Page 67 - How To Answer Interview Questions (II)

Job Interview Question 31

How does your previous experience
relate to this position?

This is a GREAT question if you can get it. It’s another version of, “Why should we hire you?” You
have the power here to highlight your best qualities. They want to know why you’re a good fit for
the job, and are looking for information that will make their decision an easy one.

If you DO have related experience, this is easy. Just summarize it, pointing out a few pertinent
details along the way. If you’ve already asked, “What does your ideal candidate look like?” then you
know what’s most important to them, and you can mention relevant things from your own background.
If you haven’t asked about their ideal candidate, then you can base your answer from what you read in
their job description.

But remember: every candidate can explain a direct relationship. To stand out, add examples
with quantification to your answer where you can. For example, if your experience is in retail and
this job is in retail, you have plenty of experience. Where you stand out is when you also tell them
that you boosted sales by 30% or you won the company customer service award 3 years in a row or
you reduced turnover by 50% by implementing X program.

Key to a Great Interview -
Quantification

Describe your achievements in terms of
numbers, dollars, or percentages that answer the hiring manager's (interviewer’s) primary

question:
"How can this person benefit MY company?"