This Secret Will Change Your Job Search Forever

We know a secret that will change your job search forever. Curious?

It’s simple: Think like an employer!

Although the answer may be simple, figuring out where to take your job search from here may not be. In order to think like an employer during your job search, you need to put yourself in their shoes through every step of the hiring process. Getting into this mindset will help you write a better resume, perform better during interviews, and discover what employers truly seek in a strong candidate.

An employer’s ultimate goal for hiring a new employee is to find someone who fits the job opening and will play a role in advancing the organization’s capabilities. Listed below are questions employers ask themselves during the interview process, and ways you can use that information to land a job:

“Does this resume suit the needs of the position?”

Carefully look through the job description and figure out what their main goals are for the candidate. From there, adjust your resume for the position and company. Although you are likely applying to similar companies in your job search, they all have different goals and varying cultures.

Envision what the interviewer is looking for within their company and for the position. If you notice a focus on a certain skill that you are proficient in, highlight it through your significant accomplishments using that skill.

“Does this candidate appear to have a good understanding of the company and the industry?”

The interviewer already knows a lot about the industry and the job they are looking to fill, so you need to catch up. You should already have a good grasp on the industry, but do everything you can to find out about the responsibilities of the job and the company’s history and future, as well as its competitors. Tap the Internet, your network, and read all materials the interviewer sends you. You can even take your interview a step further by trying out the company’s product or service so you know firsthand what the experience is like for customers.

“What questions do I need to ask to decide if this is the right candidate?”

As the employer, what would you want to find out in the interview? What questions would you feel were important to address to ensure you’re the right fit? Asking yourself this will help you build a list of potential questions for the interview. Bring in a trusted friend or professional contact to go through these questions with you to make sure you’ve prepared good responses.

You also want to be mindful of the possibility of use case interviews. Jobs in consulting firms, investment banking, and other industries typically use these imaginary problem-solving situations to see how well you respond in different formats. Excel at these through simple preparation and practice, which you can get through books like Case in Point.

“Does this candidate stand out from the rest?”

The interviewer takes time to prepare their questions, so you should as well. Be thoughtful and go beyond just the standard questions the interviewer likely gets all the time — dig deeper into something you already know about them.

For instance, if you are interviewing at a marketing firm, instead of asking, “Who are your clients?” you might ask, “I know your organization is a full-service marketing firm catering to the technology industry, but I wondered if there was a specific area within technology you like to focus on and what you find your client’s most common needs to be.” As you go through the interview process, you’ll be expected to know more and ask more sophisticated questions, so don’t stop preparing and practicing. Show that you have learned and grown even throughout the interview process.

“Does this candidate match all of the needs I have for the position?”

Think about the ideal candidate the interviewer is likely looking for to fill this position. Based on that, prepare at least one elevator speech that allows you to quickly and effectively position yourself as that perfect candidate when prompted, “Tell me about yourself.” You may want to prepare a more detailed version as well in case you have the opportunity to share it.

When you’re working on this, ask yourself, “If I was to get an offer, what would be the reason for that?” The answer should be within your elevator speech. If you know you have gaps in the criteria the interviewer is looking for, find a way to address that in your speech and explain how you would overcome it.

“Can I see this candidate within our organization?”

To really make sure you close the deal and get the offer, help the interviewer envision you in the role by demonstrating how you would interact with colleagues and how you would perform the responsibilities beyond expectations. Show them you value other people’s opinions and know your place by suggesting an answer to a situation they bring up, but then asking them for their solution as well. If you are able to position this in the right way, you should make them think about how they’d work with you rather than deciding if you are the right fit.

Taking the time to consider each step of the hiring process will help you align your job searching efforts with the thoughts of the employer. It will take extra time and effort, but by improving your resume, performing better in interviews, and discovering what employers truly want in a candidate, you’ll have a much better chance at landing the job you really want.

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