Connecting: Definite goals, focused presentation essential for job seekers

As a professional speaker, every time I meet with a potential client or speak on the phone about my services, it's a job interview.

While giving a presentation skills workshop at a national convention, it became apparent why some participants had been unsuccessful in climbing the career ladder. They had been sending out red flags because of ineffective communication skills.

Honing your presentation skills will enable you to shine at your interview. Here are some tips for using presentation skills while looking for the right job.

Make it relevant

At the beginning of the workshop, I asked participants to introduce themselves and share with the class a communication strength and a weakness. Their goal was to pretend that this was a question being asked of them in an interview.

One woman stood up, introduced herself and said, "My strength is that I'm compassionate." What a great start! Then she rambled on about her love for animals, and shared a cute story about her dachshund.

Is that example the best one she could have used to illustrate her compassion? Unless she is applying for a job at the local veterinary clinic, her story might be irrelevant.

On the same exercise, another woman complained about her hardships: she moved because her husband was transferred, she'd had surgery on her gums, she didn't have any friends in her new town. She went on to say how the job would help her.

Using pity is not a good way to connect with an audience or an interviewer. No one wants to listen to a sad sack, much less hire one. You must answer the question on the mind of every audience and interviewer: What's in it for me?

In speaking, as well as in interviewing, frame your presentation on why you would benefit the company, not on how much you need the job. Remember, you are there to serve the needs of your audience.

Know the needs

Brenda had it all backwards. Even though she had experience in health, education and numerous other professions she hadn't been successful landing the position she wanted.

"What kind of job are you looking for?" I asked her.

"Something where I can contribute and help others," she replied

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"Well, I'm not sure. I was hoping they would look at my resume and see how my skills and previous experience fit into their needs," she said.

As the clich goes, "You can hope in one hand and spit in another."

Jim Rohn, the famous business philosopher, says, "Don't come to the marketplace with your need."

Do your research

As a speaker, I've learned to research and to be selective about with whom I work. It's a mistake to go after every opportunity available.

Amy's desperation and lack of research was ruining her self-esteem.

"I've applied for everything that I could, including a job as a motivational speaker. I didn't even get a return call," Amy lamented. It's interesting to note that Amy had never spoken professionally, didn't know anything about the business and wasn't even sure what the requirements were.

Brenda, from the previous example, was concerned that the few hours she had left in completing her master's degree would exclude her from consideration for a position at a local hospital. The obvious is profound: Answer these questions ahead of time so that you only apply for those positions that are a good fit. Then it won't be a threat to your self-esteem and you won't sabotage your own success.

Order out of chaos

Great ideas are useless if they aren't articulated in such a way that the audience can retain them. I noticed that many participants, due to anxiety, had difficulty staying on topic. This was evident when, after the seminar, I stayed for an hour coaching session with Brenda.

"Brenda, let's talk about how you might get a job at St. Mary's hospital."

"Well, the truth is, I've never really made that much money because people just sometimes don't get along. I keep reading books on how to win friends and influence people, and I hope that I can get along better and avoid all the fighting."

"But Brenda, what has that got to do with applying at St. Mary's?"

"Well, I would apply at the hospital, but I worked there five years ago. The truth is, nurses don't like taking orders from someone who "

"Brenda, you haven't answered my first question."