***How to Stand Out From the Crowd in Your Job Interviews

Today, unemployment is higher than it has been for quite some long time and, in many cases, older workers are looking for a job after years of security in their former positions. For some, just the idea of being interviewed is a frightening experience. With the high number of applicants seeking the same job, older workers may feel quite daunted in their search.

What can you do if your experience is excellent but your interview skills are less than stellar? Without a doubt, good interview skills are one of the most important characteristic for those obtaining employment today. You need to be able to sell yourself to a perspective employer and that may not be an easy task if you have been ensconced in a comfortable position with a former company for 10, 20 or even 30 years.

The disadvantages for the older employee are greater than they were 20 years ago. In the past, education, experience, and an excellent work ethic got you the job. Presently, your competition is also well-educated, possibly more computer savvy, and they will probably work for less money than you, an extremely important qualification with perspective employers.

So what can you do to sell yourself at your next interview that a younger individual cannot?

There is no doubt that your contacts, your business acumen, your success, and your knowledge are strengths that your younger counterparts likely don’t have quite yet; therefore, your experience is what you need to push in the interview.

Just how good is your speaking voice? Would you consider it an asset or a liability? Be honest with yourself. If you are embarrassed when you hear yourself on your answering machine, how do you think others perceive your voice? A better question might be – does the sound you hear on your voicemail speak for you or against you?

If you are one of several candidates for a job and all of you are of equal talent, capability, and experience, but one candidate in particular has a confident and assured speaking voice, who do you think will get the job? If your voice is soft in volume and lacks confidence when you speak, I guarantee you will not be the winner in that contest!

The job interview is a ‘mean animal.’ Why not improve your communication skills and discover your ‘real’ voice. It could mean the difference between a paycheck next week or unemployment.