What are some ways you can separate yourself from other job candidates? This is the question we often hear from our candidates here at City Personnel.
Unfortunately, being highly qualified isn’t enough anymore – employers receive hundreds or even thousands of resumes and applications every day; so, what sets one person apart from another when they all seem very similar on paper? There’s no easy answer but there may be something special about your application that makes it stand out among others. Here are six tips to help you stand out from other candidates:
Follow-up With a Thank You Email
Everyone should write a thank you email 24-48 hours after their interview. 81% of hiring managers feel that thank you emails are helpful when deciding between two similar candidates.
Don’t be afraid to include a few brief sentences about why you think you’d be a good fit for the job. You might not want to come right out and ask for an offer, but it’s okay to mention some things about yourself that make you qualified for the position.
Remember, even if they don’t hire you, sending this kind of thank you note is almost always appreciated by the hiring manager! Unfortunately, only around 57% of candidates end up sending thank you emails after their interview. Make sure not to forget this critical step in the job search process.
Be Enthusiastic
Everyone talks about how important it is to be enthusiastic in an interview – but no one really says why it’s important or what exactly they mean by enthusiasm. Being enthusiastic means actively listening while the interviewer asks their questions, asking thoughtful follow-up questions after they’ve asked theirs, giving concise affirmative answers (not too lengthy), and telling stories (if necessary) where appropriate. If the interviewer asks, “What are your greatest strengths?” make sure you talk about them! Don’t list off answer after answer without real examples.
Do Your Homework
We have talked about it before, but we will talk about it again. Do your homework! Make sure you have some background knowledge of the industry, organization, or position you have applied for. You can impress an interviewer if you know something interesting about their company that they may not even be aware of.
For example – if you’re applying for a job at Google but don’t know much about them, learn who Larry Page and Sergey Brin are; maybe even find out why they named their company Google.
By doing extensive research, you’re showing that not only you did your research, but you’re also willing to go above and beyond just to try to get the job.
List Questions to Ask
Another tip is to go into an interview with a list of questions for the interviewer. Ask them things you’re genuinely interested in learning about – and if you can, let them know that these are things that matter to you and why.
Questions should range from something personal like “What’s your favorite thing(s) about working here?” or “Can you tell me more about the company culture?” to something related directly to the position like “In what way does this position add value?,” “How does this position fit into the big picture?”, or even something very specific, like “Why did you choose to work at this organization?”
Follow up questions are great because they show you’re paying attention and they also provide good insight into what it’s like working there.
Be Helpful!
If the interviewer is doing some research on their own while you wait, offer to help them out by pointing out things they might find interesting or useful (e.g., send them your LinkedIn profile, your resume, etc.). Come into the interview prepared with extra information that may be able to help them – that’s showing initiative at its finest.
It also demonstrates your ability to think critically and analytically about how YOU can solve THEIR problems which is what makes YOU an asset instead of merely a burden.
Providing Value
The last tip is to think of ways you can provide value to the company. Ask yourself, “Who’s going to get hired for this position? What does it take to be successful in this role?” Answer these questions by reviewing your resume and highlighting any areas where you can demonstrate that you have already done something similar or better than what they are looking for.
If you’re interviewing for an administrative position, but have experience being a PA/assistant, emphasize that! This goes back to how important it is to show HOW you are different from others – if all the other job candidates look exactly like you on paper, then point out what makes YOU stand-out…
Conclusion
The main takeaway on how to separate yourself from other job candidates is TO STAND OUT! Show them WHY hiring you will make their lives easier. You don’t want to come across as uninterested or apathetic about the position – that’s not the best place to start with your future employer!
Everything is negotiable, including salary! Know your worth and negotiate for it & most importantly be ready to prove yourself in whatever role you are applying for. Your resume should NOT look like everyone else’s. Be unique, be creative.
This article takes a look at six ways for job seekers to stand out in an interview. It suggests job seekers memorize their resumes and bring examples of times they’ve demonstrated each strength. The article also suggests bringing questions for the interviewer, telling stories where appropriate, providing value during the interview process, thinking of ways to provide value before even entering the room, and thinking of ways that applicants will provide value to potential employers once hired.
Now that you know of these amazing tips to stand out from other candidates, start your job search today!
