by Jewel Bracy DeMaio
The real reasons why you are searching for a new job may not be the most positive-sounding ones: You desire a higher salary. You dislike management or co-workers. You got fired. Employers are not particularly interested in these scenarios, yet they are extremely common among jobseekers. The challenge is to deal with these negative issues succinctly, and then move on to why you would be the best new asset for the employer’s organization.
To turn any of these lemons into lemonade, you need to master the technique of using truthful, positive information to cast yourself in a favorable light. For example, if your true motivation is that you just need more money, try something along the lines of, “With my current employer, I’ve advanced as far as possible and taken advantage of all the available professional development courses. Now that I’ve sharpened my skills and gained new ones, I am confident that I am more marketable and am therefore seeking a position at a higher level of responsibility in this field. What are the possibilities for advancement, assuming I perform successfully in this position?”
Let’s examine this response. It mentions good performance with your past employer. It indicates that with your new skills you’re ready to advance in your career. And it looks towards the future by touching on the possibilities with the potential employer’s company. This technique, of course, requires practice until it comes naturally.
As another example, suppose you have good expertise in your field and wonderful accomplishments, but you also have an unfortunate history of personality clashes. Try, “I made significant contributions to my last employer, and provided key support to management in several major projects. However, management is currently refocusing its priorities, which amounts to a difference in our philosophies. My Internet research on your company shows your management philosophy is ……. How do you see me executing that philosophy in this position?”
And unfortunately, firing is a reality too many of us have to face. Try, “My work ethic is rooted in delivering top-notch products and service at all times. Recently management decided to begin offering an alternative, and we disagreed on the benefits to the customer. They replaced me with someone who agreed with their vision, as is their prerogative. That’s why I believe I will only be successful in this position if we are of one mind on delivering the best to the customer. How can I best accomplish that within management’s standards in your organization?”
The cliché is true: You never get a second chance to make a first impression. So use these techniques to encourage the interviewer to develop a positive impression of you. That’s what it takes to turn lemons into lemonade.