Do You Have “It”?

When you meet someone for the first time, within 30 seconds you decide whether you like them or not. But what exactly are the determining factors of someone being worthy of your “like”? What gives them the “It Factor”? I get a version of this question all the time- whether I am helping young girls develop their interview skills within the pageant world, or prepping candidates for a job interviews.

What will make you stand out and be #1 out of a group of other very qualified individuals?      

I am sure you could ask five different people this question, and you would probably receive five different answers. What I have come to find out from talking with hiring authorities, candidates, judges, contestants, and even friends, is that the winner always has the following four qualities and characteristics:

1. Knowledge – Whoever first said that “Knowledge is the key to success” was not kidding! When you walk into any type of interview or meeting, the more you know, the more articulate you can be-which in turn helps you make more of an impression and shows that you care (which I hope you do!). As I always advise my candidates, you can’t go into a job interview without first having a good understanding of the organization, what their offerings are, and what the job entails. Think of it this way-- the more you know, the more prepared you are for anything that comes your way.

2. Confidence – This is an obvious trait, but still so important. If you are not confident about who you are and what you have to offer, you will not get very far and you definitely will not stand out. Not only do you need to know all about the role, but you also need to know why YOU are be the best person for the opportunity. If you are confident, this will be an easy thing to articulate.

3. Authenticity – I think this could really be the most important trait. People who know what they are good and not good at, and are honest about it, will win the hearts of many. When I speak on the phone with a candidate who is authentic, I can hear it in their voice right away, and it comes through even more when interviewing with someone face-to-face. Authenticity is contagious and leaves the other person wanting to continue the conversation.

4. Giving it all you’ve got – Everyone loves a good success story… and I don’t mean the kind where someone started out with “…just a million dollars”. I mean situations such as someone who came from nothing and worked their butt off to become the first African-American to win four gold medals at the Olympics (Jesse Owens)… Or someone who studied for hours on end and finally outsmarted their scummy ex-boyfriend in a debate class (Elle Woods). Whatever your story may be, hard work goes a long way. You will earn the respect of others and it shows that you have the gumption to do whatever it takes to be the best you can be in your role or title.

Conceptually, it’s all pretty simple and seems rather easy. But when you combine the four traits above, you have a powerhouse of a candidate/contestant who will undoubtedly win … because you just naturally have “It”.

~Emily