growth, employee happiness, cost reduction, and process efficiency.

Andrew said you can use these goals to help guide what you include in your application. Then, you can get more specific as you learn more throughout the hiring process.

Job interviews can seem like high-wire acts. You need to carefully listen to the interviewer so they know you're attentive. Yet, you also need to be preparing your answer. Fortunately, there are ways to do both with a little practice. Stanford's Matt Abrahams teaches people how to do just that on the Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast and in his book Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot. He joined me on the latest episode of the Get Hired podcast to explain how you can be an attentive listener and a thoughtful respondent during job interviews and more.

You can listen to the episode above or on Apple Podcasts by clicking here. A transcript of the conversation is available by clicking here.

• What to know about pay ranges in job ads. (By Brandi Fowler) Seven states and several localities have enacted transparency laws to help educate job seekers on the potential earnings of an open role. But some say salary ranges advertised in job listings shrink when they reach the interview stage. Recruiting manager Bonnie Dilber told BBC those salary figures represent the "full pay scale of the role, not the hiring range." Only "top performers" are intended to reach the higher end of the range and "most companies aim to hire in the middle," Dilber says. Click here to learn more.
• Should you "hope all is well?" (By Gianna Prudente) Whether you're emailing a networking contact or following up with a hiring manager, think twice before leading with "I hope you are well." Fast Company columnist Judith Humphrey says the phrase is a cliché and overly general. If you're networking with a new person, begin the message by blending your research with a compliment. Humphrey shares an example: "I'm so impressed with your HR organization..." Here's what people are saying about the advice.
• How to interview as an introvert. (By Brandi Fowler) Job interviews can be anxiety-inducing — even more so for introverts. To help ease pre-interview nerves, formulate a game plan, recruiter Caroline Ceniza-Levine writes in Forbes. Establish a routine for the day and prepare for any hiccups that might occur. For example, give yourself enough time to arrive in case there are unexpected travel delays. Also, practice sharing career stories with specific examples of skills and accomplishments instead of rehearsing answers. If a tricky question arises, you'll have a story prepared to tell. Conducting mock interviews ahead of time can be valuable, too. Click here to read more.