In our June webinar, career strategy expert Graeme Jordan shared his powerful insights on how to get selected by standing out in the job market.
With extensive experience in recruitment, management, and marketing, Graeme knows what it takes to get noticed, land interviews, and convince employers that you are the right choice.
Here is an overview of the advice that we discussed.
1. Every Line of Your CV Must Work for You
Graeme believes a CV should function like a high-impact marketing document.
“Every line of your CV should contribute to answering one question: why should they choose you?”
He emphasised that your CV should start with a headline statement at the top, summarising why you are qualified for the role.
This should be followed by a concise summary (6-10 lines) that highlights what you have achieved, not just what you were responsible for.
Avoid lists of generic skills such as “good communicator” or “team player”. If those things are on the Person Specification, then you should cover them. But, listing them won’t work without examples. So, state what results your communication skills have produced, and outline your specific style.
Or, you can mention what your teams have achieved and how you ensured that.
Show evidence of impact, such as measurable results, transformations you’ve led, or initiatives you’ve introduced.
This approach has an additional benefit. When you review your CV, you will spot whole sentences and words that don’t need to be there. Because if it’s not serving your specific purpose, you can safely delete it.
2. Build a Bank of Stories for Interviews
Interview preparation is one of Graeme’s biggest focus areas. He explained that interview questions are more predictable than most people realise. By thoroughly reviewing the Person Specification, you can anticipate most of the questions you’ll be asked.
When it comes to using stories to answer specific questions:
“You can’t tell them everything. The goal is to choose the most applicable and impactful stories that show why you’re the right person.”
So, rather than telling your life story, you are choosing select highlights.
Graeme suggests preparing a bank of strong examples that you can adapt to different questions. These stories should be structured, e.g. what you did, how you did it, and the outcome. Or problem–action–result. These structures help to showcase your achievements while keeping you on track.
And finally like any good story, your answers should start and finish well.
3. Your Value Proposition is Key
When faced with open-ended questions such as “Tell me about yourself,” many candidates give an unstructured life story. Graeme’s advice is clear:
“Your answer should be your value proposition – why you’re the best person for this role.”
It does not need to be in chronological order. It should be in whatever order makes for the most memorable value proposition.
Focus on how you meet the Person Specification, giving an example for each point if possible (depending on how many criteria there are). That way, you are directly linking your experience and skills to the needs of the company.
In doing this, you have to get comfortable with self-promotion. It’s not something you should always be doing. But, in a job application situation, that’s exactly what is needed.
4. Don’t Fear the “Weakness” Question
Graeme suggests approaching this common question (“What is your biggest weakness?”) with honesty, but also strategy. Choose a weakness that is not core to the role, and explain the steps you’ve taken to improve.
For example:
“Public speaking wasn’t my strength, but I’ve been improving it by joining a weekly speaking group, and I’ve made huge progress.”
You would then seek to quantify that progress or give anecdotal evidence, such as an example of professional feedback received.
5. Confidence is Critical
Many candidates underestimate their value. Graeme shared that he often works with people who have done incredible things, but downplay their achievements because they’ve been “too close” to their work.
It doesn’t matter if people have more qualifications or experience than you. Have they done what you have done? It’s their job to explain their value and your job to explain yours.
“Regardless of your title or tenure in any job, what have you achieved? Don’t undersell yourself and don’t waste time on negatives.”
Graeme’s Key Takeaway
“At an interview, your only job is to show why you should be chosen. Every answer should support that message.”
Want to Learn More?
Graeme regularly writes and speaks about all aspects of how to get selected for your ideal job. You can see further interview advice here.
Connect with Graeme on LinkedIn to stay in touch.
Graeme’s approach aligns beautifully with the Serlin Method used at London Speech Workshop.
If you’d like to explore how our Interview Power course can transform your communication skills in time for your next big interview, why not book a Free 15-Minute Discovery Call with our team?
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