3 ways to stand out in the interview
Those job hunters who get the job offer are the ones who stand
out in the interview process. So how do they do it? Well, here's
3 reasons why...
1. Practice & Prepare. Going into an interview without doing
your homework is a recipe for disaster. You must have a "story
to tell" when it comes to that awkward first question..."So tell
me about yourself". Your story is something that you need to be
able to recite without hesitation and with confidence. It should
weave a tale about your career goals, your passion for working
in that industry and why you want to work for this company.
Your preparation should include scoring the company website and
learning everything you can about the firm. Then prepare a list
of smart, relevant questions to ask during the interview. Doing
this will show you are interested in the company and that's what
all interviewers care about.
2. Get Recommended. During the interview process you are likely
to meet with many of the people in the company or department.
This is a golden opportunity to get them to recommend you to the
hiring manager. It is imperative to establish a repore with
these people and make them feel comfortable around you. When you
sit down with them, don't talk about yourself. Ask the staffers
about their work, how they got the job, and what they like about
their work.
People love talking about themselves, and they form positive
recollections about people who listen to them. This will allow
them to remember you, and they're likely to talk about you to
the hiring manager. If they're impressed, the manager will know.
3. References Make a Difference. Many people often have a list
of references with them. They usually wait for their references
to be called on after the interview. But a powerful tactic would
be to have your best reference call the person you interviewed
with BEFORE they call them. Envision the call going something
like this...
"Hi, Mike. This is John Miller. You just interviewed Laura
Jones, and she asked if I'd serve as her reference. I was her
manager at XYZ Industries. I just wanted to reach out to you and
tell you what a great find I think she'd be for a company like
yours ... "
A message like this on the hiring managers voicemail could be
the clincher you need to get the job.