If you have someone’s attention, then you have a chance to make a great impression. Be sure you can communicate two things: what you want to do for work (and where) and what you are good at doing (with an example).
I hope you can answer both of those questions. If not, you need to spend some time researching the types of roles that interest you and the companies where you want to work. And, you need to have at least one example of something you have accomplished. Be prepared to give one clear example of the kind of results you get when you’re working.
Here’s what will make a great impression: being SPECIFIC! What that means is that you don’t just say you did project management, you give important details about the types of projects you managed. You don’t just say that you are a data scientist, you give an example of something you designed and its purpose. You don’t just say you did quality assurance, you talk about how your QA team improved reliability or reduced error rates. Maybe you add important measures of success. You don’t just say you are good at working with cross-functional teams, you talk about how you have been able to get buy in from different stakeholders and keep a team functioning well under deadline.
Your resume isn’t the only place where it is important to be specific, using quantitative information that shows scale, scope, number of people served, dollars saved or profits made. When you talk about yourself, details add context. They add impact. They make the example more interesting.
If I tell you that I help people get jobs, you might be wondering if these are entry level or mid-career jobs. You might want to know if my clients were re-entering the workforce or if they had been fired or laid off. If I give you more detail, you are probably going to find me more interesting. And, you also have a better idea if I am a good fit for you.*
The same is true in an interview or networking conversation.
One last thought: When you give a specific example, it shows you have substance. An example with important details helps someone know more about your capabilities. In contrast, when you generalize or use “fluffy” words like passion or people person or eye for detail or team player, you don’t capture attention. Those words are used so often that people don’t even hear them.
Don’t you want to stand out by being different and interesting? A specific example can leave a great impression.