How to Highlight Relevant Skills in a Job Interview?
To help you ace your next job interview, we’ve gathered fifteen effective strategies from professionals such as CEOs and Talent Optimization Consultants. From engaging in a two-way dialogue to telling compelling stories of your skills, this article provides a comprehensive guide on how to showcase your relevant skills during a job interview.
- Engage in a Two-Way Dialogue
- Use Scenarios to Highlight Skills
- Be Bold About Past Accomplishments
- Demonstrate Problem-Solving Skills
- Align Skills with Job Requirements
- Use CAR Format to Demonstrate Competencies
- Show, Don’t Tell, Your Skills
- Share Quantifiable Achievements
- Tie Job Requirements to Past Experience
- Ask Questions to Highlight Skills
- Provide Key Skill Examples
- Connect and Show Confidence
- Prepare a Skills-Based Portfolio
- Use a Brag Book for Accomplishments
- Tell Compelling Stories of Skills
Engage in a Two-Way Dialogue
Ask questions! “Telling” an interviewer how wonderful you are may not be convincing. However, through questions about the organization’s process, strategies, systems, etc., you open the conversation (interview) up for two-way dialogue that will highlight your knowledge, experience, and the value you bring to the role.
For example, an interviewer asks an interviewee, applying for a role in HR, about their knowledge of Taleo. After providing an answer, a question might be, “Do you use Taleo for the full talent management cycle, or parts of it?” This question opens dialogue, while at the same time providing the opportunity to speak to talent management experience, knowledge, and accomplishments.
Cora Lonning, Talent Optimization Consultant, CCL Ventures, LLC
Use Scenarios to Highlight Skills
One way that I have showcased my relevant skills during a job interview is by using scenarios. For every scenario-based or behavior-based question, I make sure in my responses that I am elaborating on the platforms that I’m using when answering a question.
For example, if I am explaining how I managed a team, I am going to explicitly say, “I use the app Monday, a project management tool, to understand where my team stands when completing their section of a project. I like using the Monday platform because it helps me see all aspects of a project and helps me accurately visualize our end goal.” This response focuses not only on how you manage a team but also on what skills you used while managing.
Joshua Evans, Tech Policy Thought Leader
Be Bold About Past Accomplishments
I’ve always struggled with interviewing. I hate showboating and bragging about my accomplishments. However, as I began to interview more, I realized I was doing a disservice to myself and the organization interviewing me when I held back.
The most effective way to showcase your relevant skills during a job interview is to clearly explain what you’ve done in past careers. Don’t be shy about it. Be bold and proud of the work you’ve accomplished.
Share examples of work you’ve done; this could be projects that drove revenue for your previous employer or how you’ve diffused tense situations in the workplace. You have to be willing to share WHAT you’ve done so the interviewer can see your skills.
Joseph Lalonde, Leadership Coach and Author, Reel Leadership
Demonstrate Problem-Solving Skills
I’ve hired a few employees and found that candidates can really stand out by effectively showing how their skills fit the specific position and how they can contribute to the company’s success.
The trick is that instead of just listing their skills, candidates should provide concrete examples of how they applied those skills to solve problems the potential employer is also experiencing. Demonstrating a clear connection between your abilities and the needs of the business conveys a true understanding of the role and assures the interviewer that you will be a valuable asset.
Nathan Brunner, CEO, Salarship
Align Skills with Job Requirements
Showcase your interest and thoroughly review the job description of the role you are interviewing for again so you can provide concrete examples that highlight the skills you have that closely align with the position’s requirements. Demonstrating your skills through relevant examples can emphasize your suitability for the role and will make it much easier for the interviewer to advocate for your candidacy and make a compelling case to hire you.
Heidi Hauver, Chief People Officer
Use CAR Format to Demonstrate Competencies
Competencies are transferable from previous situations. Think about what competencies this role might require. For example, does it require initiative or planfulness? Independent thinking or collaboration? Then, think about stories from your past that demonstrate those competencies. Format the story in what I like to call a CAR – Circumstances, Action, Results.
Circumstances: What was the project? What time constraints did it have? What was the scope? Who all was involved? Why was it important?
Action: Don’t be afraid to sound like a non-team player. Make clear what your specific role and your specific actions were.
Results: How did it turn out? Think about the task itself and the surrounding relationships. In other words, getting the job done while fracturing relationships isn’t a great outcome. If that happened, explain what you would do differently this time.
Sandy Fiaschetti, Ph.D., Founder and Managing Partner, Lodestone People Consulting
Show, Don’t Tell, Your Skills
When it’s time to showcase relevant skills in a job interview, remember the adage, “show, don’t tell.” The interviewer already has your resume, so simply repeating your attributes is less valuable than finding ways to demonstrate these skills.
