“What can you do for me?” Prospective Employer

Think It Through

Every prospective employer is asking you the question, “What can you do for me?”  You must do more than tell the employer what you can do - you must PROVE IT!  Specific examples of your past accomplishments are indicators of your future value.

The following list will help you recall your past accomplishments. Use each question as a springboard toward thinking through what you’ve done.  You’ll be surprised at how much good information you can share about yourself!

  1. For each evaluation period, what were your primary goals and objectives?  Were they accomplished?
  2. What were your major accomplishments in your work history or schooling?
  3. Have you ever been given awards, commendations or special recognition?  Why?
  4. Have you been given raises, bonuses, promotions, special temporary assignments?  Why?
  5. Have you ever been given an increase or promotion sooner than anticipated?  Why?
  6. What have you done to change the nature of your job?  What has been the result?
  7. Have you ever saved money for the company?  How?
  8. Did you ever come up with a new idea, way of doing things, order in which a product has been processed, or way to minimize waste?
  9. Did you ever start any new tasks or projects?
  10. Did you suggest any plicy changes or procedures?  What was the result?  Are they being used?
  11. Did you ever change something that was losing money into something that was making money?
  12. Have you worked with, proposed, or managed budgets?
  13. Have you done creative or innovative things on the job or in school?
  14. What extra, out-of-the-ordinary job responsibilities have you accepted?  What has been the outcome?
  15. Have you ever developed or assisted in sales or marketing efforts?
  16. What kind of problems did you solve for your boss or for the company?  How did you do this?
  17. How did you make your boss look good?
  18. How did you make your boss more effective or successful?
  19. What people problems did you solve?  How?
  20. Have you supervised others?  How many? Who reported to you?
  21. Have you ever supervised others who were managers?  How did you control their activities?
  22. Have you been responsible for hiring others?  How many?  How did they perform?  Have you ever had to terminate someone?  How did you do it?
  23. What kind of written communication have you done?  Have you written any grants, proposals or reports that have been published internally or externally?
  24. Have you given speeches?  To Whom? On what subjects?
  25. What professional or community organizations have you been active in?  Have you held any offices?
  26. What kind of reading do you do?
  27. What continuing education, seminars, or workshops have you taken?  How did you do?
  28. What kind of volunteer work have you done?  What roles have you taken?  What was the outcome of your work?  What unique combination of skills do you have?
  29. How would your company have been different had you not been there?

Now that you’ve thought through your accomplishments, don’t hesitate to market these accomplishments to employers.  Remember that employers don’t read minds.  you have to tell them just how good you really are!

Finding employment is similar to promoting and selling a product.  In this case, the product you are promoting is yourself.  You have to begin by understanding your qualities, capabilities, values, and attributes.  Once you have a thorough understanding of yourself, you can focus on the field in which you want to work.

One questions you should ask yourself is “Who am I?”  To find an answer to this question, you need to seek answers to the following questions:

The more you know about yourself, the more efficient and less frustrating your job search will be.  If you struggle with this, ask someone who you know well to brainstorm with you to help you prepare for you interview.

May 15 2009

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