Zach learns to hit the right buttons at interview

Zach Sheppard, a 24 year old ambitious IT professional has always lived his dream to achieve high in his career and make the most of his talents.

Born in Birmingham Zach was bought up in a single parent household and from his early teens knew he wanted to have a successful career and one day build his own business. He demonstrated entrepreneurial skills at 16 when he set up his small company specializing in IT training. He wanted to familiarize himself with the world of commerce and understand the dos and doníts of running a business.

As the years went by Zach decided to move into paid employment and for the last few years has worked for a leading law firm in Birmingham as a specialist IT professional. In February 2006 Zach decided that he wanted to expand his horizons and move to London where he considered opportunities in IT would be greater. He began researching the market and came across a number of opportunities through recruitment agencies. His skills set to date were obviously impressive and he was undoubtedly a marketable product in his own right. In early March Zach identified that whilst he was confident in his ability to meet the needs of employers he really wanted to develop his interview skills and gain greater confidence at selling himself to potential employers.

Zach understood that he needed to sell himself and make a favourable impression on the interviewers so he undertook self coaching in You Selling You, a programme developed by Steve Miller, a leading motivational consultant. The first part of the book he found particularly useful and amongst other things learnt the art of relaxation for interviews and techniques to boost his confidence. He learnt to affirm his self belief and began to visualize selling himself at interviews. He comments, ìseveral days before the interviews I put myself into a relaxed state and affirmed belief in my brilliance and it really helpedî. Zach now understood how he could use the power of his mind to achieve success at the interviews. He began to programme his mind so that he would demonstrate positive body language at the interview and use his voice to make the best of his communication skills. He practiced the style in which he would answer questions and how he could use expressiveness in his voice to influence the interviewers. He adds ìin a way it is like learning to hypnotize the interviewer so they know you are the best candidateî. Zach was now in a position to not only sell his technical skills but really sell him.

In March 2006 Zach attended two interviews for jobs that he really wanted. The days before the interview he would practice his techniques and developed what he now calls a ìnatural confidenceî. And what about the result? Zach was offered both jobs. He finally decided to take one of the offers in Mid March and now looks forward to a successful career in London. Zachs ambitions are being met and he intends to continue to work hard and meet his career goals. He now recognizes that success is not only about developing technical competence but also the ability to sell oneself. His final comment ìcareer success really is about selling yourself and not just technical skills and qualifications, then the doors can really openî.

You Selling You by Steve Miller, priced 9.99 is available from www.arimapublishing.co.uk or www.amazon.co.uk