As the year draws to a close, it is cause for reflection. If you’re in the market for a new job, that may mean looking back at missed opportunities or looking ahead to what 2015 may bring. A good place to start is your job-search plan, and the basis of any job-search is the ability to establish how your skills and experience meet the employer’s needs — that’s right, think about what the employer needs first.
Job seekers sometimes overlook the basic needs all employers seem to share, and this one thing can be the reason one qualified candidate gets hired over another. True, developing good chemistry and rapport plays a big role in the hiring decision; but miscalculating the basic needs of a potential employer can create hiring barriers.
What are the basic needs of an employer?
Employers’ needs usually center on two areas:
Candidates who will add to their revenue stream and increase profitability
Candidates who can reduce costs and save them money
Once you know this, how do you demonstrate your ability to show results in these key areas.
When you create your list of accomplishments, don’t just think of things you did, think about ways you saved a previous employer money or increased profits, and the results you produced.
If you are not in a revenue-generating type of position to save the employer money or increase profits. Some of the best cost-saving initiatives come from the administrative staff, for example. These workers see savings in such things as reducing unneeded inventory or streamlining daily workflow processes to save labor costs. They are in a position to deliver excellent customer service, which is highly profitable.
Keeping the employers basic needs in mind can strengthen your cover letters, email correspondence and interviews.
As a bonus, creating awareness around these two areas adds to your ability to ask good questions. The more questions you ask about helping the employer solve specific problems the more likely you will be seen as a viable candidate who can help them meet their goals.
