Okay, so I'm not speaking strictly from personal interviewing experience, although I have been on several interviews and interviewed a lot. But I've been listening a lot to friends of mine- college students, recent grads and people who find themselves in transition- to their interview experiences. I'm starting to notice a problem- if you pay attention to what a lot of career counselors and advisors are saying- it's all a game, and no one wins.

Lately I've been hearing people strongly advise that you wordsmith your resume to manipulate your past experiences to sound like you have the necessary competencies. When you get to the interview, do whatever it takes to present yourself in a positive light- show up on time, nice firm handshake, eye contact, and of course, highlight your strengths and downplay your weaknesses as much as possible. Do not, under any circumstances, reveal that you're a work in progress. I understand that we need to be thoughtful with how we communicate ourselves (in fact, it's a must), but I wonder if there's a different way to communicate that helps you have a real and effective conversation with the person hiring.

What can you promise about yourself that is absolutely true? Are you a problem-solver? Do you thrive in stressful, multi-tasking environments? Do you find yourself as the linchpin when working in a diverse group setting? Are you the one who works the hardest on an assignment? Do people know you as the creative one? What can you promise to be true about yourself that you will bring to their organization? And, what 'for instance' can you give for each one?


Don't overwhelm them with a dozen promises, but try 3. Here's an example:

"I promise that if I work for you that I'm a remarkably quick learner. For instance, in an internship last summer I only had two days to learn a new customer management system before I was responsible for using it effectively. I spent hours after work to learn how to use it, and figured it out just in time. My supervisor even said that I learned the system a lot quicker than her previous intern."

Give this a shot, the next time you have an interview. Try this in a job fair situation, or even in a networking conversation. Practice it with a professor, some friends, your parents, and, if possible, someone who does a lot of hiring. And, if a worksheet would help, contact me, and I'll send one to you.

What can you promise about yourself to an organization that you want to work for?

Almost daily I'm asked to help someone with a job search- college students looking for internships, recent grads looking for their first job, or friends in transition. I've realized over the past year something that doesn't work- playing according to the rules. I honestly can't think of anyone that I know who's secured a good job by following the rules. Monster, Career Builder, Craigslist. Resumes, cover letters, cold calls. Those are the rules, and they aren't working.

The rules aren't working because there are lots and lots of people who are more qualified than you. That's what happens in an economic situation like we're in. More people are out of work and more people are willing to take less pay than you. So, what works, then?

I'm wondering if you can change the rules, just a little bit. Change the typical conversation, from a diagnostic test on your qualifications and competencies, and move it into who you are and what you can promise about yourself. Who are you? What can you actually promise is true about you that would make an organization take a chance on hiring you and investing in you? And I'm not just suggesting bullet points, I'm talking about stories. When we start engaging with stories, we can start figuring out the most important thing- do we like each other? Can we imagine spending the majority of our waking time- together?

"If you hire me, I promise that I'm someone who will creatively solves problems. For instance, in an internship I had in college..."

So, if you find yourself in the job search, try changing the rules a little. Do the normal stuff and try to get in front of someone with hiring power, but when you do, clearly articulate who you are and what you can promise.

Need more help with this? Email me and I'll send you a worksheet that gets you ready for this type of conversation.

For all students and young people out there, did you know that the experience you're gaining as campus ministry leaders is exceptional leadership training that employers want you to have?

The problem, we know, is how to communicate it clearly. We can't just say: "Bible Study Leader". How about calling it: "Faith-Based Small Group Discussion Leader" with a skill set like: event planning, excellent verbal communication skills, recruitment of new members, marketing and advertising, responsible, conflict resolution- to name a few. Check out this worksheet that an InterVarsity staff member from Northern California put together to help student leaders write good resumes and translate their skills to the professional world. If you need help thinking this through, don't hesitate to ask us!