For example, if it’s a leadership position, asking questions about the team you’ll be managing will show that you’re ready to step into the role. If it’s a detail-oriented position, taking careful notes might show you’re attentive to minute details. And if you’ve advertised yourself as a people-person, take an interest in the interviewer. They’ll see that your ability to connect is more than just lip service.
Travis Hann, Partner, Pender & Howe
Share Quantifiable Achievements
One effective way to showcase relevant skills during a job interview is by sharing specific, quantifiable achievements tied to past roles. Instead of making broad claims about your abilities, provide concrete examples that demonstrate your impact.
For instance, if you improved a process, detail how it led to a 20% time reduction or a 15% increase in sales. Use stories to strengthen the examples, which will make you more memorable, as well. This approach highlights your skills and showcases your ability to drive results. Using data-backed achievements proves your competence and sets you apart in the interview process.
Linda Scorzo, CEO, Hiring Indicators
Tie Job Requirements to Past Experience
The best way to showcase your relevant skills in an interview is by reviewing the job requirements and tying them into your past work experience beforehand. By doing this, it is easier to know what projects, accomplishments, or collaborations are most relevant from your previous positions that highlight your qualifications and contributions to their success and growth.
If the interviewer shows concerns about skills required in the position you may lack, it is extremely important to be honest, but also provide examples of how you are actively improving them. There could be training offered by the organization to develop these skills.
Benjamin Farber, President, Bristol Associates, Inc.
Ask Questions to Highlight Skills
Ask questions. Inquiries like, “What does a typical day look like in this role?” or “Could you describe your ideal employee?” will make it clear what the hiring manager is hoping you’ll bring to the table, and provide a great opportunity for you to jump in and explain why you’re perfect for the position.
One caveat: let the interviewer answer fully. Then it’s your chance to respond by segueing into your own relevant skills, being sure to highlight the experience and education that supported their development.
Linn Atiyeh, CEO, Bemana
Provide Key Skill Examples
Give a good example of how you used a key skill to support a key initiative. How did your skill help save the day for an important project? How did your skill save the organization money? What really stands out to a potential employer is how you turn issues into successes using your skills. Employers are looking at numerous resumes with the same skill sets. Demonstrate how you stand out.
By telling the story, the potential employer will see how you are a team player and how you put the organization first by using your key skill. This technique will resonate with the interviewer and show them how well you think on your feet. Interviews tend to be scripted. However, at the end, you will be asked if you have questions. Use that time, if an opportunity has not opened earlier in the interview, to share an example of your skills. Make your interview a memorable moment.
Beth Smith, Life Coach and Owner, Thriving With Resilience
Connect and Show Confidence
An interviewer is looking for competence, self-confidence, character, chemistry, and maybe a little charisma. Charismatic people always do better on interviews. They want to see that you care and that they can connect with you, which adds up to them trusting you.
Since they are trying to hire someone who inspires confidence that they are the solution to a problem, they will be interviewing other competent people. Focus on connecting with the interviewer(s) you meet, and on self-confidence, which can be observed by smiling as you answer a few of their questions.
Jeff Altman, Global Job Search Coach, The Big Game Hunter, Inc.
Prepare a Skills-Based Portfolio
Consider preparing a skills-based portfolio or presentation that visually showcases your relevant skills. For instance, if you’re a graphic designer, you could create a portfolio of your best work. If you’re a programmer, you might bring in code samples or projects you’ve worked on. Having tangible evidence of your abilities can make a powerful impression and allow you to discuss your skills in a more hands-on way during the interview.
Kristina Ramos, Reverse Recruiter, Find My Profession
Use a Brag Book for Accomplishments
In a job interview, your ability to demonstrate your relevant skills can be the key to securing the position you desire.
One highly effective method for showcasing your skills is by providing concrete examples of your proven accomplishments. Even more impactful is the use of a brag book, whether physical or electronic, to support your claims. In this article, we’ll delve into strategies to effectively highlight your qualifications during a job interview. When discussing your skills during an interview, focus on tangible achievements from your previous roles.
These could include exceeding sales targets, streamlining processes, or successfully leading a project to completion. Providing specific numbers and outcomes adds credibility to your claims. Don’t shy away from discussing less successful outcomes. Highlight situations where things didn’t go as planned and explain how you learned from those experiences.
TK Morgan, Founder and Visionary, Tuesday At 1030
Tell Compelling Stories of Skills
Learn how to tell compelling stories. Most interview questions are very similar, no matter the company, but the way you answer them can set you apart from other candidates.
Learn to set the scene, describe the issues you faced, how you overcame them, and how your team supported you during the solution phase. Add a bit of drama to your stories. Mention numbers and high stakes that you worked against, but still persevered because of the relevant skills you used to solve the issues.
Gordana Sretenovic, Co-Founder, Workello ATS
