As I look back on my career, I have interviewed lots of candidates and applicants for jobs. I was thinking back on what any of them had said that stood out. I think there are about ten applicants that answered a question in such a way that even now, years later, I can remember how they answered. Of course, once I heard their answers, I offered them the job immediately. Over the next few days, I will profile the applicants and describe the answers they gave to particular questions that landed them the job.

Candidate One

My company was interviewing for sales reps with experience. Each candidate had good experiences with good companies, and all appeared to have similar, successful backgrounds. Except for one.

His resume seemed average, but it lacked sales sales experience. For some reason, however, I invited him to be interviewed. Perhaps it was how polished and professional his resume looked. I can’t remember the details about why I called this person in for an interview.

When he arrived at my office, he was very nice appearing, sharp, and wanted to get into sales, although he had, up to that point, not worked in sales at any point in his career. He thought it would give him some career advantages and he genuinely believed he could do it and that he would be able to learn quickly. Despite his conviction, we were looking for sales people with prior experience so as a final gesture, I asked him if he had any sales experience at all anywhere in his past. Maybe he had sold Christmas cards, door to door.

He stopped for a minute and then said, “no, I come from a very small town, there were only about 50 kids in my high school class. No one really sold Christmas cards, our parents and relatives just bought them, I didn’t really sell them”. I liked this answer a lot, but he continued, “but, at my high school, homecoming was a huge deal. The most popular and prettiest girl was always the homecoming queen. In my senior year, the girl was unbelievable, pretty, smart, popular, and every guy wanted to date her. I married her so I guess I can sell something.”

The point is, there is always something in your background that you can make applicable to almost any job.