Competition in the job market can be fierce! The key to landing that dream job is to make sure you stand out from the crowd and are bringing something to the table.
Employers are looking for candidates that are well-rounded and have the skills necessary to succeed in today’s fast paced business.
What can you bring to the table?
Although many jobs require technical skills, you might be surprised to learn that many employers value soft skills more.
Here are some ideas of what you can bring to the table:
- Relevant experience or qualifications
- A positive attitude
- Able to work efficiently under pressure
- Able to work well with others
- Able to meet deadlines
- Stress management skills
- A quick-thinking ability
- Problem-solving skills
- Ability to convince others of your skills and qualifications
How to answer “what do you bring to the table”?
If you want to stack up, you’ll want to make sure you are showcasing these three important skills:
Communication Skills:
Communication is an important part of most any role no matter what field you’re in. Therefore, this skill is important when answering what do I bring to the table. Employers want to know that you can communicate professionally with your team, be clear and appropriate when voicing concerns and be the voice of the company when interacting with clients and vendors. Candidates that excel in this area typically exude confidence, show a generous spirit and are comfortable having conversations with others. Employers may overlook a lack of work experience if communication is your strong suit.
Teamwork:
Teamwork is another valuable asset that you can bring to the table.
The number one reason people make a job change is due to poor relationships with a manager or other coworkers. Turnover costs companies a lot of money and ruins employee morale in the process. They’ll expect that you be able to show them great examples of working with a team and will do their best to gauge how well you will do your part and get along with other personalities. The more you can give real life examples the better off you’ll be; another tip is to make sure your words about other people are positive and encouraging.
Initiative:
In today’s society you’ll find plenty of folks with a lackadaisical attitude about work and employers want to avoid hiring those people. Someone who can demonstrate initiative will give 100% and not be afraid to rise to the challenge when needed. Those that bring to the table a strong work ethic will always be the first to stand out in a large crowd of candidates.
Now that you know which skills are most important, you’ll want to make sure your resume reflects that. If you’re lacking in some area research courses online that can help you build those skills and then add them to your resume; you’d be surprised to find a lot of free courses are available on the web. Make it easy for the prospective employer to see what you have to offer, they shouldn’t have to work for it.
My advice is to stay sharp, be professional and continue to develop these most sought after skills and in no time you’ll land that dream job.
Additional tips on how to answer the question:
Let’s now check out some additional tips for answering the question, “What do you bring to the table?”
1. Think about your unique skills and experience.
When it comes to your career, what sets you apart from other candidates? Do you have a particular skill set that would be valuable to the company? Are you passionate about a specific subject matter? Consider how your unique skills and experience can benefit the company and use that to inform your answer.
2. Highlight your achievements.
Your resume is a great start when considering how to answer this question. What accomplishments are you most proud of? Whether a professional milestone or a personal accomplishment, highlighting your successes will show the interviewer that you’re a go-getter always striving for more.
3. Be specific.
Generic answers won’t impress the interviewer, so it’s important to be as specific as possible when answering the question. Use concrete examples to illustrate your value as an employee. For instance, if you’re saying you’re a great team player, tell a story about a time when you went above and beyond to help a coworker.
4. Keep it positive.
Remember, this is your chance to sell yourself to the interviewer. Focus on the positive aspects of your career and avoid dwelling on any negative experiences.
5. Practice, practice, practice.
As with any interview question, practicing your answer beforehand is always a good idea. This will help you feel more confident and polished when the time comes to answer the question for real.
When preparing for an interview, it is important to anticipate tough questions like, “What do you bring to the table?” Answering this question well can help you land the job, so it is important to take the time to prepare a great answer.