Wrkio Blog

There is a lot of good advice out there about searching for and applying for a job that is right for you. If your search and then application go well, you need to prepare to not just do well but to stand out in job interviews. This article shares advice and tips you can use.

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Go beyond your resume

If you want to stand out in job interviews you have to go beyond your resume. Sure you took the time to cultivate this impressive summary of your career, but the interviewer has already seen it. It is probably why you got invited to interview, now show them something that isn’t on the resume.

For instance when talking about your work history, reference your resume and then go into detail. When talking about your previous job, mention specific skills you’ve attained that would help you excel at the job you are interviewing for.

If you are a student or are interviewing for your first job, you still have a lot to share. Pick anecdotes from school or your life that can help in the work setting. This can be anything from volunteer work you have done or hobbies that can make you an asset to the company.

Share aspects about your personality or your life that make you suited to the job. Tie them in with the job requirements or the candidate profile they are looking for. As an example, you can share how coming from a big family helps you in being a great team player, or how as someone who has lived in several places you are well suited to working with people from different cultural backgrounds.

Balance the negative and the positive

As a prepared job candidate, you want to show what you can do for the company. This is why they are hiring you after all, to produce results. When asked, it is a good idea to clearly share what you think you can do to improve the company.

Perhaps you think they can be more visible on social media. Let the interviewers know how you would go about this, perhaps by crafting a content calendar, getting them on another social media channel they haven’t joined or automating their posts.

As you do this, don’t forget to mention the good they are already doing and how you would like to be a part of that. For instance, if their senior managers are sharing industry information on their social media pages, mention that you think that is a great idea and that you have already benefited from it.

Interviewers are people just like you and would not want to only be presented with areas the company is failing at and that they need to improve.

Manage your nerves

Interviews are nerve wrecking for some and this is totally understandable. You are going before a group of people who have the power to decide your future. Because of this, nerves can get the better of you, making you sweaty, causing you to stammer, and even affect your chances of getting the job.

Stand out in job interviews by managing your nerves and showing up looking relaxed and confident. Some tips you can use are:

• Practicing positive affirmations before going for the interview
• Smiling during the interview. Smiling invites a smile from the other person and makes you feel good.
• Take a few deep breaths
• Prepare to do something fun after, whether that is meeting up with a friend or eating a nice meal. This will give you something to look forward to.
• Remember that the interviewers are human beings just like you
• Remember that the interview is a two way process, you too are evaluating if that is the right job for  you
• Fake it. Acting like you are confident and not nervous at all will compel you to feel that way

Some experts say that it is perfectly ok to be vulnerable and say you are nervous if you are. They reason that by doing this, you take away its power. If you do, the interviewer may respond with something that will help to put you more at ease.

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Learn to answer the ‘Tell me about yourself’ question

This is one of the most commonly asked interview questions but it is so easy to get it wrong. When an interviewer asks this question, they want to know how your experiences make you a good fit for the job.

Keep your response focused, professional, brief and most importantly, specific to the job. The response to this answer may change depending on the job you are applying for.

While you are speaking, the interviewer will be taking note of your suitability for the role. Make it easy for them by pointing out key points in your job history that intersect with the one you are interviewing for.

If you lead a team in your previous roles and this is a skill required at the current job, mention this and clarify what you learnt. If however, you worked with a software program that isn’t relevant to the role, mention it only as a footnote.

Don’t be afraid to practice your response before the interview. This will help you become more comfortable with it.

A trick to use when structuring the response to ‘tell me about yourself’ is to talk about your past, present and future.

Ask insightful questions

Just as with the previous point, this part of the interview can be tricky to navigate. We have been told that you absolutely must ask a question to stand out in job interviews but what questions should you ask?

The questions you ask will reveal more about you to the interviewer, but they should also reveal something to you about the company. Here are some questions you can ask to get a deeper understanding of the company you are hoping to join.

• How will my performance be evaluated?
• What challenges might I face in this role?
• What advice can you offer in overcoming those challenges?
• How would you describe the values of this company?

You can also ask questions that follow up on the conversation you have had with the interviewer. This will show that you were paying attention and that you are a good listener. Don’t be afraid to walk into the interview with a pen and notebook to note down one or two things you’d like to ask about when the interview is over.

