Jane Boutwell presented at the Janaury 2015 pdxMindShare and addressed the question "Why You" and how you can effectively respond to it. She covered ways in which you should approach your job search and how you can effectively sell your soft skills.

1. Why You?
By Jane Boutwell
Selling Your Soft Skills

2. Why do they ask “Why You”?
Why should we hire you?
Why are you the right fit for the position?
What makes you the ideal candidate?
Employers invitation to you to sell
yourself as the solution to their needs.

3. What we will cover…
• What the organization knows about you
• What you know about the organization
• What the industry is telling us
Communicate soft skills
How to answer the “Why You” given:

4. What they know
Hard skills (technical) for position
Resume
Vetted through recruiting software
Linked-in

5. What you know
Research
Job Description
Organization’s Culture
• Linkedin/FB
• Website
• Google
• Glass door
• Social Networking
• Mission Statement/Values
MISSION
Oregon Health & Science University
(OHSU) is the state’s only comprehensive
public academic health center. Its
fundamental purpose is to improve the
health and well being of people in Oregon
and beyond. A ten-member Board of
Directors nominated by the Governor and
confirmed by the Oregon Senate governs the
university….

6. What The Industry Is Telling Us
75% of HR respondents said they continued having problems
recruiting enough qualified workers.
Randy Woods, Seattle Times quoting Beyond.com
20,000 new hires
• 46% failed within 18 months
, 11% of the time for lack of skill.
Mark Murphy
Hiring for Attitude
“Many outplacement candidates are technical superstars who’ve
been fired. They know their jobs, but couldn’t collaborate or get
along with others.”
William S. Frank, career strategist

7. What You Need to Focus On
“Technical proficiency, once a guarantee of lifetime employment, is a
commodity in today’s job market.”
“Attitude is what today’s companies are hiring for.”
Mark Murphy, “Hiring for Attitude”

8. Soft Skills
Team Player Communicating Flexibility
Decision
Making
Work Under
Pressure
Problem
Solving
Creativity
Accept
Responsibility
Leadership
Skills
“Soft skills are the capabilities that attitude can enhance or undermine.”
Mark Murphy, “Hiring for Attitude”

9. Foundation of Communication
Audience
Rhetorical Triangle
Making your (interview) credible, appealing and logical
Pathos

10. Communicate Non-Verbally
How much of communication is non-verbal?

11. Listen

12. CAR to communicate
Challenge
Action
Results Actual outcome, not desired solution
Steps taken to work through challenge. Who
was involved?
Actual event, with expectations

13. What we covered…
Successfully selling “you” in the interview includes:
• What the organization knows about you
• What you know about the organization
• HR industry trends
• Awareness of your verbal & non-verbal
communication
• Listen

14. Thank You for your time!
Jane Boutwell
janeboutwell@gmail.com