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Talk the Talk!


Part of your job as job seeker is being able to talk the talk. Whether in your cover letter, LinkedIn, resume, or in conversations with employers or networking contacts, you need to be able to tap into industry “speak” in order to sound knowledgeable.

I learned this lesson the hard way when I went into an interview with an investment firm. Though I could recite my past experience and had familiarized myself with the firm, I was lacking relevant industry context and it was apparent from the get-go.

In the months after that interview, I examined the experience and spoke with several fellow job seekers who had similar experiences. We arrived at the following conclusion:

Though we could all learn the tasks of the roles we had interviewed for, we weren’t able to hold natural conversation with potential employers.

By learning to speak like someone who is already in the position that you’re interviewing for, you help potential employers envision you in that role. Whether you’re an expert or not, learn to talk the talk:

1 - Network to Identify Buzzwords you Need to Know

Some months after bombing my interview, I was invited in for an interview for a company that focused specifically on financing for the renewable energy market. In advance of this interview, I found two people on LinkedIn who were working in similar roles. I invited each of them for a coffee armed with the following question:

What are the broad concepts that I need to focus on in order to learn this industry better?

Example: This seemingly simple question can lead you to mastery of a topic. In one such instance, I prepared for an interview by asking this same question of two industry professionals. One of my contacts told me that in order to demonstrate my understanding of the industry, I would need to familiarize myself with a certain type of financial contract that is prevalent.

To my surprise, in the interview, I was able to refer to this contract in conversation. Though I was by no means an expert, reference to this single instrument in the business carried enormous weight. The interviewee was certainly familiar with it and I was able to bring us to common ground. I got the job.

2 - Listen to Podcasts

With an internet connection, you have more free tools at your disposal than ever before that can better prepare you for your job search. Whether you’re switching industries or are trying to learn more about the current trends or topics of the industry for an interview you have, podcasts can be your best friend.

Podcasts can provide several key benefits for your research efforts:

  • Listen on the go, at the gym, or even during your current job

  • CEOs and other leaders often appear as podcast guests

  • Variety: Podcasts can be associated with “official” news sources, respected non-profits or other entities, hosted by self-published/self-recorded individuals, or can be hosted

Action: Assuming that you have iTunes on your computer, download Podcasts by Apple. Note: This is just one source for searching and listening to podcasts. The internet is full of them, and you may find more specific ones by using a Google.

3 - Create a Blog

I was talking to a young professional a few years ago who worked in a consulting firm that specialized in energy in Latin America. He told me that there was a recent policy in a Latin American country that he found interesting, and so he researched it and wrote a short blog post which he then posted to LinkedIn.

Though it was still early in his career, his decision to create this post immediately positioned him as a de-facto expert on this topic. He neither attempted to pass himself off as an all-knowing expert nor a writer breaking the news on this topic, but the effects of his post were far-reaching.

A few things happened when he wrote this post:

  • He was contacted by job recruiters

  • People searching for general networking opportunities contacted him

  • Peers working in the industry reached out to him for general comments/conversation

Tip: Start your own blog for free through Wix, Wordpress, or any other host. Regardless of your specific reason for starting it, begin your blog draft by putting pen to paper. You may not think you have a unique view on the topic, but you will find your way as you write.

The Spin: Employers are looking to hire people that want to be there, who are committed, and who will stay in that role for a minimum of a year. It is an apparent demonstration of commitment to the topic or industry when you have a blog out there backing you up.

What’s more, as demonstrated in the example above, you also can increase your visibility to those recruiting for a position.


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