Speaker: Chris Garabedian, CEO, Xontogeny
How do I explain gaps in my experience?
Chris Garabedian: The short answer is, you really shouldn't be trying to describe why you have gaps. What you want to focus on is what you have accomplished where you have relevant experience for the job that you're interviewing for. Really highlight that and do that in a very effective way. In many job postings, you'll see a list of 10 items that they're looking for in an ideal situation and very rarely in, early stage career opportunities does one candidate have all of those. The key is to check off the boxes in your head that, you have experience in and can address or at least have some knowledge and aptitude in and be ready to speak to how you can come up a learning curve in other areas that the job entails. It's important to really focus most of the attention and energy and time that you're communicating, your skills and why you have relevant experience on what you have accomplished. And then if you really feel that there's some deficiencies that you need to address, do as much research as you can so that you can describe that you understand what the role entails, that you understand how to address these areas of the job where you may not have the direct experience. That would be the best advice is focus on how you can be the best candidate based on your experience, based on what you have done, and then be able to describe in a very compelling way, a narrative on how you can achieve some of those areas that are perceived as gaps in experience.
What makes an intern or student a great fit for a job?
Chris Garabedian: The reality of it is, employers know if you're interviewing for a early stage or entry level opportunity, they're not expecting you to come with years of relevant experience. So they're really looking for your character traits and the qualities that you can exhibit in an interview on whether or not you can be a big contributor and you can learn quickly and you can really be proficient once you join the company and you get training or exposure to what that company or department that you're interviewing for is going to do. So those quality traits they're looking for, does the person have a good ethic? Both a good corporate ethic or work ethic? Right? You want to come across, in a very positive way, that you're really there, to focus on the company and serving the company. They're also looking, are you smart? This is where you can really show this during the interview with the questions that you ask and this is important that you do research ahead of time in the company that you're interviewing for so you can show that smart about commenting on a recent data release or asking a question about the regulatory strategy or what it might be. You really want to be authentic and show an optimism and an excitement for joining the company and contributing. Those are the core areas that companies are going to be looking for. I hope that helps.
