Jobseekers, You Need to Get Technical, Stat

Robby

Years ago I interviewed for a job in Indianapolis where one of the “nice-to-haves” was proficiency in Spanish. I checked the box because I studied the language in college, and mostly forgot about indicating my knowledge until the telephone interview.

When the day arrived, the conversation with the hiring manager started out well. She asked typical questions about why I wanted the role, how I had overcome past challenges, etc. And then she started speaking to me in Spanish.

It took a moment, but I was able to churn the rusty gears in my brain and have a rudimentary conversation. But in many respects, this was perhaps the most important part of the interview. It was the only element that was truly technical. If you say you can converse in a foreign language, it’s pretty easy to find out just how much expertise you really have.

© Flickr User Kris Krug

If you are an Indianapolis jobseeker, you might not ever have this particular interaction. But you do have the ability to show technical expertise in whatever it is you do with others.

That’s why when you are networking, interviewing, chatting with people at career fairs or just discussing your job search in general, you should quickly use at least one technical term. This isn’t an excuse to overwhelm people who aren’t in your field, but it is an easy way to show that you know what you’re talking about.

Remember, too, that people who don’t share your professional expertise have no idea how deep you really are. So if you can explain just one concept, you introduce them to a whole new world. And then they have a reason to bring up your name the next time they come across a fantastic opportunity.

In summary: Indianapolis obseekers, you need to get technical, stat!