Make Yourself Stand Out in the Interview
I was recently at the MBACSWP Conference , where we discussed a subject that is near to all of our hearts, as it relates to the job search. This burning question is how can we make ourselves stand out in the interview process. Is it the exceptional resume, the right clothes, the eye contact, the firm handshake, asking the right questions or the glowing references that make the difference? There is no doubt that all of these add to the reasons we get the interview in the first place.
The difference, according to our keynote speaker, Nick Corcodilos, of AskTheHeadhunter.com, is boiled down to the very simple notion:
We fail to demonstrate the initiative during the hiring process to make ourselves stand out.
Initiative, n., The power or ability to begin or to follow through energetically with a plan or task; enterprise and determination.
How can we show initiative?
“Walk into your meeting with the employer and demonstrate, hands down, how you will do the job profitably. You also know that getting to that interview requires a huge investment of your time and energy. It requires making critical choices, because not every one of those 500 “relevant” jobs you saw posted are worth that investment.”
In 2009, 50% of jobs were filled from within the organization. 27% were filled from outside the organization through personal contacts. These are people who have experience with you and recommend you to employers who trust the referral. “Job hunters must engage with their contacts. Standing out means sharing something that matters.”
“You need to understand another person’s unique needs. Job hunting is 100% about the other guy. If you can’t show in a job interview that you understand the work to be done, and if you can’t show how you’ll do it profitably, you’re not showing the initiative to stand out and get hired.”
Thanks Nick, for telling it like it is.
CareerShift can help you research your choices about who you want to work with, find your referrals and demonstrate your initiative.
