In today’s tough job market, only the savviest applicants secure the jobs they seek. If you are looking for a job or know of someone who is, you may want to read these next few sentences as they may make the difference between a rejection letter and an acceptance letter.

There are countless books and articles written on this topic. I will assume that everyone reading this article understands the “mainstream” approaches to interviewing. The goal is to offer you a different way of thinking as a foundational base to your preparations.

In a tough economy, employers must be very smart about who they hire. A wrong decision in this department can cost the company significant amounts of precious and limited resources. To this point, keen employers look for applicants that possess the “right” mindsets and for applicants who, they believe, will offer the largest return on investment. It is therefore the applicant’s job to demonstrate superior value in the eyes of the prospective employer.

So, what are the right mindsets? Below are a few that work very well. The key is to buy into these mindsets and devote every lasting thought and every interview response into exposing their message.

1.       Your reason for applying for the job is not the primary reason for the interview. The purpose of the interview is for the employer to see if you are a good fit.

 

2.       The employer’s needs are the only element at this stage of the hiring process that matter. Understand that you are being evaluated as a resource; one that the employer hopes will produce more value than the slotted pay scale for the job.

 

3.       At the end of the day, the employer has a customer to satisfy. Your role is to help the employer satisfy that customer with minimal collateral damage, e.g., ahead of time delivery, highest quality, lowest cost and risk solution.

 

4.       Give the employer a reason to hire you and not a reason to send you a rejection letter. If an employer agrees to interview you, understand that they are already making an investment in a person they do not yet know. The employer pays employees to evaluate your resume and you. It is therefore to the employer’s benefit to hire an applicant early in their interviewing process. Recruiting costs can be very expensive for a company. The job is yours to win or loose.

 

5.       Focus all answers on the employers’ mission assurance and ultimate customer satisfaction. Doing so demonstrates that you think beyond your job and understand the business end of the prospective employers’ need for your help.

 

6.       If you are on the on-line social networks, clean them up. If your life on an on-line social network does not represent the employers’ values, your chances of securing the job are significantly reduced. Employers are using these networks to determine if they want you as their employee. Employers view their employee’s on-line social networks as an indicator of who they really are … and that can be good or bad.

Understanding and adopting these simple mindsets upfront will provide you with a better chance at becoming successful in your job search.

Best of Luck.