How to Show You are a Leader in a Job Interview

At your job interview, you want to show that you have the leadership skills required for the job. You may have listed your accomplishments and skills on your resume, but many job seekers forget to talk about them at their job interview. Building on an article by Employee Development Systems, here are some ways to show you are a leader in a job interview.

Bring up your accomplishments and show how they demonstrate your leadership. In cases like these, it is important to be quantitative. How many people did you lead in a project? How much of an impact did that last big sale have on your company’s quarterly earnings? Know the numbers and the facts and they will speak volumes on your leadership skills.

You are going to be asked popular interview questions such as “What has been your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?” This question just begs you to demonstrate your finest leadership skills, so don’t pass up on this opportunity. Show how you problem-solved, how you communicated with others, and how you stepped up to the challenge.

Talk about the skills you may have acquired at jobs unrelated to the one you’re interviewing for, but how they make you a more valuable candidate. Show you have a creative mind by giving examples of times you have thought outside-the-box. These are skills that other job candidates may not have.

A good leader shows passion for the job, so when the job interviewer asks you why you want to work for them, it’s important to show that passion. This is why it’s important to do your research on the company before the interview. Know what the company is looking for and match it up to what you’re looking to achieve in your career.  Be passionate about your career industry and explain how this is the best fit. That passion will impress the interviewer and they’ll have you in mind as the hiring process moves forward.

What ways have you shown your leadership skills in an interview? Did you land the job? We’d love to hear your story in the comments!

IMAGE: Courtesy of Flickr by Victor1558