Be yourself

Yes it is a good idea to prepare and rehearse in order to stand out in job interviews but you should also be yourself. The pressure that comes with interviews can leave you feeling like you have to take on a new more ‘professional’ persona. You might find yourself using words you have never used before, all in a bid to impress interviewers.

But being yourself has many merits. For one, you will be more comfortable and confident. You will be able to make a connection with the interviewer. Some interviewers can tell when you are putting on an act and this will not work in your favor. Being yourself will help interviewers and you realize if you are a cultural fit, amongst other things.

Don’t be afraid to talk about your hobbies. You might learn that the organization has a strong physical component to its wellness program and this might intersect with your passion as a yoga practitioner. If you did not mention that you do yoga, you may not have found this piece of information out.

Be honest

Honesty is the best policy so lead with honesty. When asked something that you haven’t done, tell the truth. Most times, recruiters can carry out background checks or talk to people from the companies you have worked for to find out information you may have left off your resume.

Don’t be afraid to talk about failure. It is inevitable and it can actually be a good thing. It shows that you are resilient, reveals your problem solving skills and exhibits how you recovered from setbacks. It is entirely possible that a failure you faced led you onto an important discovery about your life or about your work.

If you have not understood something, be honest and ask the interviewer to ask the question again. “Could you please clarify that question?” And if you are asked something that you do not know, it is ok to admit that.

Instead of saying a flat ‘I don’t know’ try a sentence like ‘That situation isn’t familiar to me but I would start by referring it to my immediate manager.’ You can also say that you need to read up on the situation. This is better than just making up an answer.

Honesty is the best policy but do not dwell on your negatives

At the same time, you do not want to spend a big part of the interview talking about the setbacks in your career. Mention them as key learning moments and then explain how they lead you down a positive path.

You can also mention plans you have to help you overcome any negatives. Are you enrolled in any courses or planning on taking any trainings? This is a good time to mention them.

Your goal is to stand out in job interviews for the right reasons.

Dress well

This must be one of the oldest pieces of advice when it comes to interview prep. Dressing well conveys that you respect yourself, the interviewers and the process. Dress well even if it is an online interview. Make sure that your background is plain and free of clutter that may distract the interview.

Dressing well is important even if you are interviewing for a part time or hourly job. In fact, dressing well can help boost your confidence.

The nature of work has changed somewhat and it is not uncommon to find more casual dress workplaces. Still, avoid sandals during your interview. A recruiter once mentioned to a young lady that she was the only candidate who did not show up for the interview in jeans. She got the job.

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Do some homework

Researching the company is a really good pre-interview tactic, but doing some homework on the industry will help you to stand out in job interviews. By being up to date on the latest industry news and sharing this during the interview, you show that you are genuinely interested in the work.

Get up to date by reading up on the latest news, innovations or what thought leaders in the field are saying.

Communicate well

Speaking well and clearly are important if you want to ace any interview. But while you might say one thing, your body language may say another.

Body language can communicate something that is contradictory to your words so it is important to keep an eye on it. Hand gestures can convey that you are enthusiastic and confident but do not go over the top with them. A smile once in a while, when appropriate, shows warmth and helps both you and the interviewer to relax.

Avoid fidgeting, shaking your leg or playing with a pen or pencil however, this can be a negative signal to the interviewer.

Be confident

Confidence is one skill that will make you stand out in job interviews. I say skill because confidence can be cultivated and improved. Confidence shows that you believe what you are saying, that you are capable and can be relied on.

It can be hard to muster your confidence before an interview but the good news is that there are tricks you can use to project confidence even if you are not feeling it.

• Slow your pace: When speaking, go slowly and enunciate your words. Rushing shows that you are nervous. You are also more likely to stumble if you are in a hurry.
• Be still: Avoid excessive movements. That means, stay away from fixing your hair or adjusting your tie. Do this before getting into the room and trust that you look fine.
• Check your posture: Body posture can help you look and feel more confident. Sit or stand up straight instead and hold your head up instead of slumping.

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Conclusion

Standing out in a job interview will improve your chances of landing the job. Remember, in order to stand out, there are things you need to do to prepare before you go into the interview room (or get on the interview call) and things you must do during the interview. Good luck!