Separating Yourself From the Pack

Interviewing is stressful for some people, and that likely includes those you are competing against for a new job. Now that may or may not put your mind at ease, but knowing how to differentiate yourself certainly matters when it comes to landing your ideal role.  Everyday, multiple times a day, our recruiters prepare candidates for interviews.  We put together our best tips on how to stand out and welp we thought...let’s share them:  

Confidence

We’re going to start with a simple one (simple, not easy), come with confidence. Bring some swagger with you. Remember, an interview isn't you asking for the job, an interview is a dialogue and part of that dialogue is you telling them why you’re the best candidate for the position. Telling them why you will bring value to the business. Put on your power suit or best pair of pumps, hype yourself up, pregame with your workout playlist, whatever gets you fired up. If you’re ever feeling short on confidence, just remember they asked you to interview for a reason. You belong in the room. 

Be Enthusiastic

Being enthusiastic not only helps with a first impression, it’s also contagious, so bring the energy! Enthusiasm doesn’t just mean talking louder and smiling harder, it means you actually want to be there. So how can you convey enthusiasm? By asking questions and being prepared. 

A common misconception is that you should wait until the end to ask questions. While you should certainly keep one or two for the end, asking questions throughout the interview shows that you are eager about the position, that you are taking the decision seriously, and are genuinely interested in the company. Asking questions also creates a back-and-forth between you and the interviewer, which typically makes everyone feel a bit more at ease and certainly makes you more memorable. But be mindful to do this at appropriate times and don’t respond with a question every single time you get asked something. 

Being prepared is another great way to show enthusiasm about a position or company. Has the company been recognized or received any awards recently? Have they just opened a new facility, or started a new public project? Being able to demonstrate this knowledge in your interview shows that you took the time to research the company, and again, creates more of that back-and-forth with the interviewer. 

(Bonus: researching your interviewer on LinkedIn prior to the interview is a great idea too. Maybe don’t tell them that, but it’s a great way to see if you have any overlap in terms of previous companies, schools, or common interests to work into the interview!  It will help with rapport building.)

Demonstrate Your Problem Solving and Critical Thinking

While you are interviewing for a specific role, a common theme amongst most jobs is companies are looking for individuals who are proactive and take initiative, whether it be in the position at hand or possibly a future leadership role. What do leaders need? Problem solving and critical thinking skills. Conveying these skills is a great way to not only let them know you will excel at this position, but that you are a great hire for the long-term. 

Give an example of a time where you solved a problem at work, or when you worked with your team to come to a solution. Discuss how you’ve handled challenges in the past, thought an issue through and overcame it. Even if you’re not interested in a leadership position, demonstrating leadership and problem solving skills is valuable.

Be Authentic

We all know (or like to think we know) when people aren’t being themselves, so be authentic. Nobody is expecting a perfect person for an interview, but they are expecting a real person. 

This is important through the entire interview process, but specifically during behavioral questions which are becoming increasingly common (check out our video on how to answer these using the STAR method here). These are often hypothetical scenarios based on a “what would you do if..” type question. Answer directly and honestly, don’t just tiptoe around what you think the interviewer wants to hear. 

It’s also important to note that overly rehearsed answers can come off as disingenuous or phony, so be sure to add some life to those answers! 

Show How You Add Value

While all of the advice here is important, value is what it comes down to. The interviewer is going to make their decision based on what value you are able to bring to the company. A great way to showcase your value is by talking about more than just what's on your resume. So, if your resume covers how you streamlined some patching processes, it may be worth mentioning how you communicated and worked with the rest of your team. Circle back to your problem solving skills, touch on an accomplishment and then discuss what obstacles you managed to overcome. 

An interview is not the time to be humble, it's time to show what you can do. It’s okay to brag a little. Interviewing for a java programming position? Mention some of your other proficiencies. Hoping for a marketing role? Touch upon your experience with creatives, or being a creative. They asked you to interview to hear more about what you can do, so share it. 

You know what an employer is looking for; confidence, enthusiasm, problem solving, authenticity, and value. So prepare, come with confidence, and show them. A follow up letter or email is always a nice touch too. Best of luck on your job hunt! You got this.