Stand Out in Interviews by "Catastrophizing"
The Key to Winning the Job 🔑
Job seekers, have you ever heard the term "catastrophizing"? It's a powerful technique that can make you stand out from other candidates in a major way during job interviews. As the CEO of Work It DAILY, I've helped thousands of people get hired into better roles by teaching them strategies like catastrophizing.
What is Catastrophizing?
Catastrophizing means setting up your response to a behavioral interview question by explaining what could go wrong if the task/process is not executed correctly. For example, if asked "Tell me about a time you worked on [X type of project]", you would first say something like:
"That's a really critical process, because if not done properly, [explain what negative consequences could occur]. You have to be very careful in order to avoid [catastrophic outcome]."
Why It Works 🙌
By catastrophizing upfront, you demonstrate a deep understanding of the job's responsibilities. You prove you not only know how to do the tasks, but why it's so important to do them the right way. This immediately differentiates you as someone who grasps the potential risks and pitfalls.
Companies are doing "evidence-based hiring" these days. They don't just want to take your resume at face value. Catastrophizing provides tangible evidence that you have true mastery of the skills required.
Becoming the "Must-Have" Candidate
When you can deftly catastrophize, it shows the interviewer that you are the "aspirin" to their pain points or challenges. You keenly understand the negative consequences of not performing the role effectively.
In today's competitive job market where candidates have similar skill sets, using this technique allows you to rise above the rest. You evolve from being a "nice to have" into a "must-have" by speaking their language around risk mitigation.
After catastrophizing upfront, you can then launch into a powerful story that walks them through how you have successfully executed the task/process properly in the past. This reinforces your qualifications in a visceral way they can't ignore.
Get Pro Advice from Work It DAILY 🥳
Want to learn advanced job search strategies like catastrophizing from the pros? Check out Work It DAILY's 7-day FREE trial and get advice from myself and our team of trained career experts. We can help you navigate your unique job search to get you into a better role, faster.
Go get ‘em!
J.T. O’Donnell
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