If you were asked to sell a product where would you start? Possibly by finding out why that product is great, what makes it unique from the competition and what benefits it would bring to it’s new owner. You can use all of these when selling yourself in an interview. Here are 5 tips to get the interviewer to buy:

Preparation and Research – just like the product above, take some time to prepare answers to the question “why should we employ you”. What is unique about you, what have you done that your competitors may not, and what benefits will you bring to the company? This isn’t just about looking at you though, you also need to research the company thoroughly to enable you to answer why you and your personal brand would be a great fit for this role.
Confidence – this comes by having done the research and then practicing and believing in your delivery. We are always more confident when we are prepared, presenting with passion about a topic we know well and have belief in what we are saying.
Presentation – Prepare your outfit in advance of the interview. Nothing will make you more stressed than finding the shirt you want to wear isn’t clean or you don’t have a pair of tights without a ladder. Sit and stand in the outfit to make sure you aren’t showing too much leg for women, bare ankle for men, or worse flesh from a gaping shirt or blouse. Polish your shoes, remove jangly jewellery, cover tattoos and switch off your phone so that nothing detracts from your words.
Be Precise – don’t waffle; being prepared will help. If you aren’t sure of an answer it is far better to say than to waffle and sound confused. Being precise is a courtesy to the interviewer showing you have come prepared and are mindful of their time. Make sure that any information you have provided is accurate and anything written by you has been proof read and spell checked. Not showing attention to detail gives the impression of sloppiness.
Follow Up – whether the interview went well or not, always follow up. Send a brief email thanking them for their time and again expressing your interest in the role. Even if you don’t think the interview went well the interviewer may have given consideration to your nerves and this small touch shows professionalism on your part.

Think of every interview as a sales pitch of “product you”. But remember it is two way – have they done a good job of selling the role to